[olug] Server Farms

[Rod Hurley]

Here's a condensed version of setting up server farms...no matter what
application or OS you use.  It is simply a bunch of servers that are
interconnected and can run as active/active or failover (active/passive)
or simply as a group of individual servers.  That choice depends upon
what you want to accomplish with your data, and how critical it is.  If
you feel you can install an OS and configure it on a server to run
effectively, then you are on the right track.  

Next you need to research server farm technology.  Citrix Metaframe is
one example for Windows systems.  Being a new Linuxer I am not familiar
with Linux stuff, except a company called Polyserve that uses a SAN to
pool data for clustering that works well with Linux.  

My suggestion:  for that size of farm....set up a SAN with fibre
channel so you have centralized storage and or system info (if you are
clustering).  IBM has some good ones and they are linux, windows, unix
tested.

Second suggestion:  find out what needs to be accomplished, find a way
to accomplish it and save your boss 100 grand off his numbers...which
sounds like it's possible, and get yourself a big raise.


Rod Hurley
PC Specialist
Tenaska Marketing Ventures
ph:  402-758-6187
cell: 402-981-9561
fx:   402-758-6275
rhurley at tmvgas.com


>>> shaughn at emosai.net 02/25/04 01:00PM >>>
The only problem with this.. Is I don't get anymore information, untill

i can tell them i can do it.

So... It seems without knowing what they want, i can't tell them i can

do it.

Ok thanks anyways.

Bill Brush wrote:

>Well it's kind of hard to design a solution to a  requirement that
isn't
>defined.
>
>If you're talking data storage that means a SAN (especially if you're
>talking those dollar amounts).  If you're dealing with the government
the
>requirements are going to be spelled out to a fare-thee-well although
they
>may not necessarily "work".
>
>I think you need about a metric ass-ton more info before you start
worrying
>about design.
>
>Bill
>
>olug-bounces at olug.org wrote on 02/25/2004 12:45:33 PM:
>
>  
>
>>That's what I said. Then i got told 'something dealing with
government
>>irs forms and storing alot of files'. So i think it might be a
redundant
>>type of filesystem? maybe perhaps email... but i don't think much
more.
>>
>>Bill Brush wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>The most obvious question is:  To do what with?
>>>
>>>The application of a server is by far the most critical question
that
>>>      
>>>
>has
>  
>
>>>to be answered.
>>>
>>>Bill
>>>
>>>olug-bounces at olug.org wrote on 02/25/2004 12:14:45 PM:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>Hey. My boss just walked up to me and asked if I can build him a
>>>>1.4million dollar server farm..
>>>>
>>>>i can't...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>the price might not be that high, but apparently is that extreme.
>>>>
>>>>I'm just wondering if any of you have any experience with server
farms
>>>>of any variant, what the best one would be / etc..
>>>>
>>>>I've seen stuff about BSD, and LINUX.. and sparcs and such..
>>>>
>>>>just don't know where to start..
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>OLUG mailing list
>>>OLUG at olug.org 
>>>http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug 
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>--
>>~Shaughn
>>Network Administrator / Web Design
>>Ibusol Computer
>>1004 W Diers Ave Ste #310
>>Grand Island, NE 68803
>>http://www.ibusol.com 
>>http://www.emosai.net 
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>OLUG mailing list
>>OLUG at olug.org 
>>http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug 
>>    
>>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>OLUG mailing list
>OLUG at olug.org 
>http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug 
>
>  
>


-- 
~Shaughn
Network Administrator / Web Design
Ibusol Computer
1004 W Diers Ave Ste #310
Grand Island, NE 68803
http://www.ibusol.com 
http://www.emosai.net 

_______________________________________________
OLUG mailing list
OLUG at olug.org 
http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug