Budget Plans
We've been given sizable budget for the next year to expand our server provision. In order to get the best out of it, we need to decide what new services we'd like to provide to our members.
- SDH: Can someone check what the performance implications of RAID-5 in software are?
It seems it's very slow for writes, so may not be suitable -- BradleySmith
- M: "very slow" is completely unquantified. Can someone provide empirical evidence of an appropriate comparison between software RAID and hardware RAID 5 please.
RaidInfo <-- Useful info for comparing different RAID levels, although not software vs hardware -- BradleySmith
http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~gelb/castle_raid.html <-- Article comparing various options using RAID 5 in hardware and software, with benchmarks. -- BradleySmith
- Amazon S3 backup
It should be noted there are SLA (or lack thereof) issues here -- DanielWatkins
Is backing up members data off campus a good idea? -- BradleySmith
- M: Obligation on future execs to maintain payments restricts their budget options.
- Monitor for servers
- SDH: And a keyboard? Maybe KVM over Ethernet?
We should be able to find better uses of our money than KVMoE -- DanielWatkins
I really don't think we need KVMoE as it doesn't meet our needs for a monitor -- BradleySmith
M: also of the opinion that just a monitor & keyboard is a good thing. We should look to avoid having to borrow equipment from members or DCS, but try to avoid collecting too much 'enterprise' kit.
A wii for gaming/LANs
- A new gaming server
Depends on the status of bong -- BradleySmith
- M: We could also ask for insomnia back and just upgrade the RAM.
- Copies/Licences of more modern Games
- SSL certificate for website/SMTP logins
- Additional Connections to DCS Cupboard
- M: have spoken with DCS and they have offered a potential solution, that may not cost us anything.
- Commercial-grade software for...
- Virus scanning?
Do we really need? -- BradleySmith
- M: I question the term 'commercial-grade' quality has nothing to do with money. There used to be virus software installed on tov.
- Offloading (DMA) network cards from Backus and Codd
- M: We have very low CPU load as it - whats the costing for these like?
- Books/Materials for tech team training?
- M: We can get free O'reilly books, the techteam have stated they need nothing off of them. The library also have an excellent selection for this kind of stuff.
- Buying a beefier Jess/Pat in order to host some more stuff off-site?
Again, necessary? -- BradleySmith
- M: we don't buy Jess/pat, we rent.