This page collects information on the hardware we plan to install at a colocation provider as part of our new hosting infrastructure.  Some older discussion and similar stuff is on NewSystemHardwareArchive.

= System setup =

Currently, what we know are the uses for the three machines we will base our infrastructure on. We also know our Abulafia machine configuration, and Justin Leitgeb's to-be-donated server configuration. What we need to come up with, is the ideal setup for the third machine that we will have to buy. So, the machine configurations and intended uses follow:

== Justin Leitgeb's donation: Dell PowerEdge 2850 ==

 * Processor: 2 x 2.8 GHz
 * RAM: 4 GB
 * Disks:
   * 4 x 10K Seagate Cheetah SCSI drives, 73GB  '''and'''
   * 2 x 10K Seagate Cheetah SCSI drives, 36GB
 * Extra: RAID kit, with battery, etc.,  256 MB RAID cache, 2 power supplies

'''Intended use:  fileserver and host for all services that don't involve dynamic content provided by non-admins. No user logins.'''

== HCoop's currently-underused  machine Abulafia ==

 * Processor: 1 x 900 MHz
 * RAM: 512 MB
 * Disks: 40 GB RAID 1 (2 x 40 GB 7200 RPM ATA drives)
 * Extra: 3Ware 6400 PCI ATA RAID controller

'''Intended use: refurbished slightly to serve as a generic shell server and the only machine where usage not strictly related to "Internet hosting" is permitted.'''

== New server, for which we need to come up with hardware specifications ==

 * Processor: Dual AMD 248
 * RAM: 2 GB RAM
 * Disks: 2 x 73 RAID 1 SCSI
 * Extra: Should be 1U.  Goal is to make it processor intensive, and only disk-heavy enough to ensure a high level of uptime.  Other considerations such as a preference for AMD and the vendor Penguin Computing that have been expressed on the list and in meetings should be followed here.

'''Intended use: dynamic web content and any other Internet services that involve running arbitrary code from members (including custom daemons, etc.)'''

JustinLeitgeb says:

 The model that I like best for this machine of the previous configurations is the Penguin Altus 1400.  It is a 1U machine with hardware SCSI RAID listing for $3463  [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/penguin_web_server.ps (postscript)] [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/penguin_web_server.pdf (PDF)][[BR]]

 We could go with SATA, but I would only do this if we can do it with hot-swappable disks in a 1U case.  I suppose that SATA could be a better choice even if it isn't   hot-swappable once we get a cluster of web servers... maybe we can get SATA now and live with the consequences until we reach this point.  Ideas?[[BR]]
 
 I think that we should also negotiate with Penguin on the phone over this configuration.

== Switch ==

We are proceeding under the assumption that we'll use ShaunEmpie's donation (see HardwareDonations), a Nortel (Baystack) 380 switch.  He says:

It is not brand new but is working. Here is [http://vpit.net/es380-guide.pdf a guide] that I was able to find to give anyone interested a more in depth view of it.

ES380 AC Power Specs:
 * Input current: 1.5A to 100 AC
 * Input voltage (rms): 100 to 240 VAC at 47 to 63 Hz
 * Power consumption: 150 W
 * Thermal rating: 1000 BTU/hr maximum

== Serial console ==

Some device to simulate local login over the Internet could be a life saver.  JustinLeitgeb mentions a special card that Dell sells that would work with his donation.