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Revision 206 as of 2018-12-25 23:01:50
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= New System Hardware = #pragma section-numbers off
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During the HCoop IRC meeting on June 24, 2006, the group decided that it would based it's new system architecture on the following pieces of hardware: This page collects information on the hardware that we have installed or plan to install as part of HCoop infrastructure.
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 * Two robust servers, one that doesn't allow normal user logins, and one that does.
 * One switch to form a LAN between these servers.
 * One serial port device, to facilitate remote access to our servers.
<<TableOfContents>>
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Also, it was mentioned that we should research hardware support contracts from any vendor that will be selling us equipment. = Linode =
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Additionally, group decided that the server that HCoop currently owns, Abulafia, will be brought to he.net for shell service. This will follow a necessary re-load of the OS software at a time to be determined later. == outpost ==
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This page will serve as a forum for collaborative research on the pieces of hardware that we need.  * Location: Linode (hosted at UK data center)
 * Model: Xen VM
 * Processor: 8 cores (1x priority?)
 * RAM: 1024 MB
 * Disk: 40 GB
 * OS: Debian wheezy
 * User logins: no
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== Servers == '''Use: secondary DNS on a different subnet, all tasks requiring remote location.'''
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We will be purchasing two servers, which will be configured and sent to he.net for colocation. = Digital Ocean =
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=== Desired Features === == gibran ==
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These servers should be as redundant as possible. At this point, we cannot afford to have less than one point of failure in many areas, so we should look for the following features in our new servers:  Location:: DigitalOcean NYC3
 Allocated Resources:: 6 vCPU, 16G RAM, 320G storage. Additional block storage volume for OpenAFS `/vicepa`
 Operating System:: Debian Stretch AMD64
 User Logins:: No
 Intended Use:: Primary AndrewFileSystem fileserver and dbserver, primary MitKerberos KDC, SQL databases, [[ConfigurationManagent|Puppet Master]]
 Details:: ServerGibran
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 * Redundant power supplies.
 * Hardware RAID.
 * Dual CPU's, AMD seems to be a stronger option than Intel
== lovelace ==
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==== Differences Between the Servers ====

The admin-only server will hopefully be serving an AFS file system, which means that fancier kinds of RAID are justified there. The all-members server can get away with cheaper (and maybe even faster) solutions for local disk access.

JustinLeitgeb thinks that perhaps RAID 1 would work on the all-members server, and either RAID 5 or RAID 10 on the admin server. It should be RAID 10 if we can afford it, or RAID 5 if we're shorter on cash. :)

There may be other factors influencing different configuration choices between the servers.

Perhaps we can get away with SATA RAID 1 on the web server -- hopefully this machine won't be IO-bound, especially if we add enough RAM later.

=== Proposed Models and Vendors ===

Vendors:

 * [http://www.penguincomputing.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=172&Itemid=230 Penguin Computing]
 * [http://www.dell.com/ Dell]
 * [http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Category_Code=allracks Monarch Computer Systems]

Models:

 * Possible web server configuration from [http://www.penguincomputing.com Penguin] hardware RAID $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)]
 * Possible admin server configuration from [http://www.penguincomputing.com Penguin] RAID 10 1U $5321 [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/penguin_admin_server.ps (postscript)] [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/penguin_admin_server.pdf (PDF)]
 * Possible web server from [http://www.dell.com/ Dell] [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/dell_web_server.ps (postscript)] [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/dell_web_server.pdf (PDF)], based on the Dell PowerEdge 1850 $5071.
 * Possible admin server from [http://www.dell.com/ Dell] [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/dell_admin_server.ps (postscript)] [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/dell_admin_server.pdf (PDF)], based on the Dell PowerEdge 2850 (offers more space for hard disks in our primary file server) $8486.
 * Possible admin server configuration from [http://www.penguincomputing.com Penguin], using the 2U server, redundant power supplies, and RAID 5 $4884 [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/penguin_admin_raid5_server.ps (postscript)] [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/penguin_admin_raid5_server.pdf (PDF)]
 * Possible admin server configuration from [http://www.penguincomputing.com Penguin], using the 2U server, redundant power supplies, and RAID 10 $5523 [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/penguin_admin_raid10_server_2200.ps (postscript)] [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/penguin_admin_raid10_server_2200.pdf (PDF)]
 * Possible web server configuration from [http://www.penguincomputing.com Penguin], with SATA RAID 1, budget configuration about $2700 [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/altus_budget_web.ps (postscript)] [http://www.hcoop.net/~leitgebj/hcoop_servers/altus_budget_web.pdf (PDF)]

Note that when I checked Dell dropped something like $1200 off of the price of each server over $4000, so we should expect some significant discounts. Whichever company we plan on going with, we may be able to negotiate lower prices by emphasizing that we may buy more in the future, etc. With the Penguin models, we seem to have to go to the 2U, Altus 2200 in order to get a redundant power supply.

== Ethernet Switch ==

=== Desired Features ===

 * Gigabit
 * 5 ports minimum
 * Managed - so that we can troubleshoot failed NIC's easier
 * Rack-mountable, so that vibration and heat issues are diminished.
 * SNMP monitoring capability

=== Additional Information ===

He.net sent us the following when asked about switch configurations at their site:

''We've got customers using everything from ElCheapoSwitch(tm) to Cisco-grade equipment. The main difference between the two is how much traffic they can deal with, the number of packets they can deal with, and how they can be accesses/monitored. If you're looking at pushing primarily web traffic (<50Mb/s) and do not require any of the more advanced functionality of a managed switch, you could likely just go with a good unmanaged switch. If you were doing higher traffic levels, streaming, or other such traffic which consist of a zillion little packets, especially if it's between your servers, you would be better served by something a bit higher grade.''

And from another support rep at he.net (their responsiveness has been impressive so far!):

''Depends on their needs. If they want to run MRTG, then they need a managed
switch. If they just need a switch, a netgear or linksys or d-link will
accomplish the job.

Cost differences are greater managed versus non-managed. Non-managed can
be 50-$100, whereas managed can start at about $250 and go into the
$thousands depending on model and capabilities.''

=== Proposed Models and Vendors ===

==== Vendors ====

[http://newegg.com/ Newegg] has been recommended to several of us.

==== Models ====

===== NETGEAR GS108 10/100/1000Mbps =====

[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833122111 Netgear GS108 Switch ]: Highly-rated Netgear switch that is not rack-mountable

Price: ($56.99)

MichaelOlson thinks that we should go with the Netgear switch. It has been rated as a very reliable product, and is very affordable.

I don't like this switch for the following reasons:

 1. It is not rack-mountable, meaning that it could raise issues for cooling in the rack, and be more susceptible to shock that could reduce reliability of the switch, or jar patch cables out of the ports.

 2. It is not managed, so we can't track important information about performance and possible NIC failures via SNMP.

Basically, I think that if we're going to pay all of this money for equipment and hosting, we shouldn't put an interconnect with insufficient features in the middle of our architecture. But, I'm not a networking expert, so I would welcome any opinions contrary to this! JustinLeitgeb

===== Level One GSW-1655 10/100/1000Mbps =====

 * ($249.99) Level One 16-port rack-mountable switch [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833118021 link ]]

I've never heard of this brand (Level 1?) so I don't trust it. Any reviews? JustinLeitgeb

===== 3Com® SuperStack® 3 Switch 3812 =====

[http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=features&pathtype=purchase&sku=3C17401 3Com® SuperStack® 3 Switch 3812] seems to have most of the features that we need, with a bit of room to grow. Prices range from $1000 to $1500 on [http://froogle.google.com Froogle], in my experience [http://www.cdw.com CDW] is a reliable vendor. Perhaps we should make a jump and get the 24 port, which would support our use of an entire rack in the future, if the price difference is small?

I think that we should look for something in this range, but would welcome critiques -- I'm not a network tech! JustinLeitgeb
 Location :: DigitalOcean NYC3
 Allocated Resources :: 2vCPU, 2G RAM, 60G storage.
 Operating System:: Debian Stretch AMD64
 User Logins:: No
 Intended Use:: Secondary AndrewFileSystem fileserver and dbserver, secondary MitKerberos KDC
 Details:: ServerLovelace
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== Serial Port == == marsh ==
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=== Desired Features ===  Location:: DigitalOcean NYC3
 Allocated Resources:: 4vCPU, 8G RAM, 160G storage
 Operating System:: Debian Stretch AMD64
 User Logins:: Yes
 Intended Use:: Member logins
 Details:: ServerMarsh
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Is this device really necessary? For an extra $1000 - $2000, and utilization of 1U, I am not convinced that this is worth the expense. It seems that in the rare event that our machine is inaccessible from ssh we can use remote hands with he.net and put our resources elsewhere. If someone does think that this is necessary, please put a link to specific models that would be helpful, and a list of reasons why they will come in handy that would justify the additional cost and space in our rack. JustinLeitgeb == minsky ==
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=== Proposed Models and Vendors ===  Location:: DigitalOcean NYC3
 Allocated Resources:: 2vCPU, 4G RAM, 80G storage
 Operating System:: Debian Stretch AMD64
 User Logins:: No
 Intended Use:: Mail server and ejabberd server
 Details:: ServerMinsky
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[http://www.cyclades.com/ Cyclades] was mentioned as one vendor of serial port devices which are linux-friendly. == shelob ==

 Location:: DigitalOcean NYC3
 Allocated Resources:: 4vCPU, 8G RAM, 160G storage
 Operating System:: Debian Stretch AMD64
 User Logins:: No
 Intended Use:: Web Server
 Details:: ServerShelob

= Awaiting setup =

None.

= Awaiting purchase =

New virtual servers, see VirtualizedHosting2018 and ServerMigration2018.

= Decommissioned =

See [[/Decommissioned]] for older machines

----
CategorySystemAdministration

This page collects information on the hardware that we have installed or plan to install as part of HCoop infrastructure.

Linode

outpost

  • Location: Linode (hosted at UK data center)
  • Model: Xen VM
  • Processor: 8 cores (1x priority?)
  • RAM: 1024 MB
  • Disk: 40 GB
  • OS: Debian wheezy
  • User logins: no

Use: secondary DNS on a different subnet, all tasks requiring remote location.

Digital Ocean

gibran

Location

DigitalOcean NYC3

Allocated Resources

6 vCPU, 16G RAM, 320G storage. Additional block storage volume for OpenAFS /vicepa

Operating System
Debian Stretch AMD64
User Logins
No
Intended Use

Primary AndrewFileSystem fileserver and dbserver, primary MitKerberos KDC, SQL databases, Puppet Master

Details

ServerGibran

lovelace

Location

DigitalOcean NYC3

Allocated Resources
2vCPU, 2G RAM, 60G storage.
Operating System
Debian Stretch AMD64
User Logins
No
Intended Use

Secondary AndrewFileSystem fileserver and dbserver, secondary MitKerberos KDC

Details

ServerLovelace

marsh

Location

DigitalOcean NYC3

Allocated Resources
4vCPU, 8G RAM, 160G storage
Operating System
Debian Stretch AMD64
User Logins
Yes
Intended Use
Member logins
Details

ServerMarsh

minsky

Location

DigitalOcean NYC3

Allocated Resources
2vCPU, 4G RAM, 80G storage
Operating System
Debian Stretch AMD64
User Logins
No
Intended Use
Mail server and ejabberd server
Details

ServerMinsky

shelob

Location

DigitalOcean NYC3

Allocated Resources
4vCPU, 8G RAM, 160G storage
Operating System
Debian Stretch AMD64
User Logins
No
Intended Use
Web Server
Details

ServerShelob

Awaiting setup

None.

Awaiting purchase

New virtual servers, see VirtualizedHosting2018 and ServerMigration2018.

Decommissioned

See /Decommissioned for older machines


CategorySystemAdministration

Hardware (last edited 2021-04-17 15:58:03 by ClintonEbadi)