Morning Grex0rs, There is a real issue with the system's uptime. That's to say that at any one time a user can come by and render the system helpless. To define helpless i mean: That the server is in a state that a ssh or telnet [root] connection via the server's main [grex.org] ip address is not possible. This means a [human] user has to go to the physical location in order to get the system on line. There are various ways to cope, the fact a person [in this day and age] has to phyically drive to the location of the hosted server [most likely a co-lo shit hole] is plainly out dated and no longer a possble solution to your up time. I don't promote taking a server down for any reason if that has no way to get itself up [on line] quickly. Like it or not this is going to be a training zone for some users. The server will suffer down time. I suggest that GREX0rs consider getting a remote ability outside of a standard local ssh connection based on the server open ip's. [open meaning ips that anyone with a bit of looking can get.] A Remote capability is what is needed. I am sure you have a ip range [some netid, gateway, useable range, broadcast /whatever] for Grex that can be used to carve out an ip for the Remote connection. Or maybey you have one static ip. I don't think that's the case. I may be wrong. However, if you have a range you surely can vlsm off /30 [1] ip address from your useable range. I would suggest binding a KVM to that. Lantronic makes a fairly robust yet cheap option. Let's not be hung up on product line. Lets agree to: yes, we need this and secondly [with out a lot of arguements] fund it and use it. If your base server has attached to it a cd-rom [floppy would be nice] you could do a one time trip to install the KVM, put a recovery cd into the cd-rom and be gone. You will thenhave full access to your server at every point from post, fail point, to server=online. Will this stop the server from being taken down? hell no! It will allow you a quick response to getting the server back online with out a HUMAN [oh, user] driving there. Thank you. -- sorry the item before this had bad spacing.12 responses total.
Since there's a copy of this in Agora, which is likely to get seen by more people, I responded there. I encourage others interested in responding to do likewise, and this instance of the item can be frozen or retired, while the other one can be linked into coop and staff as desired.
Thank you for your input, mcnally.
This is entirely sensible. Another alternative is that if we are looking at a new physical box (which has been discussed many times before and then dropped), we should look at one that supports console-redirection, such as Sun's ALOM, HP's RILO, Dell's DRAC, etc. Not having a way to remotely manage it is hurting us. The only caveat is that the out-of-band management address becomes a target for attack, and so would need to be fairly robust and secure.
drac's are good but don't get fooled I have seem them be a bear to install and often not as robust. However, just the fact the idea is being introduced aloud to solve a real world issue is great. This should be a no brainer, the idea is get a remote ability. Lets do a quick bit of research and suggest cost effective remote console ideas and make this plan an action. Thank you for your insight and reply, maus.
There was talk amongst the board of getting a new system to replace the aging hardware we are currenting running on. I was going to look into it, but got activated and am now so busy with USMC stuff that I don't have time for it. Hmm, we really need to have another board meeting.
So who does the scheduling for board meetings; is there some sort of protocal?
I was just thinking the same sort of thing. It is March already and I don't think that there has been a board meeting since the new board was elected.
I'm not sure there has been one since I went on active duty back in September.
re #6 Usually the president is supposted to ensure those functions are happening.
There isnt a president at the moment. I was the president but my board term expired.
so?? did you abdicate by clock?
I was feeling burned out. I stuck it out until my term expired. I wasnt doing an especially good job at the end anyways.
You have several choices: