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2 high-performance computers, running Windows server. |
ChemIT actions
1) Determine if there is rack space, and where it is.
2) Worth doing Hyper-V? (Oliver guesses probably not.)
Selection and pricing
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Computer pricing considerations.
Plus:
$160 for a UPS (see below).
$150 for network cables, maybe a switch.
- Racks are ~$550, but generally bought by those with bigger systems and not "sold back" for recovery.
Support and Risk management considerations
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Proposed Download automatically. Install manually (by ChemIT or researcher?)
- If ChemIT to do the updates, determine monthly schedule and stick to it so predictable to researchers.
- If ~4hour window of interruption, should be fine if date/ time known well in advance to researchers. For both systems.
Security
Network configured to prevent off-campus access, unless using VPN (10-space).
- No web, email, etc. access from the systems. (Not a "play" station!)
- Systems still able to get updates via the network.
Leave Symantec off, for increased performance.
- Researchers must practice safe computing practices, of course.
Robustness
1) 2 drives, mirrored, in each server. Via hard ware RAID (need? want?).
- IS redoing last run OK to do, if a single drive fails?
2) File versioning, local. Would need another drive (need? want?).
- Can get via saves to off-site file share, such as Petersen's SFS file share.
- Size and quantity of data expected?
3) Back Real back ups . (need? want?)
- EZ-Backup: $5.50/ month, for first 18 GB, compressed.
- If all calculations are pulled off system right away, need for backups is much reduced.
UPS
~$160. Budget to replace every ~3 years or so.
GOAL: Protect for single-digit minutes.
- Both servers covered by one UPS.
- Q: For how much time, versus one server per one UPS?
- Only one server can be governed by UPS status.
- Invest in figuring out how to shut down second server elegantly, from UPS-governed server?
Access and permissions
Up to 2 Remote Desktop accounts at once, per server (plus console access).
- Above that, must add and invest server resources to run Terminal Services.
File manage by NetID directories?
Who all needs access, and to what?