The future of the Mandrake server

[DenisF]

In the past few days, Iv'e had some discussion with Zoli and others, about the future of the Mandrake server.

To make a long story short(er), in the wonderful land of Israel, an army service of 3 years is forced upon anyone who reaches the age of 18.
Now, as you [probably] know, i'm 18 soon. (i'll mark my birthday once Matej installs the birthday mod ),
and i'm going to leave soon.

And since the Mandrake server resides in my home, and i'm it's sole admin, we, the community, need to decide about it's future.
Some of my ideas are in the poll above, and you can feel free to suggest an idea of your own.
however i don't feel that there are any possible solutions besides what iv'e posted.

Please folks, this is am important decision. so reply and vote accordingly.

[miker_alpha]

I did'nt vote, because I'm not actually a Mandrake user, but I think I would go for option #4 (leave it running...) - Unless of course Mandrake servers are apt to catch fire !

1. You may get a computer-related job in the Army, which in all likelyhood would allow yo to be home more than two days a month (it's been known to happen - not, unfortunately to me...)

2. Wait for a couple of months before making a decision, at least until you know what the army's long-term plans for you are.

MikeR (Srgt., retired)

[DenisF]

Having a neglected server [e.g not administered] is just as bad as catching fire..

1. being a high-school drop out, i don't think that they will rush to give me a hi-profile job that's computer related. but who knows.

2. i ain't rushing anywhere
figured id'e start this poll early, so that everyone knows

[sjaz]

I'd send the hdd to Zoli and let the fun continue... Once your home and settled again we can look at rebirth...

Shame your gonna be afk all the time

[afonic]

Well I believe option 2 or 3 is the best.

Leaving the server open in your home while you are away is not gonna work, remember it's a free host and there is no way it can be stable for a whole month for 3 years. There is going to be much downtime.

You should send the HDD to Zoli and he can restart the Mdk server and if when you're back after 3 years you still want it he can just send the HDD back to you!

Of course another server (Suse) with the current mdk user data restored is also a good idea, but not put the data in a server already online (the load is high enough ).

[Nazca]

I don't know how difficult it will be to give hard-drive to Zoli, will that be a problem?

To be honest, I decided to build on Mandrake because I know 0 about servers and Mandrake is a cool name. I'd heard of RedHat before...

Anyway, it seems most sensible to me to move it to another server or (if it's possible) give it to Zoli. Keeping it running while you are not there does not seem wise at all!

[miker_alpha]

OK, Sorry
I guess I'm too used to OpenVMS...
I've been to sites (e.g. offices) where a small OpenVMS server had been running uninterrupted for so long, they had forgotten where it was... I'm talking uptime measured in *years*!

Of course if you think Mandrake can't measure up to that standard...

As for the army: Just try not to take life too seriously.

Remember: "Military intelligence is to intelligence as military music is to music."

MikeR

[DenisF]

Thing is, those small offices probably had UPS systems on every aspect of the network [i.e switches, routers, the server itself] and even those UPS were backed up by UPS.

While my 'net isn't even backed up by a surge protector.

And the military, well, that's just a box of worms waiting to be opened
maybe i'll get a good job, maybe i won't.
and with my luck - i will probably get hit by the bus that takes u to bootcamp on the first day. not once - but twice.

So we'll just have to wait and see ^_^

[zoli]

hi,

I would prefer if somebody else in Israel could have a possibility to take care about Mandrake server. This would give you a possibility to see/act from time to time when you are at home.

Otherwise sendig HDD here and 3 years later back is not a bad idea eighter (as a last choice)

Denis - you decide - you are the root - Mandrake is your responsibility - together with user satisfaction.

Unfortunately polarhome HQ can not provide direct access as Mandrake did, therefore I would be more than happy if somebody would take Mandrake and use it as home router or host in DMZ.

HDD could be shipped anywhere... the only problem is to find the right, trusfull and responsibe person with good Internet connection - who is willing to take care about Mandrake during your absence.

[DenisF]

hey Z,

giving the server to someone else in israel might not be a very easy task. besides the obvious points of finding someone trustworthy enough to carry the job, that person must also be prepared to donate a fair share of their time to upkeep the server.
and this is a voluntary job, i don't feel like trying to force someone into doing it.

Though i was hoping to get the community's help deciding this, but seeing as this thread has 90+ views, and only 4 votes; i guess i was dreaming.

The final decision will be made -around- march, maybe later. i know not.
at the very least, the server will remain fully operational until that date.

I'm gonna try and talk with some of the local ISP's, pull a few strings, and i might get a spot for it in some server farm.
or if the price is right, i suppose i'll just pay for it out of my 50$/month soldier salary.

Otherwise, i'm leaning towards the option of migrating the users to suse/debian.

[miker_alpha]

I would prefer if somebody else in Israel could have a possibility to take care about Mandrake server.

Sorry guys.... much as I would like to; At home I'm in a pretty rural area, connected behind a NAT box shared by approx 500 PCs, and no inward access. At work a. it would be definitely forbidden b. behind an impregnable firewall, definitely no inward access...

Enjoy the army



MikeR

[DenisF]

With the obvious choice of another israeli admin gone ^, i'm thinking that the only option left is transfer of HDD/files

[Matej]

I've mainly got myself an account on mandrake because of it's psychical position (outside/not on the polarhome NAT in Stockholm) so I voted "Keep the server up" (where is).
Though it's 2 risky if no one can administrate it. If you don't find a local admin than you should rather transfer users/files to some other server.

[jagar_freebsd]

This is tough one. . .
And me votes to transfer. being one of the users.
One down one up, life goes on.
So in anyway it should be fine! (I chose option No1)
And USAF Uconndog salutes you the Israel Soldier private Denis. Wishing you to become E-6 or above!

[DenisF]

@Matej
That was my intended option aswell.
I'm thinking that the SuSe server that Z is gonna set up soon will make the mandrake users feel rather comfty, as it will be based on 2.6 kernel and gcc 3.3, so no recompiletion will be needed

@jagar
bit of a contridiction there m8, you say to transfer the files but vote to completely terminate the server + all users :S
make up your mind brother

Ps
what the heck is Uconndog and E-6?

[jagar_freebsd]

kkk
my mind always contradicts with my mouth, sorry.
the idea was that its an *educational system*, so we must accept any decision you make!
we can only imply the diversity of possibilities.
And i think that the decision is already made, just need some support right?
Thats all.

Ps in US Army you will go from E1 to E9.
in three years people usually get E1 to E4. excluding special force. And i was wishing you to get higher level.

[afonic]

This is for soldiers jagar, Denis will just be cleaning the toilets...

[DenisF]

The sad thing is that i hope that to be true =[

Oh well.

The Mandrake server was just shut down for the final time.

Goodbye, mi amore