Conference 44.370::system_management

48.0. "System Management Update" by RDGE00::DRAPER (Steve Draper) Sun Mar 08 1987 16:41

    A copy of this should already have been mailed to everybody in Acre
    Road - but for those who missed it - and those who *really* enjoyed
    it first time around - here it is again: 

    This memo is to bring to your attention some of the recent issues
    concerning systems management in Acre Road. A copy of this memo will
    be placed in the cluster System Management notesfile. 

    1.	SYSTEM MANAGER
	--------------

    As most of you will now be aware, we have a new system manager:
    Jerry Thompson (ext 6746), who, in turn, has a new administrator to
    assist him in his work: Rob Macmillan (ext 6674) 

    2.	SYSTEM EXPANSION
	----------------

    Most of you will, by now, be aware of the plans to supplement our
    existing major system (3 x 11/785, 1 x 11/750) with 1 x 8200, 3 x
    8500 during the next two quarters. What many of you will not be
    aware of, is that these orders have recently been upgraded to 4 x
    8700 for delivery in the same timeframe. In FY88, we have budgeted
    for an additional 3 x 8700 to replace the 3 x 11/785 in FY88. In
    addition to all of the above, we have ordered (expected delivery
    Q1/FY88) yet another 8700 for exclusive use by the End User
    Consulting Group, giving us a grand total of 8 x 8700 systems. 


    3.	POWER PROBLEMS
	--------------

    There is believed to be a potential problem with the amount of
    single-phase power available in computer room #1 (the main ADG
    computer room). This means that, for the moment at least, no further
    MicroVAXen can be installed in the computer room. We have asked
    Computer Resources to undertake a survey of the power availability
    in CR#1 as soon as possible in order that we can take steps to deal
    with the situation. 


    4.	PAPER
	-----

    Many of you will doubtless have observed (and may even have remarked
    upon) the number of old listings that currently decorate the
    computer room. Well... not for much longer! A set of shelves labeled
    identically to those used to hold listings in the computer room, has
    been erected just outside the computer room door. The operators have
    agreed that, every morning, they will move all the uncollected
    listings from the computer room to the racking just outside the
    computer room door. Listings on the racking outside the computer
    room door will be moved to the grundon. Thus you will now have
    between 24 and 48 hours maximum in which to collect any listing you
    print. 


    5.	FAULTS
	------

    Our somewhat haphazard system(?) of fault reporting has been causing
    the operators some problems in terms of tracking the faults
    reported, the activities of field service engineers, and the ADG
    person to be contacted in the case of any particular fault. In order
    to control this situation, all fault reporting must, in future, be
    co-ordinated through Rob Macmillan (ext 6674). If Rob is not
    available for any reason, then you should contact either Jerry
    Thompson (ext 6746) or myself on ext 4588. 

    6.	GAMES
	-----

    Some of you may have realised that we are now actively prohibiting
    the use of games on the cluster during working hours. The reason for
    this is simple: we are currently VERY short of computing resources,
    and it is unfair of those who are playing games (while others are
    trying to work) to consume those limited resources for
    non-productive purposes. 

    Therefore, those people who are found to be playing games during
    working hours will have their process suspended and mail sent to
    them informing them why this action has been taken. (You can log in
    again to read the mail!!). From the time the process has been
    suspended, you will have 15 minutes to contact the system manager -
    otherwise your process will be deleted. The reason for this is that
    certain games (e.g. Moria) will cause you to loose your character if
    your process is deleted, and we have no wish to act in a purely
    draconian manner. However, persistant offenders, and those who try
    to work around the system by renaming games, will have their
    accounts deleted from the system and will require a request signed
    by their manager before their account will be re-instated. 

    For the purposes of this disucssion, working hours are defined as 

				09:00 - 12:00
				14:00 - 17:30

	from Monday - Friday.