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Conference 44.370::system_management

Title:system management communications forum
Moderator:CHEST::THOMPSON
Created:Fri Mar 21 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jul 08 1993
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:490
Total number of notes:2018

448.0. "SBPEXE - single point of failure" by PACE::WATSON () Wed Nov 13 1991 09:33

Over the last few days hardware problem have doged SBPEXE - due to cost
constrainsts 'EXE is a single machine and not a more resiliant cluster.

I would like to propse the following possible ``minimum'' cost solution
to the problem :

A microVAX 3x00 is allocated as a backup EWS server. This VAX would be usable
as a project microVAX but in the case of a SPBEXE failure would serve EWS�
to all the workstations. The users could the log ont to the microVAX and use
MCC (or some DCL shown below) to gain access to the development cluster(s).

Although EWS provides only limited facilities (because it would be on a
``little'' VAX) it would still allow people to carry on working during these
times of SBPEXE non-availability.

In order to access the development cluster I would recommend people use a
piece of DCL (SYS$LOGIN:REMOTE.COM)similar the the following on (say) Futurs.


	$ DEFINE SYS$OUTPUT SYS$NET:
	$ CREATE/Terminal=DECterm/Display=�mynode�::0 -
		/Wind=(			-
			title="Futurs",	-
			icon="Futurs",	-
			x = �x-posn�,	-
			y = �y-posn� ...)


The user can then type the following on his/her workstation DECterm

	$ TYPE Future"WATSON password"::"TASK=REMOTE"

(No need for the password for proxy accounts.


The system manager need only write a simple piece of DCL to enable and
diable the EWS load file for each of the workstation nodes.

	Rik


�EWS Eln Windowing System.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
448.1SBPEXE SUCKS !CURRNT::DAWThe Real thing .......Wed Nov 13 1991 17:448
	If it'll work, I'll second it !

	Surely anything is better than everyone on SBPEXE (virtually everyone
	in TPEC) being workstationless, and spending hours doing nothing/G-time.
	Everyone except me that is of course !

	Wob
448.2I need an HSC for SBPEXENOSTRL::DAVIESClose, but no banana.Fri Nov 15 1991 15:3920
    Re: .0
    
    Rik,
    
    I couldn't agree more (seeing as it's me wot getz de aggro)
    
    Dunno where the idea was first mooted but I'm working on it :^)
    
    Re: .1
    
    Wob,
    
    SBPEXE is a Digital VAX Computer running the VMS Operating System
    (sometimes) 
    
    As such it doesn't have a mouth - therefore it DOESN'T SUCK!!!
    
    :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) 
    
    Keith.
448.3VAXes don't suck....HEWIE::RUSSELLHari Krishna, Hari Ramsden, Hari HariSat Nov 16 1991 18:419
The advertising line actually was

"Nothing sucks like an Electrolux".

Instead of passing a bucket round for Children in Need, howabout a campaign
for "System Manager in Need of an HSC" instead.....


Peter.
448.4But have you got a star coupler !FUTURS::WATSONRik WatsonMon Nov 18 1991 10:2310
    As an HSC50 is only a PDP11/70 in a different box why not use one of
    those :-)
    
    Also they (HCS50's) don't cost that much - I've seen the second hand
    for about �3000 in DECcomputing I guess you _may_ be able to get the
    even cheaper via IMM ?
    
    �3000 is about 120 man hours at �25 per hour - so with say 20 users on
    'EXE it would only need to be down for 6 hours for us to be in a break -
    even situation.                                                        
448.5I've got my fingers crossedNOSTRL::DAVIESClose, but no banana.Mon Nov 18 1991 11:5012
I HOPE to get my sticky little fingers on an HSC within the next couple
of weeks - things are looking up in this area.

In addition there is a possibility that I can 'acquire' an 8700 to use so
that we get an 8700/8530 CI Cluster (I've already secreted a Star Coupler
away)

re: -1

Rik, you'd be VERY lucky to get an HSC from IMM - they tend to refurbish
and flog 'em to customers for loadsamoney... but I do look :^)
448.6FUTURS::KINGMy pet plant Eric OD'd on Baby Bio 'n' Grendel...Sat Dec 07 1991 16:5512
    
    
    
    Now that sounds like fun.
    
    A cluster booting the workstations.  How about re-introducing the dual
    system-disk thing again?  It might not have been the most elegant
    method going, and it was a bit complicated, but it *was* fast.  Aren't
    there any applications about that help dual-system-disk management?
    
                                                      
    Chris.