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Re: ADVICE ON DONATING AN FTP SITE [comp.unix.admin #23040]



===> Evgeny Stambulchik writes on Feb 24, 12:39pm :
===>
===> Subject : ADVICE ON DONATING AN FTP SITE  [comp.unix.admin #23040]
==>
=> 
=> ------ Forwarded Article <3icttl$c8s@gap.cco.caltech.edu>
=> ------ From lone@alumni.caltech.edu (lone)
=> 
=> Dear Archive Experts,
=> 
=> I am looking to donate the hardware for an ftp site to a university or
=> a non-profit organisation, or a company that may be willing to
=> administer it for public good. The site may mirror CTAN, Linux, and
=> DOS/Win software as are at ftp.shsu.edu, sunsite.unc.edu,
=> oak.oakland.edu.
=> 
=> To estimate the size of my donation, and matching donations that I may
=> need to raise, I would like those who have such knowledge to kindly
=> contact me and give me an estimate of how much money is involved in
=> such a project.  I am also interested in an estimate of the running
=> costs that may come from the maintenance of such a site.  I would also
=> need the specifics of the hardware involved, some recomended servers,
=> memory disks or tapes and drives, tar-ing, zipping, gzipping, and
=> other software licenses that may be involved. You are welcome to
=> suggest cost effective but reliable solutions. I conjecture that Linux
=> based servers would be cost effective. Do they exist? If we have
=> lesser portion of the donation used on the hardware, greater portion
=> will be left as a trust to be invested, and to support the maintenance
=> costs.  Furthermore, I am interested in a plan that can be executed
=> stepwise.  First the most needed site mirror will be setup. However, I
=> need a rather complete plan before I can go forward.
=> 
=> Any offer of donation of time or pointing out to an establishment that
=> may be able to housing the site hardware will be appreciated.
=> 
=> Thank you so much for any help in this endeavor.
=> 
=> Larry On
=> 
=> P.S. Please reply via mail.
=> 
=> 
=> 
=> ------ End of Forwarded Article
==>
===> end of the message of Evgeny Stambulchik.


What you need is:

1) to get the needed hardware
2) to find a place where it can be installed
3) to find someone to do installation (hardware, operating system, archive)
4) to find someone to do physical maintenance
5) to find someone to do archive maintenance


In more detail:

1) This is what I think you need in terms of hardware:
  a. A computer (PC) with all hardware supported by Linux, with at least:
     1. CPU: 486DX33
     2. RAM: 16Mb
     3. disks: fast SCSI disks of size: 1Gb + 1.5*(archive size)
     4. CD-ROM: SCSI, at least one, the more the better (for CD archive)
     5. FAST network card, the network transfer rate will be the bottleneck
        of the archives performance.
     6. SCSI controller card: a fast reliable card supporting 7 devices
        that has a long tested driver for Linux.
          mouse.  These are the minimum requirements, The hardware should
          be supported by Linux, the disks and CD drive should have a SCSI
          interface. Buying more than one CD drive will let the archive
          provide data form more CDs. It is important that the network card
          be as fast as possible and that the SCSI adaptor be of high
          quality.
     7. A 14'' screen and graphics card supported by Linux.
     8. Keyboard, mouse, serial ports, big chassis with cooling fan.

     The computer, in the minimum configuration, should cost around
     10,000 NIS and should have a maintenance contract (you get 1 year
     when buying).

     WHEN BUYING HARDWARE FROM OVERSEAS AND PLACING IT IN A UNIVERSITY,
     YOU DO NOT PAY TAXES!

  b. A UPS for the computer supplying at least 30 minutes power at failure,
     giving surge protection.

  c. You should buy a Linux CD, both for installing Linux from, and for
     later exporting it as part of the archive (you should check
     what parts of the CD may be provided freely).
     (All the software should be free including the ftp software and
     mirroring scripts.)

  d. 4Gb uncompressed DAT tape drive and tapes for backup. You need this
     only if the hosting institution in which the computer will be placed
     will not provide you with backup facilities. (You can backup even
     through the network).


2) finding a place for installation, these are the requirements:
  a. Having fast reliable network connection to the Israeli part of
     the internet. Preferably in a university.
     This means that the local institution will help to connect the
     computer to its network.
  b. The room should be air conditioned. The room should preferably hold
     other important computers that are looked after, so that the
     operation conditions are watched and someone will notice when
     something goes wrong.
  c. The placement is better when near to the maintenance company.
  d. Central Israel is better for getting more volunteers, I would
     suggest 1) The Weizmann Institute 2) the Tel-Aviv University
     3) the Technion

3) You need someone familiar with Linux, PCs, and anonymous ftp archives
   to help you in installing the computer, the operating system, and
   the archive. This may sound easy, but to install the archive in a
   good way that will not require a great deal of intervention later,
   takes a lot of work and planning.
   This may be done by several volunteers.

4) You need someone to do physical maintenance. That is, for work that
   needs to be done physically on the computer and can not be done form
   the network. This includes basic maintenance, shutting down the
   computer when there is no power, before the UPS runs out, booting
   the computer when the power comes up again.
   This task should naturally be done by the system administrators of
   the institution that the computer will be in. I hope a university
   will agree to do so.

5) You need someone to do archive maintenance. That is to do system
   administration of the archive and of the computer. This can be done
   over the network. If something has to be done physically the local
   institution can be e-mailed.
   Again, this can be done by more than one person.
   The administrators should have knowledge in anonymous ftp sites
   administration, Linux knowledge and preferably knowledge of the
   topics that the archive supports.


Last of all I am willing to donate time to this project.

I do not read e-mail every day, if you want to contact me try calling me
at home 08-464241 between 19:00-23:30 .

Gili