OT: server maintenance

[Bill Vermillion]

In the last exciting episode of the filePro saga, 
GCC Consulting was heard to say:" 
if: Fri, Nov 05 11:30  
then: nm = GCC Consulting 
if:
then: show nm < "said:"  
GCC Consulting said: 

> Just an observation.

> Most of you are running *nix indicate how stable you servers
> are and how some of you systems have been running for a year or
> more without shutting down.

Lately it has been a bit less than a year because of the lib
vulnerability that affected the kernel.  Longest I got on a
dedicated system was over 750 days.

> My question - How often do you shut down to clean the server?
> You know , get rid of those pesky dust balls from the fan
> openings, and inside the case.

Never.

> Most of these servers are not located in clean-rooms.

Mine are.    But they are in a colo facility :-)
One of the SCO clients has a huge rack that some dweeb HW support
company sold them - which means unscrewing side panels to get to
things and NO WAY to move it from the wall.  The also added
extensions from the TCP/IP block on the wall - so now you do not
have any clue as to what wire is connected where.

They lasted under 6 months.

The other SCO site had their own admins who seemed to be glorified
tinkeres - and one has not had a cover on the case in the last
three years.  The CD  player sort of floats on top of the DAT drive
because someone lost the slides needed for that case.  But at least
it's on top of a desk.   

Those are the extremes.


> Do any of you do the same for workstations? I find they are
> worse then the servers.

I find workstation [at least in the places I see] are in dirtier
environments than servers.  Often the workstation/desktops are
floor mounted with only the keyboard and monitor on the top
of the desk.  And being close to the floor is not a good thing.

Bill
-- 
Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv . com