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The heart of a 333 Computer Services Managed Services cluster is the
database server. One of ours appears below. Some managed services
providers combine all server functions on one machine, making it a "single
point of failure. We have separate servers for all Managed Services
functions, as well as backup servers for all functions. I built this machine
from:
An ASUS Z8NA-D6 motherboard with iKVM, two Intel Xeon L5518 quad-core
processors with hyperthreading (16 logical cores), 12 gigs (6 x 2) Micron
DDR3 ECC registered memory, two WD1500HLFS 150 GB VelociRaptors in
RAID 1 (OS only), two RE3 1TB hard drives in RAID 1 (database backup),
overseen by a 3ware 9650SE-4LPML RAID card with battery backup, all
packaged in a Chenbro S20969 with hot swap enclosure and powered by a
Thermaltake TR2 TRX-750M. A spare RE3 1TB hot-swap hard drive sits on top
of the tower. All our servers are similarly equipped.
All our production servers have hardware RAID cards with battery backup,
spare power supplies, dedicated UPS units, hot-swap hard drives with
spares, and all the trimmings necessary to ensure the best possible up time.
database server. One of ours appears below. Some managed services
providers combine all server functions on one machine, making it a "single
point of failure. We have separate servers for all Managed Services
functions, as well as backup servers for all functions. I built this machine
from:
An ASUS Z8NA-D6 motherboard with iKVM, two Intel Xeon L5518 quad-core
processors with hyperthreading (16 logical cores), 12 gigs (6 x 2) Micron
DDR3 ECC registered memory, two WD1500HLFS 150 GB VelociRaptors in
RAID 1 (OS only), two RE3 1TB hard drives in RAID 1 (database backup),
overseen by a 3ware 9650SE-4LPML RAID card with battery backup, all
packaged in a Chenbro S20969 with hot swap enclosure and powered by a
Thermaltake TR2 TRX-750M. A spare RE3 1TB hot-swap hard drive sits on top
of the tower. All our servers are similarly equipped.
All our production servers have hardware RAID cards with battery backup,
spare power supplies, dedicated UPS units, hot-swap hard drives with
spares, and all the trimmings necessary to ensure the best possible up time.
 |
UPDATE: The photo below is of our primary server cluster for Managed
Services. For those who may be concerned about the fact that our computer
cases don't match, we're accepting donations for the cause (see bottom of
page). But when it comes to performance, the innards are what count! So
here they are:
1. Primary firewall - Zywall 2WG fed by a 16 gigabit internet pipe - this
connects by VPN tunnel to our secondary location and is equipped with an
automatic 3g cellular internet backup to ensure constant connectivity
2. Backup server - rebuilt and modified Dell SC1420 (the case was bartered
from a client - thanks A.M.!)
a. Dual Xeon processors
b. 8 GB DDR2 ECC registered memory
c. Three hard drives: 2 X 80GB drives in RAID 1 for OS and one 80GB drive
for data storage (space for two more hard drives in the hot-swap cage and
four more inside the cabinet to be installed as needed)
3. Network Attached Storage #1 - two WD RE3 500GB hard drives in RAID 1
for 500GB internal storage
4. Database server (see above for description)
5. Managed Services application server
a. Dual Core Pentium D processor cranking at 3.4 GhZ (with several extra
cooling fans :)
b. 8GB DDR2 ECC memory
c. 2X 80GB drives in RAID 1 for OS
d. Five WD RE3 500 GB hard drives in RAID 5 for 2TB internet-facing client
storage
6. Network Attached Storage #2 - 2 x 80GB in RAID 1 for Openfiler OS and 4
x 1TB WD RE3 in 2 x RAID 1 for 2TB total for backup of client storage (seven
hot-swap hard drives have temporary quarters on top of this machine)
7. Dedicated UPS systems
8. Secondary firewall (specifications are classified)
Services. For those who may be concerned about the fact that our computer
cases don't match, we're accepting donations for the cause (see bottom of
page). But when it comes to performance, the innards are what count! So
here they are:
1. Primary firewall - Zywall 2WG fed by a 16 gigabit internet pipe - this
connects by VPN tunnel to our secondary location and is equipped with an
automatic 3g cellular internet backup to ensure constant connectivity
2. Backup server - rebuilt and modified Dell SC1420 (the case was bartered
from a client - thanks A.M.!)
a. Dual Xeon processors
b. 8 GB DDR2 ECC registered memory
c. Three hard drives: 2 X 80GB drives in RAID 1 for OS and one 80GB drive
for data storage (space for two more hard drives in the hot-swap cage and
four more inside the cabinet to be installed as needed)
3. Network Attached Storage #1 - two WD RE3 500GB hard drives in RAID 1
for 500GB internal storage
4. Database server (see above for description)
5. Managed Services application server
a. Dual Core Pentium D processor cranking at 3.4 GhZ (with several extra
cooling fans :)
b. 8GB DDR2 ECC memory
c. 2X 80GB drives in RAID 1 for OS
d. Five WD RE3 500 GB hard drives in RAID 5 for 2TB internet-facing client
storage
6. Network Attached Storage #2 - 2 x 80GB in RAID 1 for Openfiler OS and 4
x 1TB WD RE3 in 2 x RAID 1 for 2TB total for backup of client storage (seven
hot-swap hard drives have temporary quarters on top of this machine)
7. Dedicated UPS systems
8. Secondary firewall (specifications are classified)
Below is the other part of our primary Managed Services server cluster. The
large computer is a quad-core, 8GB DDR3 memory, RAID 5, professional
workstation graphics card, 750-watt power supply, 64-bit screaming office
machine that connects all our stuff together on the screens above (with blue
LED fans that are just there to be cool) - built by Yours Truly. The small one is
the third server in our primary Managed Services The photo below includes
the other part of our primary managed services cluster, the Onsite Manager.
Each of our clients who wants non-windows devices managed will have one
of these (including us).
This machine also represents the one time I got weak and store-bought a
computer. Well heck, it was a great deal! A brand new Optiplex with a
dual-core processor, 320GB hard drive, four gigs of DDR3 memory, and a
three-year warranty - for $325.00 shipped. Couldn't pass that one up :). The
Dell also houses our redundant backup system - a CRU Dataport system with
several cartridges, each containing a 250GB hard drive. The servers do their
bare metal backups each night and then transfer copies to the cartridge in
this computer (separate database backups as well). Each morning, the
cartridge is moved off-site and replaced with another.
large computer is a quad-core, 8GB DDR3 memory, RAID 5, professional
workstation graphics card, 750-watt power supply, 64-bit screaming office
machine that connects all our stuff together on the screens above (with blue
LED fans that are just there to be cool) - built by Yours Truly. The small one is
the third server in our primary Managed Services The photo below includes
the other part of our primary managed services cluster, the Onsite Manager.
Each of our clients who wants non-windows devices managed will have one
of these (including us).
This machine also represents the one time I got weak and store-bought a
computer. Well heck, it was a great deal! A brand new Optiplex with a
dual-core processor, 320GB hard drive, four gigs of DDR3 memory, and a
three-year warranty - for $325.00 shipped. Couldn't pass that one up :). The
Dell also houses our redundant backup system - a CRU Dataport system with
several cartridges, each containing a 250GB hard drive. The servers do their
bare metal backups each night and then transfer copies to the cartridge in
this computer (separate database backups as well). Each morning, the
cartridge is moved off-site and replaced with another.
As I write this, I'm also collecting the parts to build an exact duplicate of our
will become our virtualization hosts for our newest cluster that is scheduled
to go online by year's end (mentioned above). This, of course, will be
dependent on our future PowerBall winnings to purchase VMWare/VMotion :)
This will take the place of two, possibly three hardware clusters. I'm also
budgeting for dual SAN boxes, an upgrade to a big fat 75 gigabit internet
connection, and automatic generator backup for this project. Once this is
complete, we'll have a state-of-the-art platform from which to offer even
better and more reliable services (if that's even possible ;)!
Last, but by no means least: Here's your chance to do something about those
horribly and totally out-of-style (and ugly) non-matching computer cases!
will become our virtualization hosts for our newest cluster that is scheduled
to go online by year's end (mentioned above). This, of course, will be
dependent on our future PowerBall winnings to purchase VMWare/VMotion :)
This will take the place of two, possibly three hardware clusters. I'm also
budgeting for dual SAN boxes, an upgrade to a big fat 75 gigabit internet
connection, and automatic generator backup for this project. Once this is
complete, we'll have a state-of-the-art platform from which to offer even
better and more reliable services (if that's even possible ;)!
Last, but by no means least: Here's your chance to do something about those
horribly and totally out-of-style (and ugly) non-matching computer cases!
Below is an example of what a 333 Computer Services Managed Services
technician sees most of the day/night. In addition to the Managed Services
operation (far left), we can monitor server status (performance, component
temperature, logs, etc.), routers, firewalls, Network Attached Storage
devices, security cameras, and all else relating to system operation.
technician sees most of the day/night. In addition to the Managed Services
operation (far left), we can monitor server status (performance, component
temperature, logs, etc.), routers, firewalls, Network Attached Storage
devices, security cameras, and all else relating to system operation.
The items below could appear to the untrained eye to be a bunch of "stuff,"
but they actually constitute a highly organized collection of specialized parts
with which I'm building our third managed services server cluster (for
I switched the 2U server below from SCSI to SATA drives. Got a SATA
backplane and PCI-X (!) RAID card for this machine. It's too inefficient with
power (redundant power supplies that are old) to push less than a terabyte
of storage. I'm going to pack in four 1TB WD RE4s instead. This will give
3TB of RAID 5 storage. The monster server below will be repurposed as the
failover for this box after we virtualize.
Update: The 2U unit below is complete and in production - 2 x 40GB in RAID
1 for Openfiler OS and 4 x 1TB WD RE3 in 2 x RAID 1 (vice RAID 5) for 2TB
total storage. Turns out his old lady can only choke down about 2TB total.
but they actually constitute a highly organized collection of specialized parts
with which I'm building our third managed services server cluster (for
I switched the 2U server below from SCSI to SATA drives. Got a SATA
backplane and PCI-X (!) RAID card for this machine. It's too inefficient with
power (redundant power supplies that are old) to push less than a terabyte
of storage. I'm going to pack in four 1TB WD RE4s instead. This will give
3TB of RAID 5 storage. The monster server below will be repurposed as the
failover for this box after we virtualize.
Update: The 2U unit below is complete and in production - 2 x 40GB in RAID
1 for Openfiler OS and 4 x 1TB WD RE3 in 2 x RAID 1 (vice RAID 5) for 2TB
total storage. Turns out his old lady can only choke down about 2TB total.
Our newest server acquisition. This is a great machine but hearing
protection is required when it's running - it literally sounds like a jet engine
up close!
The machines above will combine with the machine below (now a part of
our 2nd cluster) to build out our third cluster, a rackmount system, which
will take over all Managed Services server duties as we transition to our
virtualized cluster, which is going to be really, really cool.
protection is required when it's running - it literally sounds like a jet engine
up close!
The machines above will combine with the machine below (now a part of
our 2nd cluster) to build out our third cluster, a rackmount system, which
will take over all Managed Services server duties as we transition to our
virtualized cluster, which is going to be really, really cool.
| We start geeks young here at 333! |