begin quoting James G. Sack (jim) as of Wed, Feb 21, 2007 at 02:10:53AM -0800:
> Neil Schneider wrote:
> > James G. Sack (jim) wrote:
> >> Here's my first try at composing an announcement that could be posted
> >> to
> >> the main list, sometime before the next meeting. Presumably the sooner
> >> the better -- but let's have a critique first.
> >
> > It looks great to me. Might it be useful to mention that the new
> > server will be 64 bit?
>
> OK, heres essentially the same thing with a couple of typo fixes and
> adding a ref to 64bit
>
> ==> MORE CRITIQUE INVITED!
Meta-comments in brackets. Suggested edits provided as line rewrites.
> * * *
> Sparkplug Version III is Coming
>
> For some time now, we have noticed that our kernel-panic server has been
[Who is this "we"? We-the-steering-committe? Maybe "many of us" ?]
> overworked. It manages not only a half-dozen mail lists, but also our
> public web interface including a wiki as well as providing personal
public web interface, including a wiki, as well as providing personal
> folders for website members. Resource demands seem to have have grown as
folders for website members. Resource demands have have grown as
> the web software has gotten fancier over the last couple of updates.
> The server constitutes an important part of our mission of Linux
> promotion, advocacy and education, but the web interface experience is
promotion, advocacy, and education, but the web interface experience is
> judged somewhere between barely tolerable ot useless because of
judged somewhere between barely tolerable to useless because of
> performance.
>
> Our existing hardware ("Sparkplug II") has survived 5+ years, and it is
[Do we have a date for Sparkplug II?]
> thought that picking quality equipment will allow us to match that for
> "Sparky-III". The proposed equimemnt will emphasize CPU horsepower via a
"Sparky-III". The proposed equipment will emphasize CPU horsepower with a
> pair of dual-core 64-bit Xeon 5130's, memory next with 4GB of 667MHz
pair of dual-core 64-bit Xeon 5130s, then memory with 4GB of 667MHz
> DDR2 ECC (allowing expansion to 8GB at a later date), and disk features
DDR2 ECC (allowing expansion to 8GB at a later date), and finally disk
[The (allowing expansion...) bit is slightly ambiguous, and "at a later
date" is redundant, as we can't expand it at a previous date. Maybe
something more like ...leaving room to expand to 8GB... ?]
> next with a mirrored pair of 400GB SATA-2 w/ NCQ. All of this goes into
with a mirrored pair of 400GB SATA-2 w/ NCQ. All of this goes into
> a serious rack-optimized package probably an Intel Server System
a serious rack-optimized package -- probably an Intel Server System
> SR1530HCL.
[Perhaps add a footnote with a link to something like
http://www.intel.com/design/servers/boards/s5000vcl/index.htm ]
> Josh has generously volunteered to honcho the acquisition through his
Josh has generously volunteered to manage the acquisition through his
> regular commercial channels -- and assemble the works as well! The
> estimate totals out b to about $2700. A general consensus of the
estimate totals out to about $2700. A general consensus of the
> steering committee discussion (see
steering committee (see
> http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-steer) is
> that this is an excellent expenditure to further our mission objectives.
>
> If all goes as planned, we should be able to migrate to the new system
> in a few weeks. We are looking forward to not only improving our present
> operations but to gaining resource headroom that allows us to consider
> adding more member benefits and possible public benefits.
> * * *
--
Mixing up nits, preferences, and error corrections.
Stewart Stremler
--
[email protected]
http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-steer
