I do agree - setting up a main Rivendell "server", even if it is on an older desktop PC with a couple of hard disks in a RAID mirror - in my view is a better option then using a cloud-based server. If you're able to set up 2 servers which can mirror each other, perhaps get aman up and running so that they are easily hot-swappable in the event of failure, that could - in my opinion - offer a more robust system then relying on a 3rd party cloud-server provider.
For an inexpensive setup, one Rivendell setup that I did put together on very little budget included a decent desktop based PC as the central "server" (about a 4 year old AMD quad core that was around $100, added in a pair of 1 GB RAID mirrored hard disks), some 2005/2006 era Pentium 4-2.8Ghz desktop PC's as the workstations (they had all of 1 GB memory and 40GB hard disks, worth around $20 - $40 each), all connected through its own 24 port 3com Superstack II 3300 10/100 switch I picked up off ebay for $20. Plus a used M-Audio Delta card. While that system has never been put on the air, it has never had any issues either - it just works. The big thing though - I went through each machine before putting anything into service, replaced any faulty caps, and for the P4-2.8's I ended up compiling Rivendell from source since those CPU's were old enough they were not 64-bit capable and needed a 32-bit OS. If I were doing something similar on an equally limited budget the main things I'd change would be to look for a full GB switch (the 10/100 works fine and the price was a good purchase, but decent gigabit switches are getting cheaper), larger hard disks for storage, and perhaps try and find workstations with CPU's that'll run a 64-bit OS to let me run the appliance. Just something to think about. > > Following your posts I must suggest that if the PC's you have available > are able to run Vista they are well able to run Rivendell. > > Yes it's nice to have a server which has a large HDD but if there is no > money to buy a 4TB [ x 2] you can clump together a server with 2 or > more of the biggest drives in the fleet in an array. It works and plenty > of motherboards will run 4 SATA drives. Obviously the biggest fastest > bestest machine becomes the server. > > RAM for the server is not that expensive, you can turbo up an older > machine with some RAM. MySQL likes RAM. > > Whatever you build, make sure you have 100% backup; a copy somewhere you > can swing in when the #1 fails. Better have 2, one on site, and one off > site. > > Any copy which is at a remote facility may be secure, but it can take a > week or two to download. Any facility operated by a third party may be > convenient for sharing, but is not to be trusted. I have two remote > sites where my system is replicated. We use various cloud services for > programme sharing news etc and the error / corruption rate is > significant. OK for a programme provider to reload material which is > delivered well in advance. Not OK if you are planning to use it in real > time. > > Working with not for profits who don't get funds and grants, until they > can demonstrate that they are worthy, is a challenge to your ingenuity. > > It can be the most satisfying work you will ever do. > > regards > > Robert Jeffares > > -- *Big Valley Radio* > 64 Warner Park Avenue > > Laingholm > > Auckland 0604 > > 09 8176358 > > 0221693124 > > 06 650 6087<hr>_______________________________________________ > Rivendell-dev mailing list > [email protected] > http://caspian.paravelsystems.com/mailman/listinfo/rivendell-dev _______________________________________________ Rivendell-dev mailing list [email protected] http://caspian.paravelsystems.com/mailman/listinfo/rivendell-dev
