I know this is slightly off the wall, but 28 40GB hard drives aren't going to fit in a single server machine. Why not leave them in the clients, inform the users that they can never turn their computers off, and setup network RAID with each workstation participating as a node in the RAID array? This can be easily implemented using ENBD (which may make it into LTSP as a standard addon anyway for accessing local block devices).
Depending on the reliability of the RAID array that you want, you could divy up the workstations so that at maximum, you could have all but 7 workstations turned off before the RAID array would fail. Since 28 cannot be evenly divided by 3, then next best would be 4, so you could have a 4 node RAID 5 "cluster" with 7 drives in each cluster all mirrored. Each of those mirrored 7 drives act as a single node in the 4 node RAID 5 array. Of course, if you had a way to guarantee uptime on the workstations, you could setup a massive RAID storage array, literally giving yourself all the space from all 28 harddrives which would be enormous. 28*40 = ~1.12 TB !!!! You may want to look into implementing GFS to see if that would allow conglomeration of your hard drives. In this way, you can share all that space from the server and have all your workstations run off the server for their applications with the applications data being stored on the workstations hard drives without the workstations actually directly using their own hard drives. Of course in this scenario, you will want nothing less than a 100MB network (Gigabit network if they can afford it). If not, forget everything I've just said. :) Joey Officer wrote: >With as much as the want the workstation to perform, it sounds more like you >would really only need a domain controller for authentication, what would be >the need of having an LTSP if the programs, and data are being stored on the >workstation. Except for the point of a single point of install (but with a >lot of effort for your scenario). > >I think the best solution for your situation is to try to find a new use for >the harddrives... someone mentioned IDE raid on server, granted its not >extremely reliable, but it would be a start. Or you could build some sort >of network appliance (easily done under linux) and setup some sort of file >storage, either ftp or samba based... and use that as a massive depository >for files for the school. > >I could think of some other designs, but this is a little different >situation, as a consultant, you might try to question their reasoning for >wanting/needing to use the local HD? > >Joey > > >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Adrian D'Costa >Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 4:34 AM >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [Ltsp-discuss] best solution > >Hi, > >I am being assigned a project for a school. They have a tight budget. >Right now the are on a windows 2000 server and 28 nodes. >The server is P III 800 Mhz, 64 mb ram, 40 GB hdd and a DSL connection >using a usb modem. > >The nodes P III, 450 Mhz, 64 mb ram, 40 GB HDD. Some have cdroms some >scanners. All the NICs are Rl8193 > >I plan to use RH 7.0 or RH 7.2. I will be using ltsp obviously. The >server ram has to increase too. Right now they have the usual MS works >and paying too much of licence and other things associated with MS. I >have them a suggestion to switch to Linux. The accepted the offer. >Their only request is that they need to utlise each node's harddisk. >They would be using Netscape, StarOffice, Java and the usual stuff for >schools. I have some knowledge in Linux but not successfully in >installing ltsp on my home systems. I think I can use local >applications and would use each harddisk etherboot to the server using >etherboot's lilo option. So I need you people's assistance in what >would be the best way. > >Thanks > >Adrian > > > >------------------------------------------------------- >This sf.net email is sponsored by:ThinkGeek >Welcome to geek heaven. >http://thinkgeek.com/sf >_____________________________________________________________________ >Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss >For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.openprojects.net > > > >------------------------------------------------------- >This sf.net email is sponsored by:ThinkGeek >Welcome to geek heaven. >http://thinkgeek.com/sf >_____________________________________________________________________ >Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss >For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.openprojects.net > > > -- Jason A. Pattie [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. ------------------------------------------------------- This sf.net email is sponsored by:ThinkGeek Welcome to geek heaven. http://thinkgeek.com/sf _____________________________________________________________________ Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.openprojects.net
