[Hcoop-discuss] Next hardware configuration

[Adam Chlipala]

In his last post, Justin asked about colocation providers.  I think it 
makes more sense to consider first exactly what we want to colocate.  
This makes it possible to ask colocation providers for pricing of 
particular package deals.

I think, at a minimum, we need the following:
- A file server for a shared (AFS?) file system, probably dedicated and 
not performing any other server tasks.
- A primary server that most members aren't allowed to log into or run 
their own code (CGI, etc.) on.  This would run nearly all of our 
services, with the exception of things like dynamic web sites and 
user-specific daemons.  (Is there anything else that we currently offer 
that involves execution of arbitrary general purpose programs written by 
members?)
- A less locked-down server that members log into to administer their 
services.  It would have a separate Apache serving dynamic web sites, as 
well as plenty of security measures along the lines of what we have on 
fyodor now.
- Off-network file backup.  Our file server can maintain several backup 
images on RAID storage, but I think we should still take complete images 
of user data on media that are taken off the network, every now and then.

Things that might be nice to have, but that it's not clear we're ready 
for yet:
- Shell/development servers which are designed for non-Internet hosting 
related uses
- Replication of kinds of servers
- Further differentiation into mail servers, web servers, database 
servers, etc.

Extra hardware goodies to consider:
- Serial console
- Hardware firewall

So, what do y'all think about what exactly we should include in our next 
configuration?