Minutes Central Site Working Group Meeting (10/19/95)

Attendees:

-Emily Becker
-Peter Berger
-Joe Charnock
-Wendy Huntoon
-Myron Lentz
-Janet Stocks
-Kevin Sullivan
-Bob Taylor
-Mario Zinga

First Agenda Item: Review of topics from September 21, 1995 meeting

Second Agenda Item: Discussion of PPS Central Site Architecture

The CK:P group commented on the recommendations it presented.

Considering the parameters agreed to in the previous meetings, the following hardware pieces were recommended:
-a DEC Alpha server for the login machine,
(this machine should have at least 64 MB RAM, and a 3 GB HD)
-a DEC Alpha for the services machine,
(this machine should have a 4 GB HD)
-a Cisco 4000 for the ISDN router
-a Cisco 4000 for the NB router
(for other connections including LADS)
-two back-up tape drivers
-two Uninterrupted Power Supply units

There was a discussion about the above list. The discussion included the rationale behind the choices. The Alphas were being recommended because they are machines that CK:P is using and is satisfied with their performance. Also, they can handle the kind of demand that was agreed to previously - 400 user accounts, Mail, News and WWW services. The routers being recommended consider the existing (10/95) connectivity and MAN topology that CK:P is using. Again, like the servers, the Cisco 4000 are flexible units and should be able to adapt to future demands.

The PPS tech staff agreed to review the above suggestions and if necessary bring to the next meeting alternatives to the above suggestions.

Third Agenda Item: The UNISYS Proposal

Myron had asked the group to review the proposal from UNISYS as a way of broadening the present discussion. He had asked the group to comment on whether the UNISYS plan is a viable route.

The CK:P group after reviewing the proposal, concluded that it described a remote site, much like an existing school site, rather than a central site setup. Because it described a remote setup, the proposal was hard to comment on as a central site option.

Myron agreed with this conclusion.

The UNISYS proposal was helpful in reminding the group that it had not had a full discussion on the Security issue. It was agreed that for the next meeting the PSC group would put together some information about how they handle security and bring this back to the working group.

Fourth Agenda Item: The Need to Put in Purchase Orders for the Necessary Hardware

Mario agreed to talk to Pete Camarda - PPS Finance Department - and Betty Susteric - PPS Purchasing - about a time frame for putting in the necessary purchase orders. This time frame is tied to the need to allocate the funds in the correct calendar year of the grant.

Items For Next Meeting

1. A review of security setup at PSC, as a beginning point for
discussing security for PPS
2. Report on time frame for allocating NSF funds
3. Report by PPS Tech staff on other server and router options to
consider