MPDL Service Infrastructure

Mgmt,Admin

This page talks about the service infrastructure currently found at MPD compared to the desired status as described in Infrastructure Basics.

Topics to be discussed will include
 * Backup and DRM
 * Virtual Host and Service Templating
 * Service and System Administration in general

Background
Backup procedures used today most often will be client-server based. A host with some backup client software installed will copy backup-worthy data over the network to a server machine running the server part of the backup software. To be capable to keep all its clients' data the server usually will have attached big data sinks like tape libraries and disk farms.

Shops not able to afford that kind of big hardware resources have to ask their providers for backup services, thereby also being dictated which backup software to use. Currently, for MPDL the provider is GWDG and the software being IBM's TSM.

Note: TSM is widely used in governmental scientific organizations, although IBM's license policy makes it hard to stay with it for non-profit organizations. That's why at MPG some bigger MPIs, that have own TSM server environmenst installed locally, are trying to face IBM as a group to reduce their costs.

.. to be continued ..