Infrastructure Basics

MPDL

This page shows the main concepts to establish a very basic IT infrastructure able to provide self-administered custom services based on standard services provided by a parent data or computing center.

Concepts
Wisely abstract and generalize whenever possible, moderately separate and distinguish when needed.

This means:
 * use homogenous components (e.g. avoid different vendors, providers, models)
 * distinguish between internal administration and end-user services (esp. for networks, monitoring)
 * insert abstraction levels aiming at future requirements (e.g. concerning organization, or scalability)
 * consider grouping everything (will payout later)

Components

 * hardware: server machine cluster, disk array(s), pdu(s), kvm switch(es), optionally dedicated network switch(es)
 * + software: virtualization software, e.g. XEN or VMware
 * administration: concepts to administer the whole environment

Power and main network infrastructure are assumed to be supplied by the parent data center.

Network

 * separate (very restricted) administrative and (possibly wide open) service networks
 * possibly use dedicated device and server networks within the administrative network
 * delegated administrative access to these networks

Hardware

 * use server machines with redundant power supplies and network interfaces
 * use switchable PDUs for all devices' power ports
 * make redundant disk array(s) available to all servers
 * o full remote access to all these machines and devices

Software

 * base each host on clean OS templates
 * create appropriate service roles and features by creating and adding modular packages
 * + use cluster management techniques to administer all hosts
 * o use a given or establish your own true backup and archive service

Status
Unfortunately the most basic requirements for providing custom services reliably and efficiently are not given in the current setting.

legend: + marked issues meaning: already established o marked issues meaning: partly established else: not established