RE: avcnet mail server

[<jhart@mail.lewiston.lib.me.us>]

Rick Speer, rspeer@lplonline.org writes:

>The library has ordered a new imac for avcnet use which could be set up as a
>mail server if it makes sense.  We are paying $899 for the new imac.  I
>would like the AVCNet Board to reimburse the library for half of that price.
>Perhaps we could discuss it online or at the next Board meeting.

It probably makes the most sense to set up the new iMac as a 
test/training system, initially, to give those who are interested a 
chance to play around and get used to working with Linux on a system that 
isn't in production use.  Once we have more system administrators (and 
users) who feel comfortable with what they're doing, we could move all 
services onto that machine, one at a time, test them, then, finally, 
bring it up live in place of the existing iMac.  The older machine could 
then become either a working spare and training machine, or, if the load 
is too heavy, we could divide the work between the two, with either one 
ready to take on the whole job if the other failed.

There's also the possibility of going to Mac OS X.  It's Unix-based (BSD 
instead of Linux) and offers some advantages over LinuxPPC, if we can get 
all the services we need.  I know that it has web (Apache), ftp, and 
e-mail servers.  We'd have to check on Majordomo and Usenet news (if we 
want to keep doing it).  Importantly, OS X is provided by and supported 
by Apple, and is supposed to run on all iMacs.  We'd have to spend a 
little more money, because you're supposed to have 128MB of RAM to run 
it, and it costs $89 (I think).  It might be an enticement, though, and 
an easier transition for the Mac-centric students from Oak Hill H.S. 
who've expressed some interest in getting involved with us.  They'd be a 
tremendous asset.

The only downside I can see is the significant momentum behind Linux as 
compared to Mac OS X.  And, we'd have to test for performance comparison.

It isn't an easy decision.  What do others think?

BTW, did you/could you order the new iMac with Mac OS X on it?  That 
would save us some money if we decided to use it, and we don't lose 
anything if we go with Linux, instead.

Also, I vote "yes" on reimbursing the Library for half the cost.

Looking forward to others' thoughts.

Jim




Jim Hart
"Working together we _can_ make a difference."