From: Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us>
Message-Id: <200407061604.i66G45G09136@candle.pha.pa.us>
Subject: Re: Do we need more emphasis on backup?
In-Reply-To: <20040706140058.GB30186@dcc.uchile.cl>
To: Alvaro Herrera <alvherre@dcc.uchile.cl>
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2004 12:04:05 -0400 (EDT)
Cc: pgsql-general@postgresql.org
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Alvaro Herrera wrote:
> On Tue, Jul 06, 2004 at 08:32:15AM -0400, Jim Seymour wrote:
> 
> > Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us> wrote:
> 
> > > Should I add an FAQ discussing hardware selection and the importance of
> > > reliable hardware?
> > 
> > Scary to think that people who don't know enough about running a proper
> > server, and thus have to be *told* this, are admin'ing databases.
> 
> Maybe it's scary for people in the US or the western/wealthier Europe.
> But people also live in other parts of the world (I could even mention
> that real people do live in places like Iraq and they even have
> computers there).
> 
> For us rest-of-the-worlders, it's not always possible to get top of the
> line hardware.  I am somewhat lucky because I live in a country where
> people can afford an UPS.  Some people are not.
> 
> Of course you can talk about the value of the data and how much good
> hardware can help you not lose that data -- but truth is, people need to
> make an economical analysis on the worthiness of such protection, and
> while some of them will be able to afford redundant battery backed SCSI
> RAID controllers, some others won't be able to buy an UPS.
> 
> So I think it's a good idea to mention that better hardware can be
> helpful.  But don't make that sound like if you don't have it, it's the
> end of the world or the admin is an uneducated moron.

Good point. I will write up some text for the FAQ and post it.  I will
emphasize that there is great variation in the quality of PC-compatible
hardware, and mention a few specific examples.

-- 
  Bruce Momjian                        |  http://candle.pha.pa.us
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