Flutterby™! : Nukes to Neanderthaly

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Nukes to Neanderthaly

2009-06-16 22:23:10.733488+00 by meuon 3 comments

I'm installing an "uber system" in a third world country right now.. and I'm realizing it's a bit like giving nuclear weapons to neanderthals. They can push the buttons, but they don't know why or what it does. Example:

  • They have exactly ONE large ethernet switch. - Everything including their public 'net connection (with 32 IP's) and their "private" network is plugged into it. And their other net connection (128k and 512k) and both sides of their sonicwall "Firewall".. and.. and..
  • The 10KVA APC UPS we sent has been "kludged" into their electrical distribution panel.. Feed->Breakers->UPS->Breaker Panel->Outlet... The y won't let me put the UPS in the rack, or plug the servers directly into ot. They don't understand it IS the protection, and has breakers in it... (good ones), and I'm not able to convince them otherwaise. I'm really worried they are going to wire up the AC to it. It's not meant for that kind of starting or running load.
  • And.. and..

[ related topics: broadband Sports Guns ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2009-06-16 22:38:06.213068+00 by: Dan Lyke

Yeah, but... tell me you haven't had pretty much that same feeling or experience in any number of United States office buildings.

The difference between here and there is that here they trust that the box has magic in it, there they know that things should have breakers on 'em so they put breakers on them. It's just a difference in the level of trust of the magic, and it sounds like the U.S. data centers trust their wizards more.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-06-16 22:57:52.612917+00 by: meuon

If I found a US Utility like this.. I'd 0wn 1T. Hmm.. maybe I should go poking at TVA. (Evil Laugh).

#Comment Re: made: 2009-06-16 23:45:58.396313+00 by: ebradway

You really think TVA is that sophisticated? I'm sure there still using one ethernet hub and haven't upgraded it to a switch...