New group has now started to create a fully stable and secure windows machine

[jaks]

Hi All,

New group has now started to create a fully stable and secure windows
machine.

This is the first 'dilemma' in a whole series covering the choices to be
made in putting together an inexpensive but reliable PC.
The basic idea is to discuss each of the various options along the way,
decisions being made by concensus or at least majority vote of the
participants.

The aim of the project will be to install Microsoft Windows onto a PC
'properly' so that it runs reliably and efficiently, eliminating the
commonplace woes of re-boots, re-installs, slow running and lost data.
As part of the project a PC (actually, more than one) will be constructed
(from a large 'parts bin') and photos will be posted of each important
detail.

Vital to this project will be the contributors - you - either using your
previous knowledge and experience to make recomendations or to ask
questions. Even if you know absolutely nothing about PCs right now, I'm sure
you'll have questions to ask and these will be as welcome as the answers.

Choices of hardware and installation of the software will follow later, but
the first step is going to e to choose which version of Microsoft Windows we
use.

If you are interested in getting involved or checking this project out
please visit http://www.askhow.net/ftopic1450.html

 

[Leythos]

This is the first 'dilemma' in a whole series covering the choices to be
made in putting together an inexpensive but reliable PC.
The basic idea is to discuss each of the various options along the way,
decisions being made by concensus or at least majority vote of the
participants.

The aim of the project will be to install Microsoft Windows onto a PC
'properly' so that it runs reliably and efficiently, eliminating the
commonplace woes of re-boots, re-installs, slow running and lost data.
As part of the project a PC (actually, more than one) will be constructed
(from a large 'parts bin') and photos will be posted of each important
detail.

Many of us have already mastered the skills needed to specify quality
hardware, chipsets, drives, network adapters, drive array controllers,
software, and to configure the OS and Service Packs so that the servers
run fine for years without reboot. In fact, I have a NT 4 server, PDC
and BDC, running a soft-PLC, in a factory controlling the processes on a
24/7/265 basis, for more than 4 years without a reboot. I also have many
2000 servers and several 2003 servers that have not been rebooted in
ages.

If you are reading the contents of what's in the SP's, have a properly
configured system, have a quality firewall solution, and good AV
software, you don't need to apply every SP and your machines will still
run in a stable manner for ages.

You can't do it by just knowing the OS, you also have to actually know
the details of the hardware in your systems and servers.

 

[jaks]

Yes I agree you also need to know your hardware. The idea is to get a set
plan as a group whether it be adding more or taking away more. You sound
like a great person to be in this group.

Jaks

 

[Leythos]

Yes I agree you also need to know your hardware. The idea is to get a set
plan as a group whether it be adding more or taking away more. You sound
like a great person to be in this group.

I'm not sure what you mean by "adding more or taking away more"? Since
hardware changes monthly, since reliability of drives runs in cycles,
since new chipsets and firmware are produced frequently, since new
devices are designed and shipped each day, you're taking on a large
task, and the database would be impossible to manage.

As an example, for a small server, using the ASUS PC-DL Deluxe
motherboard, there are at least 8 different drive controller options
that could provide anything from IDE only, SATA only, IDE/SATA mix, IDE
RAID Controller, SATA RAID Controller, SCSI Drive controller, SCSI RAID
Controller, and there are many vendors cards to select from.

Unless you keep detailed records of every config, part number, firmware,
drive type, just keeping track of quality RAID controllers and reliable
drives would be a monumental task.

I think you are better off just posting to Usenet in several groups
based on your need, and seeing what replies you get - most people only
post when it's bad news, so you should be able to see if a
board/hardware solutions has problems.

Oh, one other thing, helping is one thing, but I make a living off
knowing what I do about hardware and systems and firewalls, and sharing
that with people in my area, in detail, as harsh as this is going to
sound, is not something that lets me feed my family. I love to help
people in Usenet, been doing it since the 80's, but I can't see making a
database/group where people that don't have the experience can join in,
with little to show, and take the knowledge that we use to make a
living.

 

[John John]

...,

New group has now started to create a fully stable and secure windows
machine.

No problem, leaving the hardware thing aside for now.

Take the Windows NT kernel and start it all by itself when Windows
boots. If that is too hard for the average user boot Windows to a
command prompt.

John

 

[jaks]

When I referred to adding more or taking away it was tools and addons. The
hardware is already chosen from what was available. How things are setup
and which hardware we use out of what we have is to be determined.

Jaks

 

[Leythos]

When I referred to adding more or taking away it was tools and addons. The
hardware is already chosen from what was available. How things are setup
and which hardware we use out of what we have is to be determined.

But you post made it sound like you wanted to form a group of people
that could identify and specify stable systems, from hardware through
software/patches.

If you're limiting it to some hardware that you already have it's not
going to be of much benefit to anyone but you.

 

[jaks]

These are not my systems. I only benifit from meeting new people and helping
others. One of our members is donating his time and using his own parts.
The goal is to help people as a group with the secure and stable
installation, setup and optimization of either Win 2000 or XP( to be
determined by voting). The system will be built from the ground up with
existing parts. With parts being so standardized it will benifit alot of
people. There still is alot to be gained here. If you have some more input
please come and check it out for yourself.

Jaks

 

[Leythos]

These are not my systems. I only benifit from meeting new people and helping
others. One of our members is donating his time and using his own parts.
The goal is to help people as a group with the secure and stable
installation, setup and optimization of either Win 2000 or XP( to be
determined by voting). The system will be built from the ground up with
existing parts. With parts being so standardized it will benifit alot of
people. There still is alot to be gained here. If you have some more input
please come and check it out for yourself.

So, you're rebuilding OLD systems, ones with any parts you can fetch
from used systems, so that you can determine based on the limited scope,
what parts combinations make stable systems? Do I understand it
correctly?

Is there a reason that you don't want to use recent parts in your
testing?

It would seem to have more benefit to test new (within 1 year) hardware,
including motherboards, to determine what is stable and what is not.

Have you seen this site: http://www.tomshardware.com/

 

[jaks]

I never said that the part were ancient, they might very well be some older
parts but not everyone has the cash flow for 3 systems with all band new
components. Remember we are non-profit. I will try to get a list of the
available parts. tomshardware.com is a great site and our small community
is not in competition with it. I have visited tom's site on numerous
occasions and recieved alot of useful advice.

Jaks

 

[Leythos]

I never said that the part were ancient, they might very well be some older
parts but not everyone has the cash flow for 3 systems with all band new
components. Remember we are non-profit. I will try to get a list of the
available parts. tomshardware.com is a great site and our small community
is not in competition with it. I have visited tom's site on numerous
occasions and recieved alot of useful advice.

I don't have any problems with your idea, I was just trying to determine
what you were actually trying to accomplish, and it's taken this long to
determine it.

If you had said: "I would like to create a group of people, interested
in building stable systems out of older parts, running various OS's, and
sharing our findings with each other (and the public) so that we can
make use of all of these older parts. In the group we will try to
determine what parts can be joined into stable systems, document them,
and share the information so that people who can't afford a Dell 6600
series server can enjoy the benefits of having stable platforms to work
and test on".

That would have explained it quite well.

Sounds like a great idea, we use to chat like this back in the days when
HAM radio was popular. Many places also have local computer clubs in
their cities. It would sound like you need your own on-line message
board and small website, and then a database to allow searches.

The real question will be how are you going to share parts with people
that don't have the same parts so that you can pattern test on different
hardware?