[Techtalk] was Linux and intermittent connections (was home Internet)

[Mike]

On August 28, 2005 6:37 pm, Andrea Landaker wrote:
> > But to pull this back on topic, how do you keep a machine running OK when
> > it has an intermittent connection, or is powered off.  They are having
> > brownouts in my area this summer and keeping the machines running 7/24 is
> > making less sense.  I'm thinking about things like xntp, cron and network
> > troubles if nodes are powered off.
>
> Sounds like you need a couple of UPS's - Uninterruptable Power Supplies, if
> you just want machines to be able to keep running during the brownouts.
> Depending on how much wattage you have plugged into it, it can keep running
> for an hour or two.  They can be pricey - between $30 and $100 USD - but
> sometimes you can find them used and they are a lot cheaper.

I have a few IPS's  that keep things running for an hour or so.  Other than 
keeping my mail upto date all they do is search for aliens.  I've been 
wondering if a better Seti score is worth the power.

> You could use anacron instead of cron if you want things to run
> periodically, when the machine is on, instead of at a specific time.
> (http://anacron.sourceforge.net/)

I'll look into this again.

> I'm not sure why xntp would be a problem -- can't you just setup your
> computers to sync whenever they boot up?

I have a few machines without batteries so the time goes to 1980 when the 
power goes out, these don't connect very often either,  usually sneaker net, 
but if it is a big file transfer plip, dial-up, or Ethernet depending on what 
is supported at the time

 --
> Andrea Landaker
> http://www.icecavern.net/~qirien/

-- 
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