Andrew File System (AFS)

[Jerry Heyman]

In article <337 at ra.nrl-cmf.UUCP> buck at caligula.nrl.navy.mil (Loren Buchanan) writes:
>We are in the processes of planning for the installation of a large file
>server that will be be running AFS, and was wondering about using AFS on
>the Cray, SGI, Sun, VAX, IBM, Stardent, and other computers.  
>
>Are there particular headaches that can be avoided by knowing of past mistakes?

Make sure that you do backups on a periodic basis.  Even though AFS does its
own nightly backups, one would hope that you would still do your own - for
disaster recovery purposes.

>Is there public domain versions of the software available, or should we tell 
>management to come up with the money to buy it.  

If you're asking about PD versions of AFS, the answer is that you need to get
your management to purchase the necessary software from Transarc (they're
located in Pittsburgh).  Since AFS runs in the client-server model, you might
want to consider which machines to make servers and which machines to make
clients...  There is a different cost for which software you use (if I remember
correctly).

>
>Are there third party vendors, and if so who are they?

3rd party vendors of what?  Realize that AFS 3.1 (I believe) is the current
level and that the AFS filesystem technology is to be included in OSF's DCE
offering, meaning that LOTS of companies will be selling it then...

>
>Any parting shots...er...comments?
>

We run with it daily.  Using IBM RISC System/6000's as both clients and 
servers, and IBM RT's as clients...

>Thanks & B Cing U
>
>Buck
>
>Loren Buchanan (buck at caligula.nrl.navy.mil) | #include <standard.disclaimer>

jerry
-- 
Jerry Heyman                  by day: IBM PSP, AIX Development
zebr360 at emx.utexas.edu        by nite: Adjunct Lecturer at St. Edward's Univ.

*All comments are my own and should not be construed to represent any one else