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HARDWARE

A Web server can be established on a variety of platforms, ranging from older Intel 486 computers to the latest Sun Microsystem Solaris workstations, Intel Pentium and Pentium Pro, and Digital Equipment Corporation’s Alpha-based systems. Although Sun Solaris-based computers probably represented the majority of Web server platforms established during 1994 and 1995, the introduction of Pentium and Pentium Pro microprocessors and Microsoft’s Windows NT Server resulted in the “Win-Tel” combination of Windows NT Server operating on an Intel-based Pentium or Pentium Pro becoming a very popular platform.

Most organizations establishing a Web presence look upon themselves as explorers charting virgin territory since there is no practical method to anticipate usage. This means that an effective hardware platform will represent one that is expandable to satisfy an increased level of usage if the site should grow in popularity. One commonly used type of platform is a multiprocessor server with a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) storage subsystem. In early 1997 ARL, DEC, Dell and IBM offered multiprocessor capable motherboard systems that could support 2, 4, 6, and eventually 8 Pentium or Pentium Pro processors. Thus, if a single Pentium Pro should prove inadequate you can add additional processors instead of having to consider the use of a UNIX-based minicomputer or a mainframe. Concerning disk storage, most multiprocessor capable servers support RAID storage subsystems that include drive-bys into which you can easily install additional drives while the server continues to operate. Due to the modular design of most modern Web server hardware platforms, upgrades can usually be accomplished in hours instead of days. Thus, hardware support can usually be accomplished by existing personnel. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case with software which we will examine next.

SOFTWARE

There are three areas you must consider when planning support requirements for software. Those areas include the operating system, server software, and applications software.

OPERATING SYSTEM

Most modern operating systems now are changed on almost a yearly basis. Since few organizations are comfortable with simply upgrading their OS without prior testing, many organizations first upgrade a test platform and test that software upgrade for a period of time prior to migrating the upgrade to their production computer. Web servers are no exception to this test first policy, which means you may have to consider acquiring a test server if your organization plans to test software prior to installing new products on a production server.

The value of a test platform was recently noted by a series of problems associated with a service pack for a popular operating system. This service pack, which represents a minor release designed to correct bugs, introduced a new one that caused Web servers to freeze. Fortunately, several organizations noted this problem on their test server and did not apply the service pack release to their production server.

The personnel support required for the operating system to include maintaining administrative accounts usually requires only a few hours per week and may be able to be performed by existing personnel. The real effort that will more than likely require additional employees involves support for Web server software and the application programming effort involved in creating and maintaining Web pages on the server.

SERVER SOFTWARE

The installation and operation of a Web server software program is normally a relatively simple non-time consuming process. What turns this process into a half to full time position is when you add access controls to different directories on your Web server and have a dynamic environment that requires frequent backups. Under such circumstances you may require an employee to devote a considerable amount of time to maintaining Web accounts, performing tape backups onto a backup server, and performing other administrative actions. Quite often many organizations will assign hardware, operating system, and Web server support to one individual on a full time basis and designate a second employee as a backup.

APPLICATION PROGRAMMING

The scope of the application programming effort required to support a Web server can vary considerably based upon the type of Web pages you plan to construct, whether or not you will use CGI scripts and JAVA applets, and the presence or absence of a database server that will be linked electronically to your Web server. For a simple Web site that uses only HyperText Markup Language (HTML) to create static Web pages that are only periodically changed, you may only require the effort of one person to create and maintain application software on your Web server. As the complexity of the Web site increases, the level of support can increase in tandem. In fact, based upon the experience of this author in installing, configuring, and managing approximately 30 Web sites, you can expect the necessity to add a full time programmer to support the creation and testing of JAVA applets, and another person for database queries. Thus, a commercial Web site that requires the establishment of accounts and uses CGI scripts, JAVA applets, and an electronically linked database server could require at least four full time staff members to support all software related activities. One person would maintain the operating system and Web server software, while three additional employees would be assigned to the application programming development effort.

RECOMMENDED COURSE OF ACTION

It is important to note that no two Web sites, unless they are mirrored, are equal. This manes that the level of support required to install, configure, operate, and maintain a corporate presence on the World Wide Web can vary from organization to organization based upon the type of server you will operate, the level of Web page design, and the possible linkage of your server’s pages to a back-end database. Thus, readers should view the information presented in this chapter as general guidelines that can be used to note the potential level of support associated with communications, hardware, and software aspects associated with establishing and maintaining a Web server. In addition, this chapter indicates the various options for communications, hardware, and software you can consider which will have a bearing on the total cost associated with a Web site. By carefully considering your requirements and evaluating those requirements against the information presented in this chapter, you can determine the general level of support and cost associated with establishing and maintaining a Web site. This in turn will allow you to note the true shape of the iceberg in terms of cost and support, instead of just noting the proverbial “tip of the iceberg!”


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