01/15/10 12:07 - 39ºF - ID#50817

Servers and uptime - happy anniversary

At work I manage 7 linux servers. Include estrip and its 8. It seems to be growing but honestly the servers pretty much manage themselves. Managing servers is not really my job but I am good at it and the server techs are mostly a windows group that seem to generally dislike my love for linux. Luckily there is a guy on the network team who is my *nix guru whenever I get stuck. He has servers with years of uptime.

That being said I am getting pretty good at it and I've learned a lot but I have to say, centos itself rocks.

The main web app linux production server I manage at work: 366 days uptime.

Estrip linux server: 369 days

Work linux db server: 76 days would be 366+ but I rebooted 76 days ago to make sure the memory only databases would populate in case of a power failure.

The windows web app servers have tiny uptimes in comparison. For example our main windows web app server is set to reboot every night because no one can figure out the memory issues. It could be the OS, it could be the programs, it could be vendor products, who knows. But one thing is sure, it seems like they constantly need to be rebooted. I am torn on if its windows itself or that no one really understands the windows web servers. I do remember my windows comp needed rebooting all the time too.

Its an interesting situation. The reason the server team loves windows servers is for the support they get from Microsoft.

Its fascinating when I see emails from microsoft support suggesting the solution to a IIS app pool issue is to reboot the server. Is everything in windows solves by rebooting and isn't that a flaw in itself? Isn't the whole point of app pools in IIS to avoid having to reboot the server when apps act up?

Permalink: Servers_and_uptime_happy_anniversary.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

01/11/10 11:06 - 20ºF - ID#50799

Shrimp with Montreal steak seasoning

I love shrimp with Montreal steak seasoning and meyer lemons. I
defrosted them on Sunday so I has to cook them today. This was before
I came across those 8 lbs of ham. I would have never defrosted them
if I knew about the ham.

Permalink: Shrimp_with_Montreal_steak_seasoning.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: web

01/10/10 08:08 - 26ºF - ID#50791

European News That Suprised Me

I saw in the news today that China just edged out Germany as the world's top exporter

I seriously had no idea that Germany performed so well in the world market. How can they with the high standard of living, social welfare, baggage from WWI and WWII along with the lack of natural resources. You would think they would have lost all their productive competitiveness as America did.

According to wikipedia:

Germany is the world's top exporter with $1,498 trillion exported in 2008 (Eurozone countries are included) and generates a trade surplus of 165 billion.

As a side note, who knew the prime minister of the Ukraine was so hot. She wears her hair like this a lot. Here is her wikipedia page

Permalink: European_News_That_Suprised_Me.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

01/10/10 07:01 - 26ºF - ID#50790

Garret county spiral cut ham

If you like ham on the bone, this is the best. Its also free of
preservatives, hormones and antibiotics and nitrates. I bought it at
the coop but it comes from garret county farms

It was really expensive last week at like $5.99/lb or ~$52 for an 8 lb
ham. That same ham is now only $2.99/lb at $25 total. 8lbs is so
much ham, you have enough to eat for a week, plus make soup with the
bone and you can still freeze half. Its totally cooked and has a
delicious smoky maple glaze so it's also no work minus figuring out
how to eat all that ham. I mean that's competive with deli slices ham
prices and this is so much tastier and healthier.

Permalink: Garret_county_spiral_cut_ham.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

01/09/10 06:11 - 10ºF - ID#50782

Our gas bill

You think it would be crazy expensive but with insulated walls, plastic wrapped
windows, closed doors and keeping it not very hot we manage to get the bill down to $230 and that real not estimated.

Permalink: Our_gas_bill.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: web

01/09/10 01:28 - 14ºF - ID#50780

What did I tell you?

about running with chopsticks.

The article this came from had other weird xrays

Permalink: What_did_I_tell_you_.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

01/09/10 12:50 - 14ºF - ID#50775

Buffalo tastes

I spent all day programming. At the end of the day I just wanted a
hamburger. Buffalo meat will have to do.

Permalink: Buffalo_tastes.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

01/05/10 11:56 - 21ºF - ID#50751

Talking Carl

This app for the iPhone is so fun. It's 99 cents but the way it
works, we all get to use it on our phones on our family plan.
Anyways, he repeats after you in a funny voice and you can tickle
him. We justified the purchase by (e:Matthew) saying the kids would
like it.