[Koha] koha express

[Joann Ransom]

Hi Beth,

We host ours on-site and have real no IT expertise other than checking
everything is plugged in, switched and how to run the ping command.

This is how we do it:

We have 3 libraries in different towns using the same instance of Koha
hosted on a server in the central library. Connection is live via a standard
adsl (broadband) connection. NZ broadband is crap so no faster than 512mb
connection (no leased line, T1 etc).

The servers cost about $NZ8k each and we have 2 of them. Each one is a
mirror of the other, and each one has multiple disks doing a Raid array
something. (Some techie person will know exactly what that means).

The point here is though is that we have provided for disk failure on each
machine, and also machine failure. Additionally, we have a nightly data
backup offsite to a server in another city, thus providing for building
failure (fire) and 'city' failure (earthquake.)

We have the server in our main library so that if the internet goes down (no
- NZ is not a 3rd world country but I sometimes think our internet is!) then
at least we can still operate at our busiest site.

Our vendor configured the servers to set up the hardware (say a days work)
and then downloaded and installed Koha, managed the data migration /
conversion, and fixes bugs that we report and codes enhancements that we
request.

We do not have a service contract with our vendor. We pay as we go for
actual time and materials. This is because over the last 10 years we have
learnt that once the servers are turned on and running - we can ignore them.
Linux boxes just keep going and Koha is rock solid. Our vendor can remotely
access the servers and koha itself to run periodic updates etc.

There is a 'risk' in running computer systems and you have to decide as an
organisation whether you are willing to take the risk and therefore just pay
for whatever work your vendor does for you, or do you 'pay' for that risk to
be carried by someone else ie the vendor. I would suggest that this costs
you more but on the flip side gives you surety in terms of budget
management. For instance we have never paid more than $NZ 8k per annum for
standard IT support, although considerable more in the years we have done
major upgrdes (say $NZ 20k - $NZ 30k in 3 years over the last 10)  I think
thee xchange rate is roughly $NZ 2 = $USD 1 : so half my prices :)

Is this helpful? Chris Cormack may be able to explain better what our server
setup is in detail and my prices were ballpark. Bottom line is its easy,
affordable and rock solid.

Cheers Jo.

2010/1/21 Beth Heller <bheller at americanalpineclub.org>

> Thanks all for the extraordinary welcome!
>
> The reason we were going with Express rather than installing it ourselves
> is that we don't have full access to our remote server, and we liked the
> install, cloud hosting and upgrades packaging.
>
> So - is there a Koha-install work-around for not having root access to the
> server?
>
> Alternatively, any recommendations if we just buy a server?  I don't know
> anything about that but maybe we could find the money.  How big, what kind?
>
> Thanks again!
>
>
> Beth Heller
> Preservation Librarian
> American Alpine Club
> 710 Tenth Street
> Suite 15
> Golden, CO 80401
> 303-384-0110 x13
> bheller at americanalpineclub.org
>
> http://aaclibrary.wordpress.com
> http://americanalpineclub.org
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 9:17 AM, Chris Nighswonger <
> cnighswonger at foundations.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hi Beth,
>>
>> Welcome to the Koha community!
>>
>> 2010/1/20 Beth Heller <bheller at americanalpineclub.org>
>>
>>> Hi.  I am one of two librarians at the American Alpine Club in Golden,
>>> Colorado - all mountains, all the time.  We've got about 60,000 volumes,
>>> 20,000 that circulate, and a very small budget.  We do have some IT support
>>> and one amazing volunteer to help with the tech side of this project, but I
>>> am not a coder at all.  We are migrating from Spectrum Winnebago.
>>>
>>>
>>> I was planning to upload to Koha Express this week, but given the buyout
>>> was wondering if anyone had any information about whether this product will
>>> continue and/or any alternatives.  Inexpensive alternatives.
>>>
>>>
>> Yes there is a very inexpensive alternative: Host Koha on your own
>> in-house server. This is not hard at all and with your support and
>> volunteer, you should be up and running in no time. If you/they need help,
>> feel free to post questions here and/or join the IRC channel #koha at
>> irc.katipo.co.nz
>>
>> You can also take a look here:
>> http://git.koha.org/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=Koha;a=tree
>>
>> You will see several files with the word 'INSTALL' in them. Simply click
>> on the filename and you can read upon the installation proceedure. The word
>> following the period in the name (INSTALL.foo) indicates the flavor (foo) of
>> Linux that proceedure is customized for. They are all very similar. Using
>> Ubuntu Server, you can setup a Koha server in a couple of hours.
>>
>>
>>
>>> I would also love to hear from anyone with experience using Koha Express,
>>> and anyone who has migrated from Winnebago.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> There are several on the list who have migrated from Winnebago to Koha,
>> iirc. Perhaps someone who has this experience will respond with help in this
>> regard.
>>
>> Kind Regards,
>> Chris
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>


-- 
Joann Ransom RLIANZA
Acting Head of Libraries,
Horowhenua Library Trust.
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