[Koha] koha express
Agnes Rivers-Moore
arm at hanover.ca
Thu Jan 21 14:49:44 NZDT 2010
Hi Beth
Hanover has an expensive Dell server, but it was set up with the
intention of hosting 6 systems (13 branches) and multiple 'sandbox' test
sites from the outset, with room to host more libraries if we discover
others wanting Koha without too much technical investment. It runs
RedHat, and Xen virtual machine software, which allows each library to
have its own separate Koha system on the one machine, rather than the
shared system Joann described. It is also Raid array, backup is once an
hour. At this time we have not installed the mirror server - still
deciding whether to own, lease, or use space on another vendor's host,
but that is in the plan. We are also planning to have dual Internet
providers to guard against loss of Internet service from one ISP.
I am the liaison with our tech person, so I don't have any figures at my
fingertips. Petrus will be able to discuss this in more detail, and I
have forwarded him on this so he should be in touch (off list) soon.
Agnes
Joann Ransom wrote:
> 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
> <mailto: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 <mailto: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
> <mailto:cnighswonger at foundations.edu>> wrote:
>
> Hi Beth,
>
> Welcome to the Koha community!
>
> 2010/1/20 Beth Heller <bheller at americanalpineclub.org
> <mailto: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
> <http://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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--
Agnes Rivers-Moore
Assistant Librarian
Hanover Public Library
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