Notes from the server

Notes from the server



Author: Stephen Kayner, system administrator

Date: December, 1993

Keywords: SMUGgler's BBS bulletin board system update SMUG bureaucracy

Text:
From the very Dawn of SMUGgler's up to 11/23/93 at 3:00 am, there've
been 10,440 logins, for a total connect time of 3511 hours (an average
of 20 minutes per session). Only 1% of that time was on the
command-line interface.
In the SMUGgler's online library, over 1700 files for 342MB have been
uploaded, and 938MB have been downloaded. Daily logins have exceeded
100 several times, and at this point, I am pleased with the volume of
the calls to the system. Some of our other users are not as pleased,
after having received busy signals when dialing into SMUGgler's.
Busy signals can be avoided by not dialing in during ''prime time''.
They can also be avoided by adding more lines to the system. SMUGgler's
$4000 cost-to-date has been 98% funded by the donations of four
members. SMUG has paid only the $17.52 basic rate covering two lines
each month. I include the following cost breakdown for adding 2 more
lines just in case there is another patron or two among us, looking for
a cause.
*Two PM14400FXMT fax/modems = $360 *FirstClass 2 line expansion upgrade
= $315 *Installation of 2 lines by PacBell = $70 
*One time fees for line rollovers = $20 
*4 port nubus serial expansion card) = $290 *Wiring to the server, and
inside jacks = $20 *Monthly increase in phone costs = $38
The Mac II server has 4 free Nubus slots, and the hard drives have a
little over 100MB free. We could phase in an expansion, by starting
with two extra lines, but it would cost about $1100, plus a monthly
increase of $38.
The basic rates for phone service will be rising from $8.75 to $13.50
before too long, which will add another $30 per month to a six line
system. Our 4 line system costs about $75 per month, and the added $68
will bring that to $145 per month for phone service. Ouch!
In short, I'll be glad to do the acquisition and installation if the
costs are covered.
Don't get bummed out by all the talk of money. The system works fine
just the way it is. There are those who would like to get fewer busy
signals, and I'm just laying it all out so they know what needs to be
done to change that. Now that you know, calling outside of
''prime-time'' may seem a completely viable option.
Some of our members still have not yet tried SMUGgler's BBS. We would
like to see everyone log on at least once. We are continuing to offer
the no-obligation loan and installation of the hardware and software
needed to get online. Due to a new and lower priced source for the
loaner modems, the outlay for those who decide to keep them, has
dropped to $45. The software, as always, is free. If you would like to
try this, call me (Steve) at 445-3454. It would be my pleasure to
assist you.
See you online!                    - Steve
Return to:
Known Users archive