Re: [cobalt-users] A new RAQ3i installation

[Will DeHaan <will@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Internet Support wrote:
> 
> Hello list
> 
> I work for an ISP in Guyana, SA. We recently acquired our first Raq3i and I
> had some questions, but can't seem to find the answers in the knowledge
> base. So, please help !!
> 
> First, what is the function of the second network port. Is it used for load
> balancing ? Coming from NT, I am not sure how many IP addresses can be
> assigned to a single Ethernet port and I wondered whether anyone has some
> ideas about this. Is there some kind of ratio of IP addresses to ports that
> should be maintained ? Cobalt has said the raq can host up to 250 web sites,
> almost an entire class c of addresses. Or does the second Ethernet port have
> some other function ?

The second network port is often used by ISPs for data backup and
maintenance.  The first network port may then be metered and the
customer can be billed only for normal Internet service, not for
uploaded pkg files, scheduled backups, and other tasks that can be
performed locally by the ISP over the second network.  

The second network port is very useful for clustering as sharing only
100Mb for all production service and for node-to-node communications
could be very taxing on cluster performance.  Polyserve makes clustering
software that will take advantage of the second ethernet interface, as
could VAR solutions.

> The second thing I am curious about is the hardware lock on the back of the
> unit. How do I use that ?

Standard laptop computer locks will fit this notch.  This is useful if
your Qube is sitting on a desk in an office where more than the pens
disappear ;-)

> Also, what type of SNMP utilities are used with cobalt and how do I setup
> read/write communities ? Cobalt does not document the type of information
> which can be retrieved via SNMP but I hope someone has some ideas on this.
> Please let me know

The administrative web interface allows you to specify a read-only
community and one read-write community.  I haven't heard of any SNMP
software incompatibilities, I understand HP and Tivoli make popular
SNMP-capable network management applications.
 
> The other question relates to DNA and time zones. I already have name
> service running on Windows NT server. Specifically, will name-based
> addressing work well without running name service on linux ? 

Providing the MS DNA application can serve A records correctly.  My
experience with DNA is very limited but I do know it is not a
standards-based application unlike BIND variants which are available for
NT.

See http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/vendorware.html

> I would prefer
> to keep DNA on NT. If not, will cobalt accept a zone transfer from Microsoft
> DNS server ? 

This depends on how the domain is populated under DNA.  Cobalt servers
will always accept zone transfers from RFC-compiant DNS servers as
listed above.  Phrased another way, if the Cobalt server can not handle
the zone transfer neither will any other non-Microsoft DNS server.

> Also, are there any known issues affecting cobalt's DNS
> implementation related to time zones ? 

There are no known issues regarding time zones and bind 4 and 8 as
implemented on Cobalt products which are scattered around the globe.

> I would really appreciate any advice
> on these questions
> 
> My sincere thanks
> 
> Justin Singh
> Network Administrator
> Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You are very welcome,


	-- Will