Page History

Status:

This project is DONE as of 16 September 2008.

Issues:

• The present buying advice for Athena is a mess.
• The hardware recommendations are long obsolete.
• The services offered and pricing are incorrect.
• The presentation is confusing.

...

1. Hardware at MIT:
   Buying Hardware: and Recommended Hardware
   Athena Workstations (purchasing.html)
   Hardware Repair and Upgrades:
   Athena System Deployment and Repair
   (WAY out of date Cluster Services Page)
2. Computer Buying Advice:
   Related Links: Athena Workstations & Hardware (saws_configs.html)
3. Linux at MIT:
   Hardware:
   MIT Linux Hardware Recommendations
   Has short Athena: paragraph at end pointing to saws_configs.html and server_configs.html
4. Athena at MIT:
   Getting an Athena System:
   Options for Purchasing an Athena System (options.html)
5. Athena Linux at MIT
   Getting a Linux-Athena System: Links to Options for Purchasing an Athena System (options.html)
   Linux Athena Supported Configurations: Links to Desktop (saws_configs.html) and Purchasing via GovConnection
6. IS&T Price List Contains pricing info and a link to
   Options for Purchasing an Athena System (options.html)
   as well as a link to the ancient Athena System Deployment and Repair (web.mit.edu/dcnshtml/support/support.html)

New Service Models

Desktop:

...

The Hardware Core Team discussed the direction Athena is headed and the consensus was to create two classes of desktop Athena. (We have to think of good names for them.)::

• DIY (Do-It Yourself) Roll your Own Athena: You buy hardware and are responsible for installing Linux, Athena, and all hardware and software issues. Resources available to you are:
  • IS&T Linux Hardware Guidance Page
  • Choosing between Athena and RHN.
  • PC Service: How to get a system repaired.
  • How to install Athena
  • OLC for OS and Application Support
• We do it all for you Full Service Athena: For an initial fee, and follow-on annual maintenance fee we will:
  • Purchase the standard recommended administrative desktop.
  • Deliver it to you
  • Install the OS and Athena applications and services.
  • Provide house-call service to deal with software and hardware issues.

...

Proposed Next Steps

1. Hardware at MIT:
   1. DONE Change link in Buying Hardware
   :
   1. 
      Athena Workstations (purchasing.html)
      to
   
   Delete link
   1. :
      Athena Workstations (
   purchasing
   1. options.html)
   2. DONE Replace Link in Recommended Hardware
   
   Replace Link:
   1. 
      Athena Workstations (purchasing.html)
      with Link:
      
   MIT Linux Hardware Recommendations
   Related Services
   New Link:
   1. Linux (including Athena)
   2. DONE New Link in Related Services Athena at MIT
   3. DELEGATED Revise content pointed to in Hardware Repair and Upgrades:
      
   Cut old link to:
   
   1. Athena System Deployment and Repair (web.mit.edu/dcnshtml/support/support.html)
   and link to new page that describes the service on offer, the annual fee, and any additional restrictions like compliance with currend Linux recommendations.
2. DONE Computer Buying Advice:
   Change link in Related Links:
   Delete link:
   Athena Workstations & Hardware (saws_configs.html)
   to:
   Athena Workstations & Hardware (options.html)
3. DONE Linux at MIT:
   Hardware:
   MIT Linux Hardware Recommendations
   Athena:
   Rewrite this paragraph. Instead of server_configs.html point to: Server Operations: Pricing.
4. DONE Athena at MIT:
   Getting an Athena System:
   Leave unchanged.
   Options for Purchasing an Athena System (options.html)
5. DONE Athena Linux at MIT
   Delete section:
   Linux Athena Supported Configurations: with its links to Desktop (saws_configs.html) and Purchasing via GovConnection
6. DONE IS&T Price List Use this as the primary point to announce pricing.
7. DONE Options for Purchasing an Athena System (options.html)
   Rewrite: Draft new-options

   Panel

   Desktop "Roll your own" Athena "We do it all for you" Athena. Server Previous Athena Server recommendations were focused on helping customers pick out hardware to deploy and maintain their own server based on Athena. Although it is still possible to buy hardware and utilize the Athena Release for a server deployment, there are many more options including virtualization and co-location. Customers interested in provisioning a server are advised to consult <link>Server Hosting and Management (http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/servers/Image Removed)</link>.

   Simplify but follow same structure. Make it more fully summary page relying on DIY and Full to do the heavy lifting.
8. DONE Athena at MIT: Purchasing an Athena Workstation or Server
   Nothing should be pointing at this page. Nuke.
9. DONE Full Service Athena
   Salvage any useful text for the Options page and then nuke.
10. Minimal Standard Athena
    Salvage any useful text for the Options page and then nuke.
11. Amend to reflect current services; point at desktop recommendation; give pricing.

    Panel
    Remove reference to servers and server_configs.html Change reference to saws_configs.html to linux-hardware.html Point to pricelist page for pricing. Tell people to contact hotline to purchase instead of purchasing.html Delete section "Athenizing a current workstation".

12. DONE Minimal Standard Athena
    Rename as "DIY Athena", and revise.
13. DONE Athena at MIT: Recommended and Supported Athena Configurations
    PROGRESS Salvage any useful text for Options page then nuke if possible. Linux hardware guidance and Admin Desktop will carry us.
    Put a redirect for "saws_configs.html" to the new options.html.
14. DONE Athena at MIT: Recommended and Supported Athena Server Configurations
    PROGRESS Salvage any useful text for Options page and then nuke.
15. DONE Athena Workstation and Server Configurations: Life-Cycle Summary
    DONE Spin Dead list into separate doc.
    PROGRESS Update with current situation: recently dead, Sun status change and new Dell config.