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Comment: Much status update. (I thought I saved this before!)

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  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    (WAY out of date Cluster Services Page)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 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)

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Originally it was commonplace to purchase an Athena workstation and deploy it as a server, or to look to Athena recommendations for server hardware. In practice the server configuration docs were not as well maintained as the desktop configuration documents. Although there are still some customers following the Athena links for server advice, this services is almost unused. Instead let's exit the "Athena Server Recommendation" business, nuke athena/server_configs.html, and instead point people at Server Operations: Pricing.

Proposed Next Steps

  1. (Improve) Hardware at MIT:
    1. DONE Change link in Buying Hardware
    :

    Change link:
    1. Athena Workstations (purchasing.html)
      to:
      Athena Workstations (options.html)
    2. DONE Replace Link in Recommended Hardware

    Replace Link:

    1. Athena Workstations (purchasing.html)
      with Link:
      Linux (including Athena)
    2. DONE New Link in Related Services

    New Link:
    1. Athena at MIT
    2. 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. Athena Linux at MIT
    Delete section:
    Linux Athena Supported Configurations: with its links to Desktop and Purchasing via GovConnection
  6. IS&T Price List See if anything links to this. If not, archive it. If so, revise the table. Consider eliminating redundant price quote.
  7. Options for Purchasing an Athena System (options.html)
    Simplify but follow same structure. Make it more fully summary page relying on DIY and Full to do the heavy lifting.
    Panel

    Full Service Athena

    New paragraph; delete table

    DIY Athena

    New paragraph; delete table

    DONE Athena Server (All new prose. Delete table. Delete link to purchasing.html)

    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/)</link>.

    Related Topics

    Delete link Recommended and Supported Athena Server Configurations (server_configs.html)

  8. Athena at MIT: Purchasing an Athena Workstation or Server
    Nothing should be pointing at this page. Nuke.
  9. Full Service Athena
    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
    • Move fees from options.html to here.
    • Tell people to contact hotline to purchase instead of purchasing.html
    • Delete section "Athenizing a current workstation".
  10. DONE Minimal Standard Athena
    Rename as "DIY Athena", and revise.
  11. 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.
  12. Athena at MIT: Recommended and Supported Athena Server Configurations
    PROGRESS Salvage any useful text for Options page and then nuke.
  13. Athena Workstation and Server Configurations: Life-Cycle Summary
    DONE Spin Dead list into separate doc.
    PROGRESS Update with current situation.