Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!orion.oac.uci.edu!mrichey
From: mrichey@orion.oac.uci.edu (Mike Richey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Powering Network ON/OFF
Message-ID: <3925@orion.cf.uci.edu>
Date: 3 Jan 90 21:04:28 GMT
References: <1990Jan3.122707.1625@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu>
Reply-To: mrichey@orion.oac.uci.edu (Mike Richey)
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Lines: 42

In article <1990Jan3.122707.1625@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> leemc@csri.toronto.edu (Matthew Lee) writes:
>I have been saddled with the privilege of investigating the following 
>proposal:
>
>We are currently running a Novell network with two servers and 40 NEC 386SX
>*workstations* without hard disks. It has been suggested that since this
>system is only in use from 8:00 a.m. to midnight that it be powered down for
>the 8 hours at night that it is not in use, the reasoning being that by reducing
>the period that the system is powered on by 1/3, the life of the machines will
>be prolonged by a significant amount. The system would probably be powered on 
>and off by some sort of timer installed in the breaker panel since there would
>not be anybody around at the required times.

Powering up equipment is when most electrical damage occurs. When the power
is turned on, all of the electronic circuits behave like a short. This 
only happens for a brief period of time, but the current surge is large.
Most file servers are left powered on 24 hours a day in order to avoid
the damage that may occur during power up sequences. Take a look around
at most multi user computer system shops. The systems are never powered down
unless there is a problem that requires it.

The cost of electricity may be small compared to problems that arise from power
down/up sequences. I know of servers (Novell NW) that have been on for 
months at a time, and are years old that rarely are powered off. 

I wouldn't even down the server during those eight hours, (MHO).

>
>My question is: Is this really a worthwhile endeavour? I know this subject has
>been discussed here before particularily with reference to the effects of
>powering on/off on hard disks. Hence I suspect that the servers would be best
>left on 24 hrs/day. However, since the 386's are hard diskLESS I have no idea
>what the relative merits of this proposal are.

Well, I leave mine on 24 hours a day, except for long weekends, holidays.
Again, my opinion.


Michael S. Richey    Internet: mrichey@orion.oac.uci.edu
Bitnet: MRichey@UCI  CompuServe: 71650,3132    Voice: (714) 856-8374
University of California, Irvine    Network and Telecommunications Services
342 Computer Science      Irvine,   CA  92717