get points and answer one question (2)

[Thomas Schler_1]

Hi,

you will earn points on this topic, please, give me your answers.

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Sorry, I forgot one thing: It is a 90% position (not 100%). That's because he has to do 10% (of 100%) of his time a complete another job.

(Thanks, for the first answers.)

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We are investigating how many people we should hire for some specific tasks on HP-UX/Oracle. We are not sure if one person (90%) is enough
or if we need two or more. So, I think in this forum, there are many experienced specialists, that can give their valuable thoughts to this problem.

The environment is: Two K460 servers: 4 CPUs each, 2 Gb memory each, 16 Gb and 25 Gb internal disks, respectively, 120 Gb disk capacity shared between both servers, 280 Gb external disks attached on one
server, 660 Gb MOD jukebox attached on one server.

The running software are: HP-UX 10.20, MC/ServiceGuard with three packages configured, HP MirrorDisk UX, sendmail, Oracle 8.0.5.0.0,
AMASS (Archival Management and Storage System) used along with the 660 Gb MOD jukebox, and some other software.

130 users are listed in /etc/passwd.

The tasks are:
- complete administration of both servers (backups, recovery scenarios, security, keeping the OS up to date, OS upgrades, problem and system
analysis)
- complete administration of AMASS, that is used to have normal access on a 660 Gb filesystem that is built by 128 MODs (backups,
recovery scenarios, SW upgrades if necessary, problem and system analysis, media rotations: i.e. archive and delete old files to get free space for new data -- 1.5 Gb new data are received every day)
- administration and configuration of MC/ServiceGuard (three
packages are configured, problem analysis)
- performing hardware upgrades and replacements, when
necessary
- administration of up to three HP-UX workstations
- administration of an HP-UX SW depot for three different OS releases for the whole company

In addition, due to Oracle, the tasks are:
- designing a database for a complex database structure (it is expected to have more than 70 tables), both, logical and physical design
- deploying and building the database including deployment/testing of
software for data exchange and web interfaces for users
- complete administration of the Oracle system (backups, recovery scenarios, upgrades, security, problem and system analysis)

Do you expect, that these tasks can be handled by one person?

[Patrick Wallek · Accepted solution]

You probably would have been better off just replying to your previous thread.

My previous reply still stands; AS LONG AS the other 10% is really JUST 10%. Those things have a way of turning into 50-75% sometimes.

So anyway, as I said before probably 1 person could handle it, if it gets to be too much try getting another person. AND if you do have 2 people make sure their talents, knowledge and experience overlap so that they can back each other up.

If you have one person and he/she gets hit by a bus.......

[Robert Gamble]

I would use two people maninly for human resource redundancy.

I would hire one HP-UX person with MC/SG training/experience, and one DBA that could be trained in HP-UX.

[Sajid_1]

hello,

I would say two persons in this case too. If in case needed, you can always eliminate one (DBA) position.

HTH

[Christopher McCray_1]

I'm in total agreement with Patrick... on all points made. I guess the only other question is what is the other 10% that the person(s) in question need to accomplish? That should be something to consider, especially if you are responsible for that project as well.

Chris

[Martin Johnson]

Definately at least two 2 people - with overlapping expertise. They should be each others backup during sickness and vacations.

Whether there should be more than 2 people depends on how stable your environment is. Lots of calls in the middle of the night would require an oncall list and probably another person.

HTH
Marty

[Dietmar Konermann]

Thomas!

Just the same answer as to your other thread (sorry, I called you Ralph there :-).

This depends definitely on the skill set of that persons. I thnik it could be done by a single person, but you think also about holidays, illness and other resons why there should be a substitute.

Having 2 persons is more expensive, of course. But the tasks look important (and businees critical) enough for me to justify 2 people.

Regards...
Dietmar.

[Pete Randall]

I'll still stick with my two person answer. My DBA still does programming work - maybe as much as 25 or 30% of his time and he still manages.

Pete

[Kelli Ward]

Hi,
Sounds like a consensus.
It sounds like your situation, (2 servers, 130 users) could be run by one admin, but it could be labor intensive. If management is concerned about cost, ask them which is worth less money, a server going down while the sole admin is out of town (and reach) or the salary of 2 admins to ensure system stability.
If I had my drothers, I would have the 2 admins, each with main duties, but cross-trained to back each other up. (More cost-effective in the long run)
I know my "10%" projects, tend to eat more than 10% of my time and new projects seem to spring up easier than the plants in my garden.
Good luck,
Kel

[Victor_5]

Interesting topic!

From technical point, I would like to say two people: one focus on HP-UX, but he/she need some basic Oracle knowledges; another one focus on Oracle, with some unix experiences.