Dear Listers,
Who is Matt Dralle and what exactly are these Lists anyway? I've been working
in the Information Technology industry for over 28 years, primarily in computer
networking design and implementation and more recently as an embedded software
engineer. I have also done a fair amount of work in web design and development.
I started the Matronics Email Lists way back in 1990 shortly after I started
building
my RV-4 with about 30 fellow RV builders from around the world. Since
that time, I have added many other types of aircraft related Lists to the line
up and numerous other List related services such as the Forums, Wiki, Archives
and Search Engine just to name a few.
For flexibility and reliability, I have chosen to run all of my own servers
locally.
Other List-related systems include a 1 Gigabit, fully switched network
infrastructure, a commercial-grade Netscreen firewall, a Barracuda spam filter,
a local T1 Internet router, and a bonded dual T1 commercial-grade business
Internet
connection with full static addressing.
The computer servers include a dual quad-core Linux server for List web services
with 24GB of memory, a quad -core Linux system dedicated to the email processing
List functions, and another standalone Linux system serving as a remote storage
disk farm for the archives, databases, and for an on-line hard drive-based
backup system with multi-terra byts of online storage. This entire system
is protected by three large, commercial-grade uninterrupted power supply systems
(UPS) that assure the Lists are available even during a local power outage!
Speaking of power, imagine how much electricity it takes to run all of these
systems. On the average, the elctric bill is in the neighborhood of
$7000-$8000/yr
and the newly upgraded dual-T1 Internet connection runs roughly $6000/yr.
A while back, I upgraded all of the computer racking infrastructure including
new
power feeds and dedicated air conditioning for the room that serves as the
Computer Center for the Matronics Email Lists and followed that upgrade up with
a second rack upgrade to house the MONSTER web system that didn't quite fit
into the first rack! Here's a composite photo of the List Computer Center prior
to the addition of the second rack:
http://www.matronics.com/MattDralle-ListComputerCenter.jpg
As you can see, I take running these Lists very seriously and I am dedicated to
providing an always-on, 24x7x365 experience for each and every Lister.
But building and running this system isn't cheap. As I've mentioned many times
before, I don't use commercial advertisments to support any of these systems.
It is supported 100% through List member Contributions! That means you...
and you... and YOU!
To that end, I hold a List Fund Raiser each November and ask that members make
a Contribution to support the continued operation and upgrade of this
ever-expanding
system. Its solely YOUR Contributions that keeps it running!
Please make a Contribution today to support these Lists!
http://www.matronics.com/contribution
Or, by dropping a personal check in the mail to:
Matronics / Matt Dralle
581 Jeannie Way
Livermore CA 94550
Thank you!
Matt Dralle
Matronics Email List Administrator
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