ANNOUNCE: Python CVS tree moved to SourceForge

[Christopher Browne]

Centuries ago, Nostradamus foresaw a time when Paul Magwene would say:
>Christopher Browne wrote:
>> It concerns me somewhat, from the perspective of the one site
>> representing a "physical vulnerability."
>> 
>> Thus, "if an asteroid struck VA Linux Systems' offices," a whole lot
>> of data could be lost.
>> 
>> I have no reason to assume/attribute nefarious intent here, but there
>> are lots of bad things that could happen, of varying likelihood:
>> 
>> - The asteroid/meteor theory :-).
>> - Earthquake (California has them sometimes).
>> - Someone does something that proves horribly illegal, let's say,
>>   using a SourceForge directory to store "kiddy porn," and, the
>>   ever-interested FBI storms the building and seizes equipment.
>> - Power outage
>> - Lightning strike
>> - MPAA decides that GZIP infringes on their right to control copyright
>>   of movies, and sends the LAPD in to destroy this infringement.
>> ... the list goes on ...
>> 
>> The point here is that due to no fault of LNUX, SourceForge could
>> become unavailable.
>> 
>
>Well, from a physical standpoint the situation is less worrisome than
>you make it out to be.
>
>From the sourceforge FAQ:
>
>What is your backup strategy? 
>
>    We perform a full backup of all site and project data daily, and
>rotate backups off-site weekly through a large company that specializes
>in storing backup tapes. We also have access to a fireproof safe for
>storage of daily tapes. 
>    The exception to this rotation is the mega-file-server, which cannot
>be fully backed up (when full) by less than 3425GB AIT tapes (our medium
>of choice). It gets a full backup once per month and incrementals
>otherwise. 

I was pleased enough when I saw that in the FAQ; it certainly does
represent a reasonable sort of backup strategy.

At least against physical events that wouldn't be so dramatic as an
asteroid removing the Silly Valley.  :-)

It still isn't "proof" against the threat of things like the MPAA
sending a troop of lawyers to confiscate all the backups for hosting
something like PAN on the site.

(PAN: a news reader that permits decoding binary messages; an
_OBVIOUS_ threat to the music industry...  And to think I always
thought that the only point to "decoding binaries" was to rake in
porno pictures from the binaries newsgroups...)
-- 
cbbrowne at ntlug.org - <http://www.hex.net/~cbbrowne/>
Rules of the Evil Overlord #197. "I will explain to my Legions of
Terror that guns are ranged weapons and swords are not. Anyone
who attempts to throw a sword at the hero or club him with a gun
will be summarily executed."
<http://www.eviloverlord.com/>