Re: The Insane Operator has struck again

On Jun 2, 2010, at 7:56 PM, Gerhard Postpischil wrote:

>> Is there an actual failure mode in a real installation that is  
>> like this?
>> One assumes that an important Asset such as a mainframe would have
>> redundant UPS's backed by Generators.
>
> It depends on the installation. I worked at a number of service
> bureaus and ISVs, and none had a UPS or a generator.

I worked at this Nation's largest municipal utility.

It was considered a "preferred" installation, much as police, fire  
and hospitals, and we had no reason to employ a generator.

Our headquarters building, where all our mainframes were located, had  
two independent 34.5 kV feeders from two different distribution  
stations.

Even during the three major earthquakes which devastated portions of  
L.A. during my employment there, we never had as much as a glitch at  
my residence in the Brentwood District, nor at my place of employment  
at 111 N. Hope St.

Nearly every mainframe installation had the same opportunity to  
obtain "preferred" status, all it cost was $$$, but most did not  
elect to do so.