Operations: requirements for the install server

The operations group consists of 4.5 FTE who maintain various Athena servers, including install servers. They provide 24x7 coverage in case of service outages, and manage more than 150 gigabytes of storage. To keep their jobs manageable, the following requirements must be met.

 
• Few install servers must be required.
• The installation procedure must work across subnets.
• Installing a new install server must be quick.
• Maintaining install servers must take little time.
• An install server must not require a list of clients.
• An install server should ignore non-Athena clients.
• The installation procedure must allow flexibile disk partitioning.