Slashdot Mirror
A Look Inside the BBC's Network
the-dark-kangaroo writes "The BBC have provided the entire internet with a look inside their amazing network. It shows everyone the almighty web power they are with over 40 webservers and 12 firewalls and their 8Gbps intersite connections. All this seems to running some form of *NIX with perl underlying their powerful website delivery. Take a look at those load graphs!"
Well, according to the ever reliable Netcraft:
Solaris 8 Apache/1.3.26 (Unix)
SunOS 4 Apache/1.2.1
SunOS 4 unknown
SunOS 4 Apache/1.2.1
SunOS 4 unknown
SunOS 4 Apache/1.2.1
SunOS 4 Apache/1.2.1
SunOS 4 unknown
SunOS 4 Apache/1.2.1
SunOS 4 unknown
... how well can all this great technology stand up to a good old-fashioned slashdotting?
Man holding teacup: "Nigel, what's that sudden whirring noise?"
You can't talk about Wikipedia's flaws on Wikipedia
Step 1: Build webfarm
Step 2: Tout its mightyness on Slashdot
Step 3: Review logs after free stress test
Step 4: Fix issues
Step 5: See Step 1
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You have to feel sorry for Declan. The duty team roster has him doing a 24 hour shift today.
--
Linux VPS Hosting with 24x7 support, so we know how he feels.
Nope, the BBC is funded entirely through the license fee, which you have to pay if you own a TV. The government allows it to demand this, and it is effectively a tax, but that's not to be confused with 'tax money'
Nor is it controlled by a government board. The day to day running is controlled by the Director general. The overall direction is controlled by the government (who do have to be approved by the government, but that doesn't mean that they are part of the government), only above that is the culture secretary, who doesn't really get much say either way. The only other contact that the government has with it is the Royal charter whic has to be renewed every 10 years by act of parliament. It's not a good idea for the BBC to annoy the government, but the government doesn't actually control them at any direct level.
FGD 135
The network infrastructure throughout the BBC, certainly in News, is so microsoft centric it's unheard of. The network has recently been sold, along with the staff, to Siemens. It's based around Active Directory, all file servers are Windows, all DNS and DHCP is maintined by windows, with only a smattering of *nix boxes (DHCP at one london office, unix for parts of the BBC-Wide Imaging system "elvis" and "Jupiter"). The desktop is 2K/XP, and so locked down we cant even run the BBC News Ticker on it! (For what it's worth, everyone in my office ignores such policies as we need things like Putty and VNC to work)
Over 40 high performance webservers : $
12 firewalls : $$
8Gbps network to connect them : $$$
Not able to handle the Slashdot effect : Priceless.
"John, could you put down your tea and come here for a moment."
"Yes?"
"It seems our load monitoring application is overloaded. I can't monitor the system."
"Hmm, try tapping on the dials."
"Uhm, there aren't dials John. This is a computer program."
"Don't you mean, 'programme'?"
"Yes, sorry. So, what do I do now?"
"Let me check the manual... let's see.. squirrels chewing through fibre-optic.. alien invasian.. tea shortage.. politcal unrest.. ahh, here we go, inaccessible monitoring.. it says simply, 'Panic'."
"Panic? What does that mean?"
"I think it means we should run about the room screaming or some such."
"Like this? WOOWOWOWOWO"
"No, that's more celebration. Try more anguish, like this: Aahhhhhhhhhrg!!!"
"Ahhwoooooooo!"
"No, try and keep from letting your mouth go round like that. Here, watch me: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahrg!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaaahrg??"
"That's good. Aaaaaaaahrg!!! And flail your arms about like this: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahrg!!!"
"I think I've got it! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahrg!"