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Comment by wmorein | Hacker News Reader

From the summary:

  - 37signals has 40 servers, and a total of 125 OSes running.
  - 3 Server admins work at 37signals.

That is insteresting. Most orgs would consider that a pretty low ratio of servers/admin.

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It's much easier to have a higher ratio when the absolute numbers are higher. Fewer than 2 admins means no vacations, and a team of 3 is often more comfortable.

I agree with rarrrrrr, having been the only admin or in a team of two, vacations can be tough. I would gladly work in a team of three if I had the choice.

I haven't watched the talk yet, but it's quite possible that having more sysadmins is what allows them to use 40 servers. One guy might have needed 80 servers to accomplish the same work because he's too busy to optimize anything. :)

They must be lumping internal IT tasks in with operations or else they have some competency issues that seem to call into question much of their other "brave new company" agitprop.

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