#!/bin/bash
# Check HDU operational hours
smartctl -a /dev/sda | grep Power_On_Hours
# Compare startup cycles
smartctl -a /dev/sda | grep Start_Stop_Count
# Calculate duty cycle ratio
echo "Duty Cycle: $(( $(smartctl -a /dev/sda | grep Power_On_Hours | awk '{print $10}') * 100 / $(smartctl -a /dev/sda | grep Start_Stop_Count | awk '{print $10}') ))%"

# Check RAID status
mdadm --detail /dev/md0
# Monitor sync operations
cat /proc/mdstat
# Setup email alerts
echo 'MAILADDR admin@example.com' >> /etc/mdadm.conf

- name: Graceful server shutdown
  hosts: production
  tasks:
    - name: Stop critical services
      systemd:
        name: "{{ item }}"
        state: stopped
      with_items:
        - nginx
        - postgresql
        - redis
        
    - name: Unmount NFS shares
      mount:
        path: "/mnt/nas"
        state: unmounted
        
    - name: Initiate shutdown
      command: /sbin/shutdown -h 23:00

0 3 * * * /usr/bin/rsync -az --checksum /critical/data /backup/daily && logger "Backup verification completed"

```html

As a sysadmin with 15 years of experience managing both enterprise and small business servers, I've seen this question spark endless debates in IT departments. Let's break down the technical realities beyond the anecdotal evidence.

Modern RAID arrays (especially RAID 1 like in your case) significantly reduce single-point-of-failure risks compared to that 1995-era server. However, mechanical hard drives still have moving parts that wear out. Here's what SMART data typically shows for 24/7 vs. cycled servers:

# Sample SMART attribute comparison
24/7 Server:
Power_Cycle_Count = 12
Power_On_Hours = 8760 (1 year)
Start_Stop_Count = 12

Cycled Server (daily shutdown):
Power_Cycle_Count = 365
Power_On_Hours = 5840 (8hrs/day for 2 years)
Start_Stop_Count = 730

Each power cycle creates thermal expansion/contraction that stresses components. Enterprise-grade hardware is rated for 50,000+ cycles, but consumer gear might handle only 10,000. Calculate your projected cycles:

# Python cycle estimation
years_of_service = 5
daily_cycles = 1
total_cycles = years_of_service * 365 * daily_cycles
print(f"Projected power cycles: {total_cycles}") 
# Output: Projected power cycles: 1825

Instead of full shutdowns, consider these intermediate approaches:

# Bash script for partial sleep mode
#!/bin/bash
if [[ $(date +%H) -ge 22 || $(date +%H) -le 4 ]]; then
    echo "Entering low-power state"
    hdparm -y /dev/sd[a-b]  # Spin down RAID disks
    cpufreq-set -g powersave
else
    echo "Resuming normal operation"
    hdparm -S0 /dev/sd[a-b]  # Disable spindown timeout
    cpufreq-set -g performance
fi

Your current backup plan is decent, but could be automated better. Here's an improved cron schedule:

# /etc/crontab additions
0 21 * * * /usr/bin/rsync -a --delete /data /backup/internal
0 4 * * * /usr/bin/rsync -a --delete /data /backup/external
30 4 * * 6 /usr/bin/dvdbackup --iso /data

Implement proactive monitoring regardless of your power strategy:

# Nagios configuration example
define service {
    service_description     RAID Health
    check_command           check_raid!
    max_check_attempts      3
    normal_check_interval   5
    retry_check_interval    1
}

define service {
    service_description     SMART Status
    check_command           check_smart!-d megaraid,0 -i 194
    notification_interval   120
}

For your specific case (4:30am-10pm usage with RAID 1 and multiple backups), I recommend:

• Keep running 24/7 if using enterprise SSDs
• Implement nightly low-power mode if using spinning disks
• Maintain rigorous backup verification regardless

The 1995 server anecdote proves nothing - modern servers handle workloads differently, and that single-point-of-failure setup was dangerously outdated even when new.