Server good enough?

[PU7E]

Hi,

Not really ventured into the server world before and after looking around for what I want in my budget iv decided on the following equipment:

Server
Sun Microsystems V40z
5x74tb
4xOpteron 875 @ 2.2
8gb PC2700 (2x1gb per cpu)

Software
Xen or EXSi (Undecided)
SUSE Enterprise 64bit
4xGentoo (E17) 64bit Client's

Will this machine be upto the job?

Regards
Pure

 

[PU7E]

That's the critical bit you've missed out - what job will it (or rather the VMs) be doing?

Compiling (Avg 300mb+ Data file's per client on a 4 hour rotation (speed depending))

Personally I would be looking at a Dell R710. I know you've gone for CPU power, but two high-end Nehalem CPUs are probably going to approach those AMDs in a lot of benchmarks, depending on how well threaded/parallelised the application you're running is. What's typically more important is disk I/O - I see you're going for 5 disks - you should really go for 6+ in RAID 10. (SAS of course )

I was leaning towards the sun's for there embedded ssh. I also have to factor in price I can pick up a V40z for around the £400 mark where im looking at around 2k for a R710. As for the HDD's I have been looking at a PCI-X (133) RAID 5 card and getting another drive for a Hot spare for an extra £60 (Approx).

Also does the prolient, IBM, Dell series have any embedded managment system's similar to the Sun's SSH ?

Regards
Pure

 

[PU7E]

In that case a cheapo Dell or HP at £200 would do. Hate to use the 'catch all', but have a look at the ML115

I would rather get a rusty spoon and use it to remove my eyes then buy a ML115

I'm unfamiliar with this - what does it allow you to do? Manage/monitor the server via a limited CLI?

It's pretty much a Remote Secure SHell.

If you call Dell you'll be able to get a better price than £2k - we got them for £800 (with vastly improved specs on the base model) when buying just three of them.

Might be worth a look will do some research on it tomorrow.

Yep, they all do. Dell has DRAC, think HP's is LightsOut (though somebody will probably correct me on that), and I'm unsure of IBMs. DRACs and LO cost extra though (looking at maybe £100 - hard to say without knowing what discounts you could potentially be in line for).

LO doesn't seem to bad untill I look at the costs and the requirement for a Java client, Does LO use VNC as DRAC does?

DRAC again it requires Java client so I will need to look into both of them further.

Regards
Pure

 

[PU7E]

Why? What's wrong with them? Perfectly suited for having a play with things. You snob!

Im no snob I just like REAL hardware not kids toy's

I think the phrase is 'lawl' I'm well aware of what SSH is - I was enquring as to what you could actually do once you were in this 'Secure SHell'

I have to have some fun

It pretty much allows you to do anything you want. can't beat the CL it make's me feel all nostalgic well that and im a link's/irssi addict

DRAC only implements the VNC protocol, AFAIK you can't actually login to DRAC via a VNC client. DRAC can use an ActiveX plug-in or Java (the 2900s we have use an ActiveX plug-in, think the R710s use Java) - it's a pretty well implemented bit of kit

Sound's ok what if I want to SSH off the CL and don't have access to a WM?

Regards
Pure