[Tfug] Re: Server Components

[Robert J Hunter]

Hi.  I have been eavesdropping on this list for a month or so, and
I just wanted to say hello (!) and make some comments about hardware.

1) Tyan MPX w/ dual Athlon MP

We have about fifty of these systems at work (ranging from 1600+ to
2200+ CPUs) in a "beowulf" setup.  Overall I am pleased with these
systems, but a couple issues we have had with them are:

  i) These boards run hot and won't be happy unless they live in a
  well-designed case, air-conditioned room, and have working CPU fans.
  We have had mixed success using the lm-sensors software to monitor
  case-temperature and fan-speed.

  ii) Although these boards are supposed to take up to 3GB RAM (ECC),
  we have had chronic problems with the "high-memory" units (512MB X
  4). The units configured with a single 512MB stick are far more
  reliable.

2) RAID

My advice is to skip the software RAID and get a 3ware controller
instead. Software RAID is slow and not very robust.

Good luck with your project!

-Rob


Harry McGregor scribbled:

> On Sat, 2003-12-20 at 10:55, Robert Zeigler wrote:
> > Hi,
> > 
> > I've been asked to build a debian server and I wanted to get some 
> > opinions about good MB's, etc. to use.
> > Spending limit is $1000.
> 
> Not a bad spending limit.  Rather easy to get under, depending on needs.
> 
> I am partial to rack mount cases, which does add to the cost a bit.
> 
> >   It's going to be used for webserving static 
> > and php generated pages (ie, running apache),
> > several java webapps (ie running tomcat), and running mysql.
> 
> For more application server tasks (ie the server doing some real work
> instead of just static files), I like dual processor.
> 
> I actually usually prefer dual 1.2GHz AMD Athlon MP chips over a single
> 2000+ or more.
> 
> Another key item is you really want ECC ram, and you want it set to
> ECC+scrub in the bios.  For this server task, I would go with between
> 512MB and 1GB of ram.
> 
> Dual hard disk drives, and software mirroring is also a good idea.  I
> have some directions typed up on how to get Debian on an "md" device, if
> anyone needs them.
> 
> > I prefer AMD chips to intel, personally, but, I'm open to suggestions.
> 
> Same here
> 
> >  
> > Anyway, any tips (boards to stay away from, etc.)
> > on the matter are greatly appreciated.
> 
> I like Tyan boards, and some ECS board (specific models), and I really
> like the AMD MPX chipset, and the SiS 7xx series chipsets.  I tend to
> dislike VIA chipsets, though I do have one in my laptop, and in my
> Athlon 64.
> 
> >  Thanks in advance for any replies.
> > 
> > Robert
> 
> 			Harry
> 

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