[Systems] [Fwd: Re: [Fwd: Server proposals]]

[Bernie Innocenti]

Some tips from the FSF sysadmins.

They're also recommending Supermicro. Along with cjb and lfaraone, I'm
counting three thumbs up. Hmmm...


-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Ward Vandewege <ward at gnu.org>
To: Bernie Innocenti <bernie at codewiz.org>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Server proposals]
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 10:56:50 -0500

On Tue, Mar 02, 2010 at 12:24:34PM -0300, Bernie Innocenti wrote:
> Do you have suggestions?

If you're going Dell/HP/IBM you're going to pay for that privilege...

Most of the stuff we have is Supermicro now - we also have some older Tyan
hardware. In fact, the boxes you were working on here are Supermicro. We did
buy them from Silicon Mechanics, of course - which is another privilege one
pays for...

Also, if you combine HP/Dell/IBM base hardware with stuff you get from Newegg,
they'll say 'go to hell' if you ever have a problem and require warranty:
they will say the problem is with the parts that were not sourced from them.

Anyway; as for remote control stuff - HP ILO is reliable but proprietary, of
course. Anything that's IPMI is a joke, it's not reliable (hint - I've seen
IPMI baseboards being taken out by a machine with a hard hang). I greatly
prefer a decent networked switched PDU (I like Raritan, but I've used APC and
others too) and serial console server (opengear stuff is *awesome*).

Another random thought: AMD's new CPUs are due out later this month; they
will have 8 and 12 cores per chip (!). This will likely cause a drop in
pricing on their current CPUs.

If you are worried about reliability, I think you could probably buy two
separate 1U systems with 8GB ram and 1TB in raid 1 if you go Supermicro (from
newegg or so) and have a $2.5K or $3K budget... Or; you could buy one of
those twin systems - the barebone is just $1139 at newegg:

  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101198&cm_re=amd-_-16-101-198-_-Product

They share one PSU, mind you. Supermicro also has a 2x2 2U system that hosts
4 systems, with dual redundant PDU. But it's out of the $2K pricerange.

Add CPUs, ram and disk... Seems like there are not very many cheap AMD cpus
for sale on Newegg today; you may want to look around elsewhere.

Thanks,
Ward.

> 
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> From: Bernie Innocenti <bernie at codewiz.org>
> To: Sugar Labs Systems <systems at lists.sugarlabs.org>
> Subject: Server proposals
> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:23:30 -0300
> 
> Yesterday I digged around For possible hardware for our new primary
> server, the one that is going to replace (or augment) the aging
> solarsail. Our budget is just about $2000, but we should benefit from
> tax exemption.
> 
> As usual, all the high-profile server vendors overcharge for RAM and
> HDs, but we're going to buy these separately from Newegg. Too bad they
> don't let you do the same for the CPU.
> 
> We're looking for a 1U or 2U rack-mountable machine with fast
> processors, at least 8GB of RAM and at least 1TB of fast storage on
> RAID1 and simple remote management (reboot, access to text console).
> I couldn't find anything with redundant PSU in our price range.
> 
> I used to be a good customer of cheap servers by Supermicro, but I've
> learned not to buy their crap the hard way. I've checked Dell and IBM,
> but I wasn't particularly trilled by their current offerings. The HP DL
> series seems to provide the best trade-offs, and includes nice remote
> management.
> 
> Here's a first draft of what we could end up purchasing. Alternative
> proposals are very welcome.
> 
> == Storage ==
> 
> These cheap drives were amazingly fast when I benchmarked
> a bunch of them at the FSF:
> 
>  Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA  3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive 
>  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148337
> 
> 2 x $109.99
> 
> 
> == Server option 1 ==
> 
>  Configurable-HP ProLiant DL160se G6 Hot Plug Server
>  HP ProLiant DL160se G6 Hot Plug SAS/SATA Server
>  Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5504 (2.00GHz, 4M Cache, 80 Watts, 800MHz)
>  HP 8GB PC3-10600E 4x2GB 2Rank Memory
>  HP P410/ZM Smart Array Controller
>  HP 4-bay Hot Plug Backplane
>  Embedded HP NC362i Integrated Dual Port Gigabit Server Adapter
>  HP 500W Non-Hot Plug Power Supply
>  HP Lights-Out 100i Remote Management
>  Protected by HP Services, 3-Year Next Day Part Replacement, 0-Year Labor, 0-Year Onsite support with next business day response.
> 
> $1,819.00
> 
> 
> == Server option 2 == 
> 
>  581772-001 HP ProLiant DL165 G6 Non-Hot Plug SATA Server - Smart Buy
>  HP ProLiant DL165 G6 Non-Hot Plug SATA Server
>  Six-Core AMD Opteron™ Processor Model 2427 (2.2GHz, 75W ACP)
>  HP 2GB REG PC2-6400 2x1GB Memory
>  HP Embedded SATA Controller
>  HP 250GB 3G SATA Non-Hot Plug 7,200rpm 3.5 inch MDL Hard Drive (1-year warranty)
>  HP Embedded NC7782 Dual-Port gigabit Server Adapter
>  HP DVD-ROM Drive
>  HP High Efficiency 500W Multi-output Power Supply
>  HP ProLiant Onboard Administrator and Lights-Out 100i
>  Protected by HP Services, 3-Year Next Day Part Replacement, 0-Year Labor, 0-Year Onsite support with next business day response.
>  This product is pre-configured. Additional options ship separately
> 
> $1,039.00
> 
>  Six-Core AMD Opteron™ Processor Model 2427 (2.2GHz, 75W ACP)
> 
> $499.00
> 
>  HP 8GB REG PC2-6400 2x4GB Dual Rank Memory
> 
> $299.00
> 
>  
> == Notes ==
> 
>  * I couldn't remove the useless Smart Array RAID controller from
>    the first option
> 
>  * I couldn't remove the stupid 250GB HD from the second one
> 
>  * The AMD Opteron 2427 seems to outperform the Xeon E5504 in benchmarks
> 
>  * We need 3 memory banks to get the full bandwidth on the
>    triple-channel Xeon
> 
> 
> -- 
>    // Bernie Innocenti - http://codewiz.org/
>  \X/  Sugar Labs       - http://sugarlabs.org/
> 
> 
> 
> !DSPAM:4b8d2df564261804284693!
> 

-- 
   // Bernie Innocenti - http://codewiz.org/
 \X/  Sugar Labs       - http://sugarlabs.org/