Message-ID: <45391AD9.8080808@commandprompt.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:52:09 -0700
From: "Joshua D. Drake" <jd@commandprompt.com>
Organization: Command Prompt, Inc.
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To: Ben Suffolk <ben@vanilla.net>
CC: Dave Cramer <pg@fastcrypt.com>, pgsql-performance@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: New hardware thoughts
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Ben Suffolk wrote:
>> You mentioned a "Perc" controller, so I'll assume this is a Dell.
>>
>> My advice is to find another supplier. check the archives for Dell.
>>
>> Basically you have no idea what the Perc controller is since it is
>> whatever Dell decides to ship that day.
>>
>> In general though you are going down the right path here. Disks first,
>> memory second, cpu third
>>
>> Dave
> 
> Yes I am looking at either the 2950 or the 6850. I think the only think
> that the 6850 really offers me over the 2950 is more expandability in
> the spare processor, and additional memory
> sockets. In all other respects the config I am looking at would fit
> either chassis. Although the 2950, being slightly newer has the DRAC 5
> (dells implementation of IPMI) management, which may be useful.

Get an HP with the 64* series. They are a good, well rounded machine for
PostgreSQL.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/pscmisc/vac/us/en/ss/proliant/proliant-dl.html?jumpid=re_R295_prodexp/busproducts/computing-server/proliant-dl

> I hear what you say about the raid card, but how likely are they to
> change it from the LSI Mega Raid one in reality? But I am open to

Heh... very likely. I have a 6 drive Dell machine with a Perc controller
(lsi rebrand). If I put it in RAID 5, it refuses to get more than 8 megs
a second. If I put it in RAID 10, it get about 50 megs a second.

If I get the offshelf LSI Megaraid withe the same configuration? You
don't want to know... it will just make you want to cry at the fact that
you bought a Dell.

Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake


> suggestions if you have any specific models from other manufacturers I
> should look at. I do need to be able to get the fast hardware support on
> it though that I can get from the likes of Dells 4 hours on site call
> out, so rolling my own isn't an option on this one really (unless it was
> so much cheaper I could have a hot standby or at least a cupboard of all
> the needed parts instantly available to me)
> 
> Regards
> 
> Ben
> 
> 
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> 
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> 


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