New Server...
 

We have just installed a new server that cost me a lot of money. So, please let me know if there are any problems with it. Also, please buy lots of parts so that I can help pay for this new 150-lb server.

Thanks!

-Wayne

Thank you!

Will order parts soon.

Wayne the forums have never been faster! Did you install a new eight way server? Judging by the weight I was thinking an eight way IBM 460 or Dell equivalent, possibly and HP 760.

Dell 2900...

-Wayne

the storage required must be frightening.
I'm doin' my best from down here.....
thanks Wayne

Wayne:
Just for fun, do you have any numbers for us?
How big is the database? Must be a lot of GB in pictures etc.

You'd be surprised. The use of video and 10MP cameras at home has dwarfed the requirements of some of these servers.

-Wayne

The current text database is roughly 2GB in size, and that includes all of the indexes required for searching. Photos are stored at an operating system level, and the nine folders (each containing 30,000 images) are roughly 20 GB.

The new server is one of a set of nine identical units just purchased. You want to buy identical servers, so that in case something goes wrong, you can cannibalize one of the less-important machines and get the most important ones up, while you're waiting for parts. In a worst-case scenario, you remove hard drives from one machine and stuff them in another and you're back up in seconds. Previously, our hardware was of many different "vintages".

The new servers are all Dell 2900s with SATA drives. I like SATA over SCSCI because they are more cost effective, they are very fast, and I can in an emergency use an off-the-shelf drive quite easily (as I have done many times in the past). They are powered by dual-core Intel processors running at 2.0ghz, with a 1300 Mhz front-side bus. Apparently, the newest processors don't run as fast as the older ones (the 3-year old Xeons they were replacing were 2.8 ghz). I don't quite understand chip design, but the machines are at least 3-9 times faster in my benchmark tests. All the machines have 2GB of RAM - I will be monitoring each one to see if any require a bit more than that. Dual power supplies hooked up to multiple UPS units as well.

-Wayne

Oh, and we have standardized on Windows 2003 here as well. In the old days, the Windows operating systems were a bit unstable, but these newest releases are rock solid. (even Windows 2000 is very, very good). This particular server is running Windows 2003 Server Web Edition. It's a feature-limited version of the opsys, but it's priced relatively low (I think $350 for the OEM version) for what it delivers.

-Wayne

I ordered 3 pressure plates for my 69 "S"s, various smaller parts for the 993 and will log in to see if you have some parts I need for the 750iL....

Trust that helps........

The new server is giving me grief when trying to post pictures?? I don't think its on my end..the picture I tried to re-post was from a previously posted thread.

Wayne, check your records. I already spent alot of money and plan to spend more next year. Happy Holidays and my best to you, your family and all Pelicanites. Clinton

I tested the picture posting routine several times, and I see that 100 people have already successfully posted pics to the new server? What is the error that you are receiving?

-Wayne

Am putting together another order now. Thanks for this service Wayne.

Wayne,
Very quick response. Thanks again for all of the work you do and the $ you spend to provide these forums for us!!

I agree, I don't think the forum has ever been faster. Good job Wayne - new year suspension refresh will be time for an order methinks ;)

Thanks Wayne, I buy all my pcar parts from you, I just wish I could afford to buy alot more!

Thanks- you've got all my Porsche business too.

Wayne,

SATA drives are cheaper than SCSI because SCSI drive have are controlled by their own processor. Not so on the SATA drives. Watch your CPU utilization closely. Do you have redundant NIC's also? It cheap insurance.

Mike

Wayne,
If you carry it...I buy it from you..period.