Re: [tlug] Rack Server Suggestions

["GIC MLs" <lists@example.com>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Q" <jq@example.com>
To: <tlug@example.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 12:57 PM
Subject: Re: [tlug] Rack Server Suggestions


> GIC MLs (lists@example.com) wrote:
>
> > Hmm... a bit more expensive than I was expecting.
>
> 1U (and 2U) rack cases are expensive.  4U ones aren't cheap
> either, but like the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
> Any quality case will be expensive, and rack cases have to
> distribute the fixed costs over a lower unit volume.
>
> Plat'home tends to seem expensive, but keep in mind that they are
> selling a lot of higher-end hardware that is intended for server use.
> Since a server is what you're building here, it's a good place
> to look.

Hmmm... well looks like I'll wait to see what Mr. Moneybags says about the
plathome URLs I sent him. :-)

> > I have never dealt with one of these beasts before... do they require
> > special hardware that fits the 1U size?
>
> You need a  motherboard that has video and (if required), LAN,
> SCSI on the board, because of course you cannot put any expansion
> cards in a 1U box.  Intel server boards are quite nice.

Are these generic motherboards, or built specifically for *U cases?
Where would you suggest looking for one in Akiba?

> Air flow/ventilation is an important point with 1U cases, because
everything
> is crammed into a tight space.  Pay close attention to the fans: where are
> they and how many are there?  Consider the air flow with a pair of disks
> in it. Do the disks block air circulation through the case, or is there
still
> good flow? There will be very little clearance between the top of the
> CPU heatsink/fan and the case lid, so be sure there is good air flow in
> the CPU area as well as over the disks.  This, of course, requires knowing
> what motherboard you plan to put in, so look at a couple of good
motherboards
> and visualize how they will fit in the case.
>
> Athlons run hot, so I would go with an Intel chip in a 1U case.

Good to know - thanks.

> What do you plan to do for backup? If you want an internal backup device,
> you might want to take a look at a 2U case instead.

Will be backed up over LAN to a HP dlt vs80e using Amanda.

> Unless you're paying per U for rack space, you might also want to
> look at 4U cases.  You'll (usually) get more drive bays and better
> air flow at a price not much different from a 2U (or even a good
> 1U).  Then you have no worries about running a pair of nice fast
> Athlons with humongous heatsinks on them :-)

Ok, just so I have this straight... you are saying that a 4U case is built
to hold 4U servers, which are 4 times as thick as 1U servers,
and that I should put a 1U server in the 4U rack because the spaces between
the servers will be bigger... right?

Thanks for all of the info - learning lots here.

Shawn@example.com