rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner) (04/23/91)
We have a requirement in the near future for a Unix system to serve OS and
data to approximately 70 diskless workstations (at least some of which will
be Suns). We know that we will have at least 4 Ethernets, and that we will
have approximately 30-40GB of disk space on it (probably SCSI since IPI is
still twice as expensive). This is to be a dedicated server, i.e. no logins
except for administration.
Auspex is one of the possibilities for this system. I have all the literature,
and have been to presentations by a couple of Auspex's technical people at
the last Sun User Group meeting. What I need is to hear about real-life
experience with them from the customer base (a small group, I realize).
I need to know the following kinds of things:
1. Your configuration:
o how many of what workstations across how many nets, what local disk
do they have, what do they depend on the server for?
o the configuration of the Auspex itself: model, memory, number of
I/O processors, total disk space, etc.
2. Price/Performance:
o probably most easily measured in subjective terms of response time,
as well as getting data across the net. Also, how is its performance
as a router between networks?
o How did the price you paid compare with other systems you looked at,
e.g. Sun, Solbourne, etc.? Do you feel its performance justifies any
extra?
o How reliable has the system been since you installed it? What level
of percentage uptime do you have? (This is a major concern since it
would be the single point of failure for every individual's desktop).
3. Service:
o software and hardware - how does the support compare to other major
vendors you have experience with?
4. Enhancements:
o special software added to the basic OS for monitoring system/network
load and throughput. I know they have this; how good is it, and how
easy is it to use?
Other general experiences, and overall feelings about the systems, are welcome.
I will summarize to the net when the replies stop trickling in :-). If you
don't want to be quoted at all, or simply don't want your name used, please
let me know and I'll keep it out.
Thank you very much.
--
Ruth Milner
Systems Manager NRAO/VLA Socorro NM
Computing Division Head rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.educhl@cs.man.ac.uk (Charles Lindsey) (04/23/91)
In <1991Apr22.181834.21186@nmt.edu> rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner) writes: >We have a requirement in the near future for a Unix system to serve OS and >data to approximately 70 diskless workstations (at least some of which will >Auspex is one of the possibilities for this system. I have all the literature, >and have been to presentations by a couple of Auspex's technical people at >the last Sun User Group meeting. What I need is to hear about real-life >experience with them from the customer base (a small group, I realize). Another possibility is to use Interphase's NC300 (or NC400 for the 490) coprocessor board (you need 1 for each ethernet). This has the advantage that you can use it to reconfigure/upgrade your existing Sun servers, whereas the Auspex is a "start again from scratch" solution (it is difficult even to re-use your existing SCSI discs). So may I hear opionions from netters as to how this product works out in practice? Email and I will summarize (we are geting one on trial, so maybe I can report on that as well).