rob@genrad.UUCP (Rob Wood) (07/06/83)
In configuring a new Vax to unload our overworked 11780, we have specified a second Vax 11780. Some administrators think that we would be better off with two 11750's. They say the 11750 is "newer technology", thus better. They say the 11780 is being phased out. They say redundancy is better. They say shared disks can solve the problem of paying for too much disk space with two systems. As you can probably tell, I favor the 11780 as I have one, it works constantly, goes down only occasionally and DEC fixes it very quickly. So I need some messages supporting my feelings, or telling me that they are right and I would be better with 2 750's. What do you think? If you were making the choice, what would you do? (UNIX is going to be the OS.) Your prompt reply would be appreciated. Thanks. Rob Wood (decvax!genrad!rob)
ron%brl-bmd@sri-unix.UUCP (07/09/83)
From: Ron Natalie <ron@brl-bmd> I would have to say that I think the 780 is the way to go. Two 750's would not be as fast (well, if you add the MIPS they are a little faster) but you would have the overhead of running UNIX kernel in each processor. The I/O is slower probably in any case. I'm all for redundancy (so how about a 782?) but it would be nice to have a bigger machine so that everything was centralized rather than distributed. Mind you, I have nothing about distributed computing, but if you are talking about colocating the two 750's, I can't really see the point in it. I don't know why your people think the the technology in the 750 is any more modern than in the 780. It's just different in strange ways (and slower). DEC continually updates both processors with regard to technology. The memory density keeps increasing, for example. I have no indication that DEC will phase out the 780 until they come up with something as fast or faster. DEC is still pushing 780's and 782's all over the place. In the past, when DEC wanted to get rid of a product, they never had any great reservatins about dropping it from the literature and going out and telling prospective buyers that you really needed something else. -Ron
SJOBRG.ANDY%MIT-OZ%mit-mc@sri-unix.UUCP (07/09/83)
Rumor has it that the 730 was actually FASTER than the 780, but some ``wonderful person'' at dec made them slow it down so it wouldn't push the 780 and the 750 out of the market. sigh.