Re: Dell/Linux vs. Apple Xserve for file server?

From: Kevin Collins (spamtotrash_at_toomuchfiction.com)
Date: 06/05/04

  • Next message: Dave Hinz: "Re: Dell/Linux vs. Apple Xserve for file server?" 
    Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 04:27:45 GMT

    In article <r3tq9c.7j6.ln@bachmann.ath.cx>, Nicholas Bachmann wrote:
    > Dave Hinz wrote:
    >> On Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:59:52 GMT, Scott Vandenberg <vandenberg@siena.edu> wrote:
    >>>4) Why should we prefer Apple over Dell or vice versa?
    >>
    >>
    >> As much as I like Apple for desktop, they're a bit spendy for server
    >> use. The cost goes into graphics, and if it's just sitting in the
    >
    > Exactly... an Apple server would be great for rendering movies -- the G5
    > is an excellent processor for doing floating point math and matrices.
    > Serving files, however, is a dull job that any processor can do. Go
    > have your friendly local computer store build you a server optimized for
    > filesystem performance to run Linux on. A system with plenty of RAM,
    > some nice SATA drives, and hardware RAID will do more for performance
    > than replacing Pentium IVs with Xeons or G5s.

    Based on what I have read so far, SATA drives perform slower than IDE drives on
    Linux. Better would be to by a mobo with onboard IDE RAID controller (or an
    outboard RAID controller).
    >
    > Be sure to choose the right filesystem too. Depending on the
    > composition of your files, you may want to use XFS or ReiserFS. Look at
    > http://linuxgazette.net/102/piszcz.html and
    > http://kerneltrap.org/node/view/715. You may even want to do your own
    > testing with IOzone or a similar tool.
    >
    > Finally, use hdparm! You can easily get a 4x HDD performance increase!
    > A google search on linux optimization can turn up some more tips.

    That only works for IDE drives...

    >
    >> back room serving up samba file and printer shares, it's not using
    >> those graphics abilities. Yes, that's way oversimplified, but on
    >> a bang-for-the-buck basis, I'd go with the Dell for this.
    >
    > I'd even shy away from Dell and go to the aforementioned reliable local
    > computer supplier. They usually have higher quality, better standards,
    > and superior service. [Not that I'm biased in any way by working for one
    >:-)]

    Kevin

  • Next message: Dave Hinz: "Re: Dell/Linux vs. Apple Xserve for file server?"

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