I've posted previously about the minimal system to come to
speed on AIX. I'm going to pickup a p43 next week but I'm
wondering about the minimum disk size needed for a basic
installation. Being tapped for time I realize I need to buy this
with a workable disk and not plan on using some scsi disks
I have lying around. Ebay listed systems seem to have 2.1,
2x2.1, 4 or 6 gig available - what's minimum but optimal?

Ron

In article <1139162644.446731.66120@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups. com>, Ron Sesnaski <rsesnaski@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I've posted previously about the minimal system to come to
> speed on AIX. I'm going to pickup a p43 next week but I'm
> wondering about the minimum disk size needed for a basic
> installation. Being tapped for time I realize I need to buy this
> with a workable disk and not plan on using some scsi disks
> I have lying around. Ebay listed systems seem to have 2.1,
> 2x2.1, 4 or 6 gig available - what's minimum but optimal?

2x2.1 is fine only if you're running real old AIX like 4.1.5.

Since this is 5.1, I would say 2x4.5 is the bare minimum, with 2x9.1
much more comfortable if you want to load any large application(s).

-Dan

Ron Sesnaski wrote:
> I've posted previously about the minimal system to come to
> speed on AIX. I'm going to pickup a p43 next week but I'm
> wondering about the minimum disk size needed for a basic
> installation. Being tapped for time I realize I need to buy this
> with a workable disk and not plan on using some scsi disks
> I have lying around. Ebay listed systems seem to have 2.1,
> 2x2.1, 4 or 6 gig available - what's minimum but optimal?
>
> Ron
>
It mostly depends on what you'd like to do. I've had 5.1 on two
2.0GB disks with ease. If you want to do software builds and such I
recommend 9GB.

My 43P-140 came with a single 2.1G drive... I was able to load 5.1 with
no problems... of course, I then bought 2 18G SCSI drives and installed
them so I have room for something besides the OS.
paid about 10 bucks a piece for the 18G drives off ebay

Ron Sesnaski wrote:
> I've posted previously about the minimal system to come to
> speed on AIX. I'm going to pickup a p43 next week but I'm
> wondering about the minimum disk size needed for a basic
> installation. Being tapped for time I realize I need to buy this
> with a workable disk and not plan on using some scsi disks
> I have lying around. Ebay listed systems seem to have 2.1,
> 2x2.1, 4 or 6 gig available - what's minimum but optimal?

If you strip it down and take off the extra device drivers, Xwindows, C
compiler, DOS utilities, etc. you can probably fit it on a 2.1gb drive.
However, to be realistic, you probably need a 4.5gb for the O/S. You
will then want another disk for the software you want loaded.

For example, installing Informix and a single database instance will
probably take a second 4.5GB drive, while for Oracle you will probably
want a 9.1gb drive.

All of this is without considering any mirroring in place.

Regards,

Steve

In article <1139162644.446731.66120@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups. com>, "Ron
Sesnaski" <rsesnaski@yahoo.com> writes:
> I've posted previously about the minimal system to come to
> speed on AIX. I'm going to pickup a p43 next week but I'm
> wondering about the minimum disk size needed for a basic
> installation. Being tapped for time I realize I need to buy this
> with a workable disk and not plan on using some scsi disks
> I have lying around. Ebay listed systems seem to have 2.1,
> 2x2.1, 4 or 6 gig available - what's minimum but optimal?

I found 2 GB definitely too small for a reasonable installation.
It's not only bos etc, but you have to think of paging space
and a decent amount of /var and /tmp too. Plus some apps like
netscape/mozilla (think of viewing the docs) would be nice too.
I wouldn't start with anything less than 4 GB.
I run some 43P-240s with at least 2x9GB, with mirrored rootvg.

> I wouldn't start with anything less than 4 GB.

Thanks to all that posted, I think a 4 gig it will be. I can at least
load the OS, play a bit, and then try to hook up an external 4 gig
sun disk pack that I have.

Ron