I'm preparing to buy a Sun machine for service as an Amanda backup server.
For those of you unfamiliar with this service, the 2 most important facets
(for us) are High I/O throughput, and high CPU processing power (as we plan
to do compression on the server).

I'll be using an Ultrium tape drive (SCSI) with this.

I'm looking at 2 different Sun models:

a W2100Z, and a Ultra 40. The W2100Z is a SCSI machine, and I would add a
2nd SCSI card dedicated to the tape drive. The Ultra 40 is an SATA machine,
and I would have to add a SCSI controller for the tape. BTW I don't see this
as an option on the Sun hardware pricing site, am I missing something. It
looks like the Ultra 40 would have more raw compute power as it has dual
core processors. Is that correct? And is SATA equal to, or higher
performance that SCSI.


In general which would be the better machine?


--
"They that would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve
neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin

Stan Brown wrote:
> I'm preparing to buy a Sun machine for service as an Amanda backup server.
> For those of you unfamiliar with this service, the 2 most important facets
> (for us) are High I/O throughput, and high CPU processing power (as we plan
> to do compression on the server).
>
> I'll be using an Ultrium tape drive (SCSI) with this.
>
> I'm looking at 2 different Sun models:
>
> a W2100Z, and a Ultra 40. The W2100Z is a SCSI machine, and I would add a
> 2nd SCSI card dedicated to the tape drive. The Ultra 40 is an SATA machine,
> and I would have to add a SCSI controller for the tape. BTW I don't see this
> as an option on the Sun hardware pricing site, am I missing something. It
> looks like the Ultra 40 would have more raw compute power as it has dual
> core processors. Is that correct? And is SATA equal to, or higher
> performance that SCSI.

I do suggest you take a look at other brands x86 machines too, you may save
quite a lot of bucks by selecting something else than Sun that gives you
exactly the same stuff.

Any SCSI card that is said to work for x86, will work without any hassle, as
long as there is a driver for the OS you will run, will it be Solaris, Linux
or even Microsoft.


> In general which would be the better machine?

A none x86 machine I would say... but you don't have a such in your list so...
go for the cheaper one I would say.


//Aho

On Tue, 31 Jan 2006, Stan Brown wrote:

> I'm preparing to buy a Sun machine for service as an Amanda backup server.
> For those of you unfamiliar with this service, the 2 most important facets
> (for us) are High I/O throughput, and high CPU processing power (as we plan
> to do compression on the server).
>
> I'll be using an Ultrium tape drive (SCSI) with this.
>
> I'm looking at 2 different Sun models:
>
> a W2100Z, and a Ultra 40. The W2100Z is a SCSI machine, and I would add a

One question comes immediately to mind: why are you looking at using workstations
as servers? I'd consider the X2100 or the X4100 if I were you.

Also, if you want to consider used HW, your options increase quite a bit.

--
Rich Teer, SCNA, SCSA, OpenSolaris CAB member

President,
Rite Online Inc.

Voice: +1 (250) 979-1638
URL: http://www.rite-group.com/rich