Going under the assumption that we will be buying a new db server to
replace geoffrin, please everyone take a look at:
http://www.siliconmechanics.com/
and help me decide on a suitable configuration. Assume a budget of
$9,000-$10,000, but don't hesitate to go under (of course!) or over
(if for a good reason!).
There have been several requests (from more than one person, or just
from one person) for 15k spindle drives. Is that a universal
consensus? I find it hard to imagine that faster drives is really
pertinent, because just about any problem that can be solved with
faster drives can be solved better with more ram?
But, that's a very simplistic view on my part, so I could easily be
convinced otherwise.
RAID 10? That's what geoffrin had, and it was sweet. But RAID 5
would give more disk space, right?
What are our disk requirements for the db server? Let's be generous
with ourselves here. But, also let's think about whether disk space
needs might in some cases be better handled by a big slow cheap SATA
storage server?
If we're in need of other new hardware, now is a good time to order
that as well.
We have a crucial responsibility to be good stewards of our donor's
money. That means two things -- first, we don't buy hardware just
because it sounds cool, but to meet specific needs. But second, the
money wasn't given to us to sit in the bank forever, it's to give the
donors what they want -- a fast fast wikipedia. So we should not be
cheapskates, either.
--Jimbo
p.s. Quotes or recommendations for other vendors are welcome, but I'd
like to take action quickly, so it would be good to talk about
configurations from a single site (siliconmechanics) and then also look
around for better pricing or service or ??? elsewhere.