[lug] More Server Problems

[George Sexton]

Unfortunately, when you're buying equipment the life-cycle is about 6
months. It causes a lot of problems.

I just got off the phone with my vendor about the new computer I'm ordering
to replace the current one. I explicitly spec'd the Intel 540 or 560 CPU and
said (NO EMT-64). While confirming he had ordered a low-profile heatsink
that would fit in the rack-mount chassis, he proudly told me that he was
getting a 640 CPU which has 2MB of cache. Unfortunately it has EMT-64. I had
to patiently explain to the vendor why I had specified the specific CPU
model, explain why the 640 wouldn't work. In a few months, non EMT-64 intel
chips will not be available.

I suppose one option is to purchase refurb/lease returns from people like HP
and Dell. 



George Sexton
MH Software, Inc.
http://www.mhsoftware.com/
Voice: 303 438 9585
  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces at lug.boulder.co.us 
> [mailto:lug-bounces at lug.boulder.co.us] On Behalf Of Daniel Webb
> Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 2:59 PM
> To: Boulder (Colorado) Linux Users Group -- General Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [lug] More Server Problems
> 
> On Thu, Feb 16, 2006 at 10:15:25AM -0700, George Sexton wrote:
> 
> > The real lesson for next time is to not buy new state of 
> the art technology.
> > Every time I do I get burnt. I remember 5 years ago the 
> kernel just puked if
> > you had an SMP machine. Over time the kernel issues got 
> sorted out and I
> > have the machines that used to puke daily in production now 
> with uptimes in
> > the hundreds of days. The other machine that I bought at 
> the same time is
> > the same vendor, but a normal P4 CPU. No problems rock 
> solid, up over a
> > hundred days now.
> > 
> > The linux kernel just doesn't stablize new technology like 
> EMT-64 or SMP
> > very quickly.
> 
> My rule of thumb is buy hardware at least a year old, but 
> preferably two.
> I've rarely had hardware problems when I buy 2+ year old 
> gear.  Just bought my
> first DVD burner the other day...  works perfect.
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