Database Server

[Trying]

Hi Guys

Please give me some advice....... I have an option to purchase one of two servers for our database server:

3x 80GB 10000RPM drives in RAID0 array (210 Gb)
2x 3Ghz CPU's (Quad Core, 2MB cache)
Front Sata drive loading bay (8 Drives in front bay, 2 open slots)
CD/DVD Writer
1500w power supply (3x 500w PSU's)
Adaptec RAID 0 controller
6GB Registered ECC memory
SuperMicro Wind-Tunnel Cooling

or

IBM Eserver xServer236 series
Dual P4 3.6 GHz Processors
4 GB RAM
6 x 76gb Hot Swappable scssi drives
2x Gigabit Ethernet adapters
IBM raid controller RAID
DVD Rom
Integrated Lights-Out
ATI RAGE XL PCI graphics
2xRedundant power supplies

or

Should I simply go for a normal pc (not server) based Core2Quad with LSILogic SCSI and enough memory?

I know some of you are running huge setups and I am just wondering if real servers are necessary or whether a normal pc with the correct specs will do just as well? It is obviously a huge cost implication as servers are so much more expensive.

My setup will be 160 seats outbound with full recording in wav at a dial ratio of 3:1.

[mflorell]

I would say options 1 or 3 should work well for 160 agents, but NEVER use a RAID 0 for a database or anything else you care about. You want RAID 1 or RAID 10.

[Trying]

Thanks for the reply Matt. I think I will then go for a normal Core2Quad pc. So much cheaper and I suppose spares are easier to get as well.

[mflorell]

As with any Database, get as much RAM as the motherboard will reliably support.

[Trying]

Hi Matt

It seems the guy made a mistake and the 1st server is not fitted with two Quad Xeons but two Dual Xeons. Is this still viable or would you recommend a single Core2Quad 2.4 ghz instead?

Thanks in advance!

[Nortelguy]

Raid 10 FTW ..

[Trying]

Yes, if I have Raid10 with LSI Logic with SCSI, 8mb Ram, etc, the question is if you look purely at the two processors and nothing else. Will the two Dual Xeons at 3.0 Ghz be better or the Core2Quad Q6600 at 2.4 Ghz?

[Trying]

I just don't want a mistake here and buy a very expensive Supermicro server while a Core2Quad normal pc can do just as well. Really a difficult decision for me because the server has redundancy in terms of cooling and PSU where the Core2Quad pc will not.

[mflorell]

Not really sure on that one, what type and speed of RAM?
and what's the BUS speed of both?
And how big of a cache on the CPU?

[Nortelguy]

I'd shoot for bus speed and memory speed and cache whichever combo has the higher pick it

[Trying]

On the Supermicro Dual Xeons
Memory - DDR2 800
Bus - 800 (I think)
Cache - 2mb per Cpu - that is 4 in total

Core2Quad Q6600
Memory - DDR3 1333
Bus - 1066
Cache - 8mb

[Nortelguy]

On the Supermicro Dual Xeons
Memory - DDR2 800
Bus - 800 (I think)
Cache - 2mb per Cpu - that is 4 in total

Core2Quad Q6600
Memory - DDR3 1333
Bus - 1066
Cache - 8mb

I thin kwe have a winner What flavor of unix are you using ? Want to be sure it can actually use quad cores.

[Trying]

Hi

I will be using Slackware as per the pre-install. If that is what you mean? So what you are saying is just forget about the redundancy of a full spec server and just go with a Q6600 Core2Quad pc?

[Nortelguy]

I installed Slack myself also, configuring the Kernel for RAID was tricky but I got the job done. Ended up not using it because it was a rushed deal and didnt have time to complete it. SMP is included in slack, give it a shot and see if it detects 4 processors. I would do redudancy myself if I did this all over again RAID 10.