Reccomended vendors for rackmount systems for computational cluster?

Armitage

Banned
Feb 23, 2001
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We're probably going with dual 2.6GHz Xeons. I or 2U form factor.
Reccomendations?

Any experience with Appro?
We won't be going with Aspen Systems or Microway due to some past issues.
 

cmetz

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Nov 13, 2001
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I don't do clusters but I deploying colo/hosting by the rack, and standardization helps keep me sane.

2U or 4U, we build our own based on stock PC parts (carefully selected of course). Yeah it can be a pain but it also has major benefits.
1U we do Dell or Compaq. I'm not thrilled by either, but they're reasonable. 1U is so delicate I wouldn't try to build it myself, and I would get good warranty service.
 

Armitage

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Feb 23, 2001
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Originally posted by: cmetz
I don't do clusters but I deploying colo/hosting by the rack, and standardization helps keep me sane.

2U or 4U, we build our own based on stock PC parts (carefully selected of course). Yeah it can be a pain but it also has major benefits.
1U we do Dell or Compaq. I'm not thrilled by either, but they're reasonable. 1U is so delicate I wouldn't try to build it myself, and I would get good warranty service.

Yea, I'm concerned about thermal management for the 1U and 2U systems, so would prefer to buy an integrated/tested system.
The Dell system I priced was very high .. 2 to 2.5 times the price of the rest of the competition (HP is around 1..5 to 2 times higher then the competition).

 

cmetz

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Nov 13, 2001
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Dell's very hit or miss -- you've gotta hit 'em on a deal. Check the Hot Deals forum and you might have to hit 'em at the right time.