[ale] Server Hardware

[Jack Schneider]

On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:10:36 -0500
Jack Schneider <puck at volunteerwireless.net> wrote:

> On Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:38:07 +0000
> hbbs at comcast.net wrote:
> 
> > In more recent years, I've advocated buying servers from
> > manufacturers who use high-quality standard-issue motherboards to
> > include the same manufacturers who make the motherboards themselves
> > as opposed to the typical Dell/HP/IBM sourcing that's so prevalent
> > in industry.
> > 
> > My experience has been that even though the Dell/HP/IBM warranty,
> > support, and field service are supposed to be the big compelling
> > draw and are supposed to justify the cost, in reality:
> > 
> > * Field service is often slow, ineffectual, and/or incapable of
> > making sound technical evaluations of situations yet won't take your
> > word for anything
> > * Parts - from cooling fans to motherboards - are not typical COTS
> > items, so you're dependent on the manufacturer and/or field support
> > for even the slightest issue
> > * Shoddy workmanship, poor QA, and shipping damage run rampant
> > 
> > On the other hand, manufacturers that integrate and produce servers
> > out of COTS still give you a decent enough warranty but leave you
> > able to source parts from where you feel like it for the sake of
> > expediency or post-sale modification, and you can easily buy and
> > store extra power supplies, RAM, mobos, drive sleds, and power
> > supplies so that a server that has gone dead and won't POST can be
> > brought back to life by on-hand staff in a few minutes' time.  
> > 
> > 1.  Is this valid today?  Was it ever?
> > 2. What manufacturers have you had a good history with?  What
> > vendors sell their products?  
> > 
> > I personally bought a Supermicro SuperServer from HL Computer
> > locally a while back, and once I replaced its dodgy power supply
> > it's been fine, running without a reboot up at QTS for over 500
> > days.  HL does not ordinarily carry such equipment so I'd like to
> > find a vendor who has a good history of selling this sort of
> > equipment.
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> > http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> > 
> 
> 
> 


OOPS!!!


Try Next international..  http://www.neqx.com/

I got more than I expected from a sale item.  Quick too!!

YMMV!

Jack
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