[SunRescue] recommendations: IPX or SS-2?

[Paul Khoury]

On Thu, 3 Feb 2000 13:10:16 -0500 (EST), bobk wrote:

>
>
>On Thu, 3 Feb 2000, Matthew Haas wrote:
>
>> Good afternoon.
>> 
>> I have the opporunity to setup a 24/7 box at my local ISP (mainly for
>> personal use), and I have an IPX or SPARCstation 2 to spare.
>> 
>> I'm leaning towards the IPX as it is more compact, but I was wondering
>> about any heating problems by leaving it up 24/7. 
>
>I'd go with the SS2, and here's why:
>1) easier to fit on a rack. Its got a low profile. I doesn't have the
>standard 19", but I have heard of rack-mounting kits being available.
>
>2) You can fit two drive in it, and it will still run cooler than a
>single-drive IPX. This is borne out by experience. I would suggest using
>5400 RPM drives instead of 7200 RPM drives for heat reasons, unless you
>are at a well-cooled facility. Even then, the speed vs. reliability due to
>heat generation comes in to play.
>
>3) the main advantage of the IPX is the built-in video, which you won't be
>using when the machine is colocated.
>
>4) I think the SS2 has more hardware contexts, which should give it a
>slight performance edge.

I think it's 16 hardware contexts, vs. 8 on the IPX if my memory serves me right.

And you also have an extra SBus slot (then again, that's with video on the IPX).

And you have the regular serial ports, no need for a Mac serial cable...

Hmmm, everything else above I agree with - wonderful machine, I like my SS2.

Paul