[rescue] E10k systems coming down in price

[Curtis H. Wilbar Jr.]

>From: "Joshua D. Boyd" <jdboyd at celestrion.net>
>
>On Fri, Jul 18, 2003 at 10:14:51AM -0400, Curtis H. Wilbar Jr. wrote:
>> On a machine like an E10K, it would be nearly pointless to run anything but
>> Solaris.
>> 
>> Currently even if Linux, FreeBSD, and NetBSD ran on the E10K (I do not 
believe
>> any of them do yet), none of them would be anywhere near as efficient in
>> MP/MT as Solaris.  Solaris's scheduling threads within the kernel alone makes
>> a big difference in MT performance as your processor count goes up.
>> 
>> Don't get me wrong, I like allBSD, and Linux, and pretty much most UNIX,
>> but for a box this big, the money you would save by running non Solaris
>> is going to be lost in the performance penalty you will pay for not really
>> "using" the hardware to it's fullest.
>
>That theory only holds for people hoping to use the E10k for commercial
>reasons.  For non-commercials reasons, all the money you save is money
>you save, since the operating inefficiency doesn't result in lost
>profits anyway.

For hobbiests who really want to run an E10K without paying Solaris
licensing (I think any hobiest who paid that much to run Solaris on
an E10K as a hobby is way to rich (want to adopt :-) ?)).

>
>Besides, how are the various free OSs supposed to get better if they
>don't have machines to work on?

I never said someone shouldn't run one of these on an E10K, just that
(for other than developing free OSes further on them) it is pointless
(currently).  What you pay for power, the efficient you would (currently)
get, the only thing you have is some geek boasting ability.  Lesser
machines under the same OS will probably perform just as good, use
less power and be just as usefull.... just not have the geek boasting
power.


-- Curt

Curtis Wilbar
Hawk Mountain Networks
rescue at hawkmountain.net

My e-mail is protected against viruses and spam by MailGuardian
                  http://www.mailguardian.net
          Top notch protection at unbelievable prices