Networker

Re: [Networker] Merits of Linux and Solaris

2004-02-16 18:34:01
Subject: Re: [Networker] Merits of Linux and Solaris
From: Matthew Huff <mhuff AT OX DOT COM>
To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 14:15:58 -0500
> 
> Matthew Huff wrote:
> 
> >The real strength of Solaris/Sparc is the ability for the machine to 
> >handle extreme stress;i.e, high CPU, pushing 
> drivers/hardware to their
> >
> 
> While this statement is true, it is not quite relevant for a 
> backup server. If your backup server is running under stress 
> it is time to upgrade no matter what OS platform you use. 
> Could you give me an example when a backup server (storage 
> node) would suddenly start experiencing unexpected load ? 
> Yes, I do agree Solaris is more robust system, but everything 
> should be justified...
> 
> >max, etc. I've seen and know numbers of instances where linux system 
> >under stress have crashed. And for support, even when you go 
> with the 
> >major vendors, you are very likely to get into 
> fingerpointing between 
> >vendors of fiber cards, ethernet cards, system vendors and 
> RedHat. How 
> >much is your time worth?


There are plenty of peek times that stress a backup server. For example,
say you have 3 groups that start a backup around the same time. The peak
network, disk i/o, etc can push a machine.


> It is sufficient to make a little research before purchasing 
> hardware to make sure it does work well under Linux. Simple 
> "googling" should not take much time. In Solaris, the 
> hardware is either supported (works) or it is not (does not 
> work at all) - nothing in the middle. Unlike free/open 
> unises, where it might be in "almost working" state, but, on 
> the other hand, there is always hardware that "does work 
> well", so it is just a matter of finding one.  The only thing 
> I agree with it does not make much sense to change OS 
> platform for existing backup server, unless we are talking 
> about significant difference in the price for Legato license 
> (hence support costs since they are a fraction of the price).


How much money are you saving if you have to spend time "finding one"?
I've seen sysadmin that love Linux but seem to spend all their waking
moments resolving hardware issues.

> >
> >Also, if you end up buying a "Certified System" such as an 
> IBM server 
> >with RHEL, the cost is usually GREATER than equivelent sparc systems
> >
> 
> You should also count recurring costs, ie. how much money you 
> are spending for  warranty/support renewing. AFAIK Sun 
> equipment is still more expensive in compare to Intel based 
> servers at this point.

>From what I've seen of IBM/RHEL ongoing support cost, it looks like Sun
is considerably cheaper. 

Of course, if you choose a no-name rack server and use Fedora, Gentoo,
Slackware, or SuSE, you can save a lot of money. Of course, that "free"
only if your time is worth nothing. I've seen small sites and cheap
institutions choose to use fixed-cost items (people's salaries) rather
than spend capitol. In many ways, this is economically silly. First, you
can depreciate/write-off capitol expenditures. Second, few places figure
the cost of having people do tasks they could avoid rather than work on
projects that would benefit the organization more. 

Of course if your are in an institution where money is tight and have
people sitting around doing nothing, than "free" software is a great
bargain. Of course, having people sitting around doing nothing is a rare
commodity these days.

> >--
> >Matthew Huff           | One Manhattanville Rd
> >Director of Operations | Purchase, NY 10577
> >OTA LLC                | Phone: 914-460-4039
> >mailto:mhuff AT ox DOT com    | Fax:   914-460-4139
> >
> >
> >
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: Stan Horwitz [mailto:stan AT TEMPLE DOT EDU]
> >>Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 10:41 PM
> >>To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
> >>Subject: [Networker] Merits of Linux and Solaris
> >>
> >>
> >>Hello all;
> >>
> >>There's some talk here at Temple about migrating from proprietary 
> >>operating systems to open operating systems. We're seriously 
> >>considering standardizing the University on Red Hat Linux.
> >>
> >>I am wondering if any of you who run a Legato NetWorker server on a 
> >>Red Hat Linux platform can comment on your experience with 
> it. Would 
> >>you do it again if you had the choice? What's your NetWorker 
> >>environment like?
> >>
> >>We use Solaris 9 on an Enterprise 450 with NetWorker 6.1.3 
> and about 
> >>110 clients with about 3TB of data backed up nightly.  We are 
> >>considering getting another server and tape library for a 
> storage node 
> >>to handle anticipated growth in the volume of data we will 
> be backing 
> >>up and to keep more data online. Our NetWorker server has a 
> Qualstar 
> >>tape library with 600 slots and twelve AIT-2 drives, four 
> of which are
> >>deployed via SnapImage for NDMP backups (no drive sharing).
> >>As such, one fly in the ointment for us is that SnapImage
> >>isn't offered for Linux. Has anyone on this list heard if
> >>there are any plans on Legato's part to offer a Linux version
> >>of SnapImage?
> >>
> >>--
> >>Note: To sign off this list, send a "signoff networker" command via 
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> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >--
> >Note: To sign off this list, send a "signoff networker" command via 
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> >
> 
> --
> Yuri Pismerov, Sr. System Administrator,
> TUCOWS.COM INC. (416) 535-0123  ext. 1352
> 
> 
> --
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> 

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