Veritas-bu

[Veritas-bu] Choice of platform for Master Server

2002-09-25 14:55:52
Subject: [Veritas-bu] Choice of platform for Master Server
From: MTNiehaus AT MarathonOil DOT com (Niehaus, Michael T.)
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 13:55:52 -0500
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I think it depends on load and support - we're an all-Windows shop that =
didn't have the Unix expertise, so we instead put in three servers: one =
dedicated master server and two dedicated media servers, and three other =
media servers (on boxes with lots of local data attached, all connected =
to a SAN) to handle about 200 servers, one large tape library with 20 =
drives, and about 8TB of data to back up.  It's a strain on those =
servers, but they can handle it (although they could use more gigabit =
Ethernet adapters).  One larger Sun box would probably work as well =
(with sufficient fibre channel, gigabit, SCSI, disk, etc.).
=20
We did have to do some tuning of Windows to get it all working =
reasonably well: adjust the Windows desktop heap size, increase the =
maximum TCP socket, decrease the TCP TTL, etc.  It sounds like you'd =
have equivalent (but different) tuning to do to a Solaris box.
=20
I'm not sure where he heard that it was better supported and had more =
features.  It is at its core a Unix product that happens to have been =
ported to Windows and runs reasonably well.  The only part where I buy =
his argument is with the administrative GUI: I do think they have put =
more work into it than into the Java GUI, but you can run either, =
regardless of what you master server is running.
=20
Regardless of which platform you end up going with, I'd recommend =
bringing in a good consultant to help you set it up, configure it, and =
tune it.  And as soon as you find a good consultant, let me know - we're =
still looking...
=20
-Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: Donaldson, Mark [mailto:Mark.Donaldson AT experianems DOT com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 1:25 PM
To: 'Mark Riedesel'; Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
Subject: RE: [Veritas-bu] Choice of platform for Master Server



A master server that is probably acting as a media server get's a heck =
of a workout.  I wouldn't want any non-unix platform in that role.  I'd =
recommend the Solaris server.

$.02 - M=20

-----Original Message-----=20
From: Mark Riedesel [ mailto:mried AT MIT DOT EDU]=20
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 12:16 PM=20
To: Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu=20
Subject: [Veritas-bu] Choice of platform for Master Server=20


We are about to purchase Vertias NetBackup DataCenter for our mix of=20
Solaris, Windows and Linux=20
servers and our Oracle databases.  Our IT director favors Windows for=20
the master server since it is less expensive and he was told it is the=20
better choice=20
since the Windows version is better supported and has more features.=20

However, I am going to be responsible for administering this system and=20
while I have many=20
years experience with Unix administration, I have only user-level=20
experience with=20
Windows.  Would I be well-advised to advocate using a Solaris master=20
server instead,=20
or is Windows really the better choice?  We have only the Dell and=20
Veritas salesmen's advice to=20
go on at this point.=20

Thanks,=20

Mark=20

Mark Riedesel=20
Systems Manager/DBA=20
Sloan School of Management=20
MIT=20
mried AT mit DOT edu=20

_______________________________________________=20
Veritas-bu maillist  -  Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu=20
http://mailman.eng.auburn.edu/mailman/listinfo/veritas-bu=20


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<TITLE>RE: [Veritas-bu] Choice of platform for Master Server</TITLE>

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<DIV><SPAN class=3D905494118-25092002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>I=20
think it depends on load and support - we're an all-Windows shop that =
didn't=20
have the Unix expertise, so we instead put in three servers: one =
dedicated=20
master server and two dedicated media servers, and three other media =
servers (on=20
boxes with lots of local data attached, all connected to a SAN)&nbsp;to =
handle=20
about 200 servers, one large tape library with 20 drives, and about 8TB =
of data=20
to back up.&nbsp; It's a strain on those servers, but they can handle it =

(although they could use more gigabit Ethernet adapters).&nbsp; One =
larger Sun=20
box would probably work as well (with sufficient fibre channel, gigabit, =
SCSI,=20
disk, etc.).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D905494118-25092002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D905494118-25092002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>We did=20
have to do some tuning of Windows to get it all working reasonably well: =
adjust=20
the Windows desktop heap size, increase the maximum TCP socket, decrease =
the TCP=20
TTL, etc.&nbsp; It sounds like you'd have equivalent (but different) =
tuning to=20
do to a Solaris box.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D905494118-25092002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D905494118-25092002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>I'm=20
not sure where he heard that it was better supported and had more=20
features.&nbsp; It is at its core a Unix product that happens to have =
been=20
ported to Windows and runs reasonably well.&nbsp; The only part where I =
buy his=20
argument is with the administrative GUI: I do think they have put more =
work into=20
it than into the Java GUI, but you can run either, regardless of what =
you master=20
server is running.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D905494118-25092002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D905494118-25092002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2>Regardless of which platform you end up going with, I'd =
recommend=20
bringing in a good consultant to help you set it up, configure it, and =
tune=20
it.&nbsp; And as soon as you find a good consultant, let me know - we're =
still=20
looking...</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D905494118-25092002></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D905494118-25092002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2>-Michael</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
  size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Donaldson, Mark=20
  [mailto:Mark.Donaldson AT experianems DOT com]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, =
September=20
  25, 2002 1:25 PM<BR><B>To:</B> 'Mark Riedesel';=20
  Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Veritas-bu] =
Choice=20
  of platform for Master Server<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
  <P><FONT size=3D2>A master server that is probably acting as a media =
server=20
  get's a heck of a workout.&nbsp; I wouldn't want any non-unix platform =
in that=20
  role.&nbsp; I'd recommend the Solaris server.</FONT></P>
  <P><FONT size=3D2>$.02 - M</FONT> </P>
  <P><FONT size=3D2>-----Original Message-----</FONT> <BR><FONT =
size=3D2>From: Mark=20
  Riedesel [<A =
href=3D"mailto:mried AT MIT DOT EDU">mailto:mried AT MIT DOT EDU</A>]</FONT>=20
  <BR><FONT size=3D2>Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 12:16 PM</FONT> =
<BR><FONT=20
  size=3D2>To: Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu</FONT> <BR><FONT =
size=3D2>Subject:=20
  [Veritas-bu] Choice of platform for Master Server</FONT> </P><BR>
  <P><FONT size=3D2>We are about to purchase Vertias NetBackup =
DataCenter for our=20
  mix of </FONT><BR><FONT size=3D2>Solaris, Windows and Linux</FONT> =
<BR><FONT=20
  size=3D2>servers and our Oracle databases.&nbsp; Our IT director =
favors Windows=20
  for</FONT> <BR><FONT size=3D2>the master server since it is less =
expensive and=20
  he was told it is the </FONT><BR><FONT size=3D2>better choice</FONT> =
<BR><FONT=20
  size=3D2>since the Windows version is better supported and has more=20
  features.</FONT> </P>
  <P><FONT size=3D2>However, I am going to be responsible for =
administering this=20
  system and </FONT><BR><FONT size=3D2>while I have many</FONT> =
<BR><FONT=20
  size=3D2>years experience with Unix administration, I have only =
user-level=20
  </FONT><BR><FONT size=3D2>experience with</FONT> <BR><FONT =
size=3D2>Windows.&nbsp;=20
  Would I be well-advised to advocate using a Solaris master =
</FONT><BR><FONT=20
  size=3D2>server instead,</FONT> <BR><FONT size=3D2>or is Windows =
really the better=20
  choice?&nbsp; We have only the Dell and </FONT><BR><FONT =
size=3D2>Veritas=20
  salesmen's advice to</FONT> <BR><FONT size=3D2>go on at this =
point.</FONT> </P>
  <P><FONT size=3D2>Thanks,</FONT> </P>
  <P><FONT size=3D2>Mark</FONT> </P>
  <P><FONT size=3D2>Mark Riedesel</FONT> <BR><FONT size=3D2>Systems=20
  Manager/DBA</FONT> <BR><FONT size=3D2>Sloan School of =
Management</FONT>=20
  <BR><FONT size=3D2>MIT</FONT> <BR><FONT size=3D2>mried AT mit DOT edu</FONT> =
</P>
  <P><FONT =
size=3D2>_______________________________________________</FONT>=20
  <BR><FONT size=3D2>Veritas-bu maillist&nbsp; -&nbsp;=20
  Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu</FONT> <BR><FONT size=3D2><A =
target=3D_blank=20
  =
href=3D"http://mailman.eng.auburn.edu/mailman/listinfo/veritas-bu";>http:/=
/mailman.eng.auburn.edu/mailman/listinfo/veritas-bu</A></FONT>=20
  </P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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