Hi Mark,
        
        Something else to keep in mind is the amount of work involved with
installing the client software and applying patches. We also have a mixed
shop with about 10 UNIX and 150+ NT clients. Since we have a UNIX master
server, adding a new UNIX client or applying patches to our existing UNIX
clients is extremely easy - we simply ensure that our master (which is also
a client) is updated with the latest patches and we just push the software
out over the network from the Master. Unfortunately (at least with NBU
3.4.1) we can't push the client software from the UNIX Master to our NT
clients so adding NT clients and especially patching them is a major task. 

(Now perhaps it is possible to push the NT client software from one patched
NT client to the other NT servers, but someone with more NT experience will
have to speak to this).

Grant

BTW, we use a SUN E450 for our master/media server and have no hardware/OS
performance or reliability complaints.


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Riedesel [mailto:mried AT mit DOT edu]
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 2:16 PM
To: Veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
Subject: [Veritas-bu] Choice of platform for Master Server


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

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

Thanks,

Mark

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

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