[9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[John Floren]

We've got some budget left for hardware, so I'm looking for a server
suitable for running Plan 9, preferably as good as I can get for about
$3000-5000. Buying non-Thinkpad Plan 9 hardware is kind of a
crapshoot, and this isn't just some $100 Atom system, so if any of you
are running something along these lines, please let me know. I'd most
like to see lots of cores and lots of RAM, I don't even want storage
(we've got other methods for storage).

Thanks,


John

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[erik quanstrom]

On Wed Jul 25 00:45:01 EDT 2012, john@jfloren.net wrote:
> We've got some budget left for hardware, so I'm looking for a server
> suitable for running Plan 9, preferably as good as I can get for about
> $3000-5000. Buying non-Thinkpad Plan 9 hardware is kind of a
> crapshoot, and this isn't just some $100 Atom system, so if any of you
> are running something along these lines, please let me know. I'd most
> like to see lots of cores and lots of RAM, I don't even want storage
> (we've got other methods for storage).

hey, john, i've had incredible luck with intel servers from supermicro
for general beat-about servers.

just as a quick suggestion, i'd look at this server here.

http://www.supermicro.com/products/system/1U/6017/SYS-6017R-WRF.cfm

with 8-core socket-r cpus, you can have 32 cores and 128gb of memory
without stretching the budget too much.  the intel i350 nics work fine,
but for something that hot, i'd get a myircom or intel 10gbe adapter.

this was just whatever came up in 5 minutes.  you might want to look
at this page here for more options

http://www.supermicro.com/products/nfo/Xeon_X9_E5.cfm?pg=SS

acmemicro.com (fitting, no?) should have the full range of stuff.

- erik

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[John Floren]

On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 9:58 PM, erik quanstrom <quanstro@quanstro.net> wrote:
> On Wed Jul 25 00:45:01 EDT 2012, john@jfloren.net wrote:
>> We've got some budget left for hardware, so I'm looking for a server
>> suitable for running Plan 9, preferably as good as I can get for about
>> $3000-5000. Buying non-Thinkpad Plan 9 hardware is kind of a
>> crapshoot, and this isn't just some $100 Atom system, so if any of you
>> are running something along these lines, please let me know. I'd most
>> like to see lots of cores and lots of RAM, I don't even want storage
>> (we've got other methods for storage).
>
> hey, john, i've had incredible luck with intel servers from supermicro
> for general beat-about servers.
>
> just as a quick suggestion, i'd look at this server here.
>
> http://www.supermicro.com/products/system/1U/6017/SYS-6017R-WRF.cfm
>
> with 8-core socket-r cpus, you can have 32 cores and 128gb of memory
> without stretching the budget too much.  the intel i350 nics work fine,
> but for something that hot, i'd get a myircom or intel 10gbe adapter.
>
> this was just whatever came up in 5 minutes.  you might want to look
> at this page here for more options
>
> http://www.supermicro.com/products/nfo/Xeon_X9_E5.cfm?pg=SS
>
> acmemicro.com (fitting, no?) should have the full range of stuff.
>
> - erik

Thanks for the tip; I just looked at acmemicro and spec'd out a
decent-looking 16-core system with 64 GB of RAM for about $4800, so
I'll probably end up doing something like that.



john

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[Bruce Ellis]

Watch out for the bunnies!

On 25 July 2012 15:09, John Floren <john@jfloren.net> wrote:
> On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 9:58 PM, erik quanstrom <quanstro@quanstro.net> wrote:
>> On Wed Jul 25 00:45:01 EDT 2012, john@jfloren.net wrote:
>>> We've got some budget left for hardware, so I'm looking for a server
>>> suitable for running Plan 9, preferably as good as I can get for about
>>> $3000-5000. Buying non-Thinkpad Plan 9 hardware is kind of a
>>> crapshoot, and this isn't just some $100 Atom system, so if any of you
>>> are running something along these lines, please let me know. I'd most
>>> like to see lots of cores and lots of RAM, I don't even want storage
>>> (we've got other methods for storage).
>>
>> hey, john, i've had incredible luck with intel servers from supermicro
>> for general beat-about servers.
>>
>> just as a quick suggestion, i'd look at this server here.
>>
>> http://www.supermicro.com/products/system/1U/6017/SYS-6017R-WRF.cfm
>>
>> with 8-core socket-r cpus, you can have 32 cores and 128gb of memory
>> without stretching the budget too much.  the intel i350 nics work fine,
>> but for something that hot, i'd get a myircom or intel 10gbe adapter.
>>
>> this was just whatever came up in 5 minutes.  you might want to look
>> at this page here for more options
>>
>> http://www.supermicro.com/products/nfo/Xeon_X9_E5.cfm?pg=SS
>>
>> acmemicro.com (fitting, no?) should have the full range of stuff.
>>
>> - erik
>
> Thanks for the tip; I just looked at acmemicro and spec'd out a
> decent-looking 16-core system with 64 GB of RAM for about $4800, so
> I'll probably end up doing something like that.
>
>
>
> john
>

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[balaji]

unlike newegg, acmemicro does not stock anything so delivery time is long.

On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 9:58 PM, erik quanstrom <quanstro@quanstro.net> wrote:
> On Wed Jul 25 00:45:01 EDT 2012, john@jfloren.net wrote:
>> We've got some budget left for hardware, so I'm looking for a server
>> suitable for running Plan 9, preferably as good as I can get for about
>> $3000-5000. Buying non-Thinkpad Plan 9 hardware is kind of a
>> crapshoot, and this isn't just some $100 Atom system, so if any of you
>> are running something along these lines, please let me know. I'd most
>> like to see lots of cores and lots of RAM, I don't even want storage
>> (we've got other methods for storage).
>
> hey, john, i've had incredible luck with intel servers from supermicro
> for general beat-about servers.
>
> just as a quick suggestion, i'd look at this server here.
>
> http://www.supermicro.com/products/system/1U/6017/SYS-6017R-WRF.cfm
>
> with 8-core socket-r cpus, you can have 32 cores and 128gb of memory
> without stretching the budget too much.  the intel i350 nics work fine,
> but for something that hot, i'd get a myircom or intel 10gbe adapter.
>
> this was just whatever came up in 5 minutes.  you might want to look
> at this page here for more options
>
> http://www.supermicro.com/products/nfo/Xeon_X9_E5.cfm?pg=SS
>
> acmemicro.com (fitting, no?) should have the full range of stuff.
>
> - erik
>

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[Kurt H Maier]

On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 09:44:31AM -0700, balaji wrote:
> unlike newegg, acmemicro does not stock anything so delivery time is long.


Supermicro resellers (like ixsystems) tend to be better about this.

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[erik quanstrom]

On Wed Jul 25 12:46:23 EDT 2012, balaji.srinivasa+plan9@gmail.com wrote:
> unlike newegg, acmemicro does not stock anything so delivery time is long.
>

depends on what you order.  you can call 'em up and get an account.  they'll
let you know, and help you change your order slightly to meet whatever deadline
you've got.

i've done this a few times personally.

- erik

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[balaji]

true, but one order of mine took 2-3 times longer to fulfill than
newegg. not attempted returns with these guys either. prices were just
about competitive, however, if you're in the bay area you can pick it
up and save shipping. the order was just a bunch of 1U supermicros.

On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 9:47 AM, erik quanstrom
<quanstro@labs.coraid.com> wrote:
> On Wed Jul 25 12:46:23 EDT 2012, balaji.srinivasa+plan9@gmail.com wrote:
>> unlike newegg, acmemicro does not stock anything so delivery time is long.
>>
>
> depends on what you order.  you can call 'em up and get an account.  they'll
> let you know, and help you change your order slightly to meet whatever deadline
> you've got.
>
> i've done this a few times personally.
>
> - erik

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[hiro]

what are you guys running? java? chrome?
I'm fine with 2 cores.

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[erik quanstrom]

On Wed Jul 25 16:18:21 EDT 2012, 23hiro@gmail.com wrote:
> what are you guys running? java? chrome?
> I'm fine with 2 cores.

don't you have 75 users compiling all day?

- erik

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[hiro]

I don't think that can be a problem if all they compile is plan9 software.

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[cinap_lenrek]

the real question is:

how many catclocks can it run in parallel before the front falls off? ;)

--
cinap

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[Richard Miller]

>> We've got some budget left for hardware, so I'm looking for a server
>> suitable for running Plan 9, preferably as good as I can get for about
>> $3000-5000.

You could build a 140-processor raspberry pi cluster for $4900, leaving
$100 in the budget for power supply (490 watts) and wiring.

Have to wait a few months for delivery though.

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[Oleksandr Iakovliev]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 480 bytes --]

On 2012-07-26 09:33 , Richard Miller wrote:
>>> We've got some budget left for hardware, so I'm looking for a server
>>> suitable for running Plan 9, preferably as good as I can get for about
>>> $3000-5000.
> You could build a 140-processor raspberry pi cluster for $4900, leaving
> $100 in the budget for power supply (490 watts) and wiring.
>
> Have to wait a few months for delivery though.
>
>

And reserve same amount in $5K to have 140 ethernet ports switch ;)

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Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[Richard Miller]

> And reserve same amount in $5K to have 140 ethernet ports switch ;)

No need for ethernet - just link boards in a mesh using gpio pins.

And yes, I am joking.

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[erik quanstrom]

On Thu Jul 26 08:41:56 EDT 2012, 9fans@hamnavoe.com wrote:
> > And reserve same amount in $5K to have 140 ethernet ports switch ;)
>
> No need for ethernet - just link boards in a mesh using gpio pins.
>
> And yes, I am joking.

it's an intersting thought experiment.

here are other ways to get >= processors cheeper

1.  sgi altex.  32 processors itanic goodness for $1500.  you could get two
and double your processors.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Altix-3000-Rack-LOADED-with-C-Bricks-each-with-2-x-1-3GHz-16GB-/310415290426?pt=COMP_EN_Servers&hash=item484631703a#ht_784wt_979


2.  sgi onyx2.  8 processors for $200.  you could get 20 for <$4000, but
you may be calling an electrician

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Silicon-Graphics-Onyx2-Server-CMN-A016-RM-10-256-/290748779993?pt=COMP_EN_Servers&hash=item43b1fa4dd9#ht_9902wt_818

- erik

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[David Leimbach]

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On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 7:10 AM, erik quanstrom <quanstro@quanstro.net>wrote:

> On Thu Jul 26 08:41:56 EDT 2012, 9fans@hamnavoe.com wrote:
> > > And reserve same amount in $5K to have 140 ethernet ports switch ;)
> >
> > No need for ethernet - just link boards in a mesh using gpio pins.
> >
> > And yes, I am joking.
>
> it's an intersting thought experiment.
>
> here are other ways to get >= processors cheeper
>
> 1.  sgi altex.  32 processors itanic goodness for $1500.  you could get two
> and double your processors.
>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Altix-3000-Rack-LOADED-with-C-Bricks-each-with-2-x-1-3GHz-16GB-/310415290426?pt=COMP_EN_Servers&hash=item484631703a#ht_784wt_979


Itanium was fun to play with years and years ago when I had access to them.
 Just because it was different mostly.  I liked it for the same reason I
liked those Cell processors - I'm weird.


>
>
>
> 2.  sgi onyx2.  8 processors for $200.  you could get 20 for <$4000, but
> you may be calling an electrician
>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/SGI-Silicon-Graphics-Onyx2-Server-CMN-A016-RM-10-256-/290748779993?pt=COMP_EN_Servers&hash=item43b1fa4dd9#ht_9902wt_818
>
>
Cool!


> - erik
>
>

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Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[andrey mirtchovski]

>  I liked it for the same reason I
> liked those Cell processors - I'm weird.

a lot of people really hated it because it killed alpha...

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[David Leimbach]

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On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 8:16 AM, andrey mirtchovski
<mirtchovski@gmail.com>wrote:

> >  I liked it for the same reason I
> > liked those Cell processors - I'm weird.
>
> a lot of people really hated it because it killed alpha...
>
> Yes that was very sad.   I liked Alpha too, but business reasons caused it
to die more than Itanium as a technology.

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Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[erik quanstrom]

On Thu Jul 26 11:18:04 EDT 2012, mirtchovski@gmail.com wrote:
> >  I liked it for the same reason I
> > liked those Cell processors - I'm weird.
>
> a lot of people really hated it because it killed alpha...

credit where due.  itanic killed alpha.

or more accurately, the politics behind itanic.

- erik

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[tlaronde]

On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 01:04:57PM -0400, erik quanstrom wrote:
> On Thu Jul 26 11:18:04 EDT 2012, mirtchovski@gmail.com wrote:
> > >  I liked it for the same reason I
> > > liked those Cell processors - I'm weird.
> >
> > a lot of people really hated it because it killed alpha...
>
> credit where due.  itanic killed alpha.
>
> or more accurately, the politics behind itanic.

And perhaps the conception too? about what was needed from the
compiler and the programmer to really use the stuff. It seemed far
too complex to be of sufficiently easy of use and large benefits to
convince a lot of people to try. The doubtful description read in
Hennesy and Patterson' "Computer Architecture" was fair enough.

Not to speak about compatibility, the one feature that made Intel and
Microsoft prosper...

The Plan9 vs Unix is not in the very same pattern. If Itanium was
doomed, the Plan9 approach seems to me more and more valid
everyday---interconnections, ubiquity or lack of locality of
resources; terminals vs. CPU vs. fileservers etc.

And simplicity...

--
        Thierry Laronde <tlaronde +AT+ polynum +dot+ com>
                      http://www.kergis.com/
Key fingerprint = 0FF7 E906 FBAF FE95 FD89  250D 52B1 AE95 6006 F40C

Re: [9fans] higher-end compute server recommendations?

[David Leimbach]

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On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 10:57 AM, <tlaronde@polynum.com> wrote:

> On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 01:04:57PM -0400, erik quanstrom wrote:
> > On Thu Jul 26 11:18:04 EDT 2012, mirtchovski@gmail.com wrote:
> > > >  I liked it for the same reason I
> > > > liked those Cell processors - I'm weird.
> > >
> > > a lot of people really hated it because it killed alpha...
> >
> > credit where due.  itanic killed alpha.
> >
> > or more accurately, the politics behind itanic.
>
> And perhaps the conception too? about what was needed from the
> compiler and the programmer to really use the stuff. It seemed far
> too complex to be of sufficiently easy of use and large benefits to
> convince a lot of people to try. The doubtful description read in
> Hennesy and Patterson' "Computer Architecture" was fair enough.
>
> Not to speak about compatibility, the one feature that made Intel and
> Microsoft prosper...
>
> The Plan9 vs Unix is not in the very same pattern. If Itanium was
> doomed, the Plan9 approach seems to me more and more valid
> everyday---interconnections, ubiquity or lack of locality of
> resources; terminals vs. CPU vs. fileservers etc.
>
> And simplicity...
>
>
We'll just keep the fire lit then I suppose until people come to their
senses :-)



> --
>         Thierry Laronde <tlaronde +AT+ polynum +dot+ com>
>                       http://www.kergis.com/
> Key fingerprint = 0FF7 E906 FBAF FE95 FD89  250D 52B1 AE95 6006 F40C
>
>

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