Re: Database Server Spec. Help!

On 25 Jun 2002 21:50:47 -0700, thuthaot_at_hotmail.com (Thao) wrote:

>I am looking for a decent, high-speed Oracle application server,
>specifically Compaq ML570 family. I wonder what each of following
>server component scale in respect to increase performance,reliability,
>and easy to manage.
>
>1. Number of processors? (Xeon 900 MHz vs. Xeon 700 MHz)
>2. Cache Memory (should 2-MB level 2 write back cache per processor
>be overkilled or ok with 1-MB level 2)
>3. Storage controller: Integrated Dual Channel Wide Ultra 2 SCSI
>adapter
> (what is Integrated Smart Array controller? should I have it? )
"Smart Array" is Compaq's marketing hype name for their Raid disk controllers. "Integrated" means it's built into the mother board. Should you have it? I believe that if you buy the server, you've got it.

>4. 2 x 450W power supplies ( should I get a redundant one?)
Can you afford to have the system die when your only power supply fails?

>5. 1024 MB PC100MHz ECC SDRAM DIMM Memory
>6. are Extra fans needed? (in addition of 5)
Can you afford to have the system overheat and die when your only fan fails?

>5. should I have RAID or mirror configured hardrive?
Huh? "mirror" *is* RAID --- RAID-1 to be exact RAID-0 = striping across multiple disks. RAID-1 = mirrored disks allows continued operation in event of a single disk failure.
RAID-5 = striping with parity, allows continued operation in event of a single disk failure.
There are other RAID configurations, but these are the basics.

>
>This server will load with OS and application server which will attach
>with a RAID-5 where main database is stored
Huh? Is the database running on this box or another? If another, it is totally irrelevant to the configuration of your app server. If it is running on this server, then more information is needed -- how many physical drives, how large.

>
>Thank you for any of suggestions you may have
>Thao

--
Ed Stevens
(Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of my employer.)