Choosing a Database/File Server

I'd really appreciate your help in understanding how MIS professional choose their database and file server hardware. I'm especially interested in multi-processors, used for departmental servers and to downsize from mainframes. To that end, I've developed the following survey, which should only take a minute or two to fill out. Please complete and send to ddruker_at_agsm.ucla.edu I will summarize and post the results.

Also, if anyone has done any work on, or can point me to resources for important factors to consider in purchasing a multi-processing file/database server I'd be most grateful.

Thanks,

Dan Druker
The Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA ddruker_at_agsm.ucla.edu

Multi-Processor Server Survey
For Database and File servers capable of handling departmental through enterprise needs (50-5000 users)

Please rate the importance of the following criteria from -10 (I don't care about this) to 10 (Critical.) 0 indicates ambivalence.

CATEGORY				    RATING
	  				-10   to    10
				      Useless     Critical
Performance 
	Overall System Performance	----->
	CPU MIPS/Specmarks/etc.		----->
	I/O Performance			----->
	Network Performance		----->
	TPC Benchmark Performance	----->

Price
	Overall Price			----->
	Price Performance		----->

Expandability
	Ability to add CPU's		----->
	Ability to add Memory		----->
	Ability to add Disk		----->

Architecture
	Uniprocessor Only		----->
	Asymmetric Multiprocessor	----->
	Symmetric Multiprocessor	----->
	Massively Parallel 		----->

	RISC Based			----->
	CISC Based			----->
	Intel 386/486 Based		----->
	Intel Pentium Based		----->

Server Safety
	Hardware Fault Tolerance 	----->
	Error Correcting Memory		----->
	Hot Swap Capability		----->
	Raid Disk Systems		----->

Operating Systems
	Unix				----->
	Windows NT			----->
	OS2				----->
	Novell				----->
	Other	(which)			----->

Support from Vendor
	Telephone 9am - 5pm		----->
	Telephone 24 hour		----->
	On Site When Needed		----->
	On Site Continuous Support	----->

System Software
	Backup/Recovery			----->
	System Management		----->
	Security			----->
	Distributed Management		----->
	CICS/ TP Monitor		----->
	Other 1 (which)			----->
	Other 2 (which)			----->
	Other 3 (which)			----->

Sales Channel - How comfortable are you to purchase from...
	PC Dealer			----->
	PC Manufacturer			----->
	Systems Integrator		----->
	Server Manufacturer		----->
	Computer Behemoth (IBM, HP)	----->

Finally, a couple short answer questions:

What needs to improve in multi-processing servers to help make MIS professionals comfortable moving mainframe based applications to them ?

Who do you think will be the most important players in the multi-processing server market ?

What other criteria are important to look at when considering a multi-processing database or file server ? What are the most critical features needed by your organization ?

Thanks !!!!

• Dan