RE: Ideal hardware configuration for pgsql

We just bought a brand new Sun Netra X1. List pice from Sun was
$995.00. Yes under one grand. It is a 1U tall box. For once
Sun beats Intel prices. It comes with Solaris 8 preinstaled.
Basically just plug in and boot. We got a discount to $907.

We upgraded the RAM to 1GB (it uses PC133 RAM)
We also added a second drive and do a two way mirror.
I tested it by pulling the power cable from one drive
while Postgres was running. It worked, no crash.
The box is not super fast but usfull for many purposes.
My test database has 1M rows by 40 columns. With the
1GB RAM perforance is just "OK".

I used a dual Xeon box (2MB L2 cache, 1GB RAM, SCSI 160)
that was faster then the Sun Netera X1 but cost 6x more.

My Ideal box would have multiple CPUs, at least SCSI 160 drives
or better a hardware RAID box and 4GB RAM.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Willis, Ian (Ento, Canberra) [mailto:Ian(dot)Willis(at)ento(dot)csiro(dot)au]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2001 12:03 AM
> To: 'Ryan Mahoney'; pgsql-general(at)postgresql(dot)org
> Subject: RE: [GENERAL] Ideal hardware configuration for pgsql
>
>
> I would make sure that an intel box won't suit before looking
> at sun. Simply
> for cost and if you're planning to run linux on it sun
> support will be shit
> because they don't have skills in that area.
> Databases thrive on more spindles, separate system spindles
> from the db
> spindles and swap spindles, look at separating index tables
> from data tables
> and the WAL.
> Raid 3 or striping may be more suitable for the WAL (what
> happens if you
> loose the WAL?) whereas raid 5 or a combination for 1/5 for data and
> indexes. The chunk size on a raid set may also be worth
> pursuing as a means
> of squeezing better performance from a dedicated db machine.
>
> --
> Ian Willis
> Systems Administrator
> Division of Entomology CSIRO
> GPO Box 1700
> Canberra ACT 2601
> ph 02 6246 4391
> fax 02 6246 4000
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ryan Mahoney [mailto:ryan(at)paymentalliance(dot)net]
> Sent: Wednesday, 2 May 2001 8:35 AM
> To: pgsql-general(at)postgresql(dot)org
> Subject: [GENERAL] Ideal hardware configuration for pgsql
>
>
> Our db server running 7.1 got *torched* today, system ran
> between 30% an
> 80% CPU all day! Right now the server is running on a
> Penguin Computing
> 800mhz PIII w/ 128 ram and IDE hardware.
>
> Tomorrow I'd like to place an order for something more
> robust... looking
> into dual PIII, gig of ram and SCSI Raid. Planning on
> running Red Hat 7.1
> on this machine.
>
> Before I order, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or
> recommendations. I have been considering getting a Sun
> machine... but I
> don't know if there is a benefit. Also, are there any special
> considerations when running RAID and dual CPU?
>
> You're input is tremendously appreciated!
>
> -r
>
> Ryan Mahoney
> CTO, Payment Alliance, Inc.
> ryan(at)paymentalliance(dot)net
> t. 718-721-0338
> m. 718-490-5464
> www.paymentalliance.net
>
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