John Hearns wrote: > Geoff Jacobs wrote: > >> Depends how small we're talking about. If we're talking Value Cluster >> 2K7, the purchasing goals are quite different. > > But of course. > Indeed, you could start with desktop type systems and upgrade with (say) > Intel gigabit NIC cards when you have the need for a dedicated network. > > Just trying to point out that (in general) you should make a good choice > of hardware platform to start with. This goes without saying. Careful shopping is the name of the game.
> Server-grade hardware in rackmount cases is almost always the way to go. > PSUs are more robust, cabling is easier and as I said you get a second > onboard Gigabit NIC. > Add in the capability for lights-out management for IPMI and you have a > good basis for cluster expansion. There are downsides to server hardware. Cost for one. Also, if it's 9 machines sitting in the back of a lab, the noise factor from 1U cases would probably be an issue. By the time desktop cases are impractical and the cluster needs dedicated space, I agree with you 100%. The trouble is we don't know how many nodes the OP is thinking of. -- Geoffrey D. Jacobs _______________________________________________ Beowulf mailing list, [email protected] To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf
