Choice of CPU and etc (for Linux based IDS server)
Hello, I am about to choose the hardware platform for IDS server on Linux. I am used to HP Proliants regarding Intel and AMD based hardware, so the choice is between HP DL380 G5 (with Intel Dual-Core Xeons) and DL385 G5 (with AMD Dual-Core Opterons). I've seen that even Quad-Core Intels are available within DL380s, but I am not sure if they are available in my country yet, nor if we really need four cores. The database space will be alocated on a SAN, internal disks will be used only for boot/root and transient data. Is there a recommendation regarding the choice among these listed above? Can I expect to gain performance similar to conventional 2-way servers, when using Dual-Core CPUs? What about licensing, regarding annonced new IBM policies? The server will keep archival data, so it is expected to have rather long life time (say, 5 years; I hope that the server that will inherit it will also have some version of IDS :-). That is the reason why I think we should pick IDS Express 10, since I expect that that is the version that will be supported even then. Am I right? I am used to SuSE for Informix related deployments, is there a reason to pick another distro? TIA, Darko Krstic
"darko" <darko.krstic@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1164014085.782064.87470@h54g2000cwb.googlegroups.com... > Hello, > Is there a recommendation regarding the choice among these listed > above? Can I expect to gain performance similar to conventional 2-way > servers, when using Dual-Core CPUs? What about licensing, regarding > annonced new IBM policies? > > The server will keep archival data, so it is expected to have rather > long life time (say, 5 years; I hope that the server that will inherit > it will also have some version of IDS :-). That is the reason why I > think we should pick IDS Express 10, since I expect that that is the > version that will be supported even then. Am I right? > > I am used to SuSE for Informix related deployments, is there a reason > to pick another distro? Express is restricted to 2 "processors" and 4g memory, so be sure that this satisfies your need. There is an upgrade path from Express to Workgroup (which has more generous hardware limits), but these upgrades tend not to be great value as they cost significantly more than the differential between the two products, so it pays to get this decision right first time. Licensing of multi-core processing of software is now a minefield for all vendors. IBM has responded to a this by introducing model based upon "Processor Value Units". I think it's fair to say that the new scheme has not exactly simplified matters, so my advice is to speak to someone who really understands it or you could easily end up under- (or over-) licensed. There is no guarantee that IDS 10 will be supported in 5 years' time but, being the most recent, it will certainly be the last currently-available version to go out of support. Also, if you want to use Express Edition I think I'm right in saying this is only available for in v10. Finally, WorkGroup on v10 has substantially more generous hardware limits than v9. So all indications are that v10 should be your choice. IDS is certified for specific versions of RedHat and SuSE only (or more accurately) specifc kernel and glibc versions within only those distributions: either should be a valid choice. regards Neil
Neil Truby said: > Licensing of multi-core processing of software is now a minefield for all > vendors. IBM has responded to a this by introducing model based upon > "Processor Value Units". I think it's fair to say that the new scheme has > not exactly simplified matters That famous British understatement again... :o) -- Bye now, Obnoxio "... no bill is required as no value was provided." -- Christine Normile -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by OpenProtect(http://www.openprotect.com), and is believed to be clean.
Neil Truby wrote: > "darko" <darko.krstic@gmail.com> wrote in message > news:1164014085.782064.87470@h54g2000cwb.googlegroups.com... > > Hello, > > > Is there a recommendation regarding the choice among these listed > > above? Can I expect to gain performance similar to conventional 2-way > > servers, when using Dual-Core CPUs? What about licensing, regarding > > annonced new IBM policies? > > > > The server will keep archival data, so it is expected to have rather > > long life time (say, 5 years; I hope that the server that will inherit > > it will also have some version of IDS :-). That is the reason why I > > think we should pick IDS Express 10, since I expect that that is the > > version that will be supported even then. Am I right? > > > > I am used to SuSE for Informix related deployments, is there a reason > > to pick another distro? > > Express is restricted to 2 "processors" and 4g memory, so be sure that this > satisfies your need. There is an upgrade path from Express to Workgroup > (which has more generous hardware limits), but these upgrades tend not to be > great value as they cost significantly more than the differential between > the two products, so it pays to get this decision right first time. > > Licensing of multi-core processing of software is now a minefield for all > vendors. IBM has responded to a this by introducing model based upon > "Processor Value Units". I think it's fair to say that the new scheme has > not exactly simplified matters, so my advice is to speak to someone who > really understands it or you could easily end up under- (or over-) licensed. > > There is no guarantee that IDS 10 will be supported in 5 years' time but, > being the most recent, it will certainly be the last currently-available > version to go out of support. Also, if you want to use Express Edition I > think I'm right in saying this is only available for in v10. Finally, > WorkGroup on v10 has substantially more generous hardware limits than v9. > So all indications are that v10 should be your choice. > > IDS is certified for specific versions of RedHat and SuSE only (or more > accurately) specifc kernel and glibc versions within only those > distributions: either should be a valid choice. > > regards > Neil Thanks for explanation, Neil, I have also looked to document "Compare Informix Dynamic editions" by C. Normile and related IBM's document ENUS206-063. It seems to me that for our purpose Express should suffice. I would say that for Dual-Core Xeons or Opterons 1 CPU license is needed. Current server used for the similar purpose has 1 GB RAM and 1.1 GHz Pentium III. It's not in memory shortage, and usually not CPU bound. So I expect that 4 GB RAM and Dual-Core Xeon or Opteron should suffice for few/several years. I could add second CPU later, if a need arise. The amount of data is large but the concurrency of usage is low, and usually the load is low also. In my country (and even region), it is not easy to speak to someone with good understanding of licensing terms related to Informix. IBM's interface to us is mostly sales force, and partners are also focused to amount of sales. And yes, they push DB2 and WebSphere related stuff heavily. Users of Informix are next to extinct, usually being in some phase of transitioning to some other DBMS. Usually the most valuable information I collect from Web, mostly from this newsgroup and IIUG. After reading the specs, I like DL380 G5 (with Xeons) more than DL385 G5 (with Opterons), since there are some nice things like Gigabit Ethernet NICs with TCP/IP offload capabilities and more modern design. But those Dual-Core Xeons (51XX series) are rather fresh CPUs, and I know noone with experience of using them with IDS. I have heard of good experiences with Opterons. Any comment? Darko Krstic