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@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@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