Return to BSD News archive
Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!nntp.coast.net!news.kei.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!newsfeed.acns.nwu.edu!ftpbox!mothost!newdelph.cig.mot.com!komondor!kadow From: kadow@komondor.cig.mot.com (Kevin Kadow) Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc Subject: Re: [Q] Hardware suggestions... Date: 22 Feb 1996 22:02:32 GMT Organization: Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Group Lines: 46 Message-ID: <4gip5o$93a@newdelph.cig.mot.com> References: <4gh1md$t96@newsbf02.news.aol.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: komondor.cig.mot.com In article <4gh1md$t96@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, DaveChaos <davechaos@aol.com> wrote: >Hello all.... > >I need to purchase new equipment for a test machine running FreeBSD. I >have the basic machine already (a P-133 with 64Mb RAM) but now I need to >buy some of the other essentials. > >Can anybody suggest a high speed PCI SCSI card along with a HD to use? I Adaptec 2940, or go one step up and buy WIDE SCSI controller and drive. >pretty much have complete freedom to buy whatever is neccesary and I'd >like to do things right. A rather large drive is needed, perhaps 4Gb to >start. Is it better to use multiple smaller drives to speed things up? Within reason, yes. I'd suggest at least two drives at a minimum. Also look for fast (7600rpm) drives with low track-to-track times. >This will be a multiuser system accessed over a LAN and phone lines.... > >Lastly, I will need to provide about 5-10 dialin lines for this machine. >I know there are a number of options to handle this but simplicity and >reliability is key. This has to work right pretty much right out of the >box because the company's execs tend to become rapidly disinterested if >things are constantly down. Any suggestions on how to best handle this >would be greatly appreciated. Depending on how many users in the company >actually access it from home we may need to add lines so upgradability is >also an important issue. I'd suggest using a terminal server to provide the dialin lines, rather than putting multiple serial ports on the BSD box. For example, Livingston's portmaster is available as a chassis with room for 3 cards, either 10 port serial cards for modems, or 5 port ISDN cards. >I really appreciate all you help!! I'm trying to convince my company it >_is_ economical to connect to the net and it will open many doors for >them. I think FreeBSD is the way to go; now I just have to prove it. >I've been running it at home for some time now but never on as grand a >scale. If there are any other imminent pitfalls please shed some light on >them so I can avoid playing the fool! ;) If you already have Unix systems in house, you might be better off using the same OS and hardware as the existing systems. It might not be the best way to go, but you'll find it much easier to get the support of existing admins that way.