From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Mohan Sundaram Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:29:16 +0000 Subject: Re: [LARTC] OT: vendor hw recommendations Message-Id: <4743871C.9060707@vsnl.com> List-Id: References: <1195580301.18148.26.camel@chaos> In-Reply-To: <1195580301.18148.26.camel@chaos> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable To: lartc@vger.kernel.org C. Bergstr=F6m wrote: > I'm mostly just a lurker here, but with recent discussion just wanted to > toss this question out to the community/vendors. >=20 > My preferences are.. >=20 > a) low thermals (maybe sbc) > b) routes 100-200Mbps with shaping Most low thermal SBCs come with low end network controllers like 100Mbps=20 RTL8139. Getting 100Mbps thro' most of these is impossible. > c) 1U-4U rack mountable factor I'd recommend a 1U server m/c. I used a Sunfire x2100 in March 2006=20 costing $750 on the Net. Added a dual port PCIe GigE Intel board for=20 $175 and was home booting from a USB stick with a memory based Linux for=20 routing (persistent storage on USB stick for config). > d) not sparc, alpha or mips based > e) pci-x /pcie slot so I can put some quad port nic (open to > suggestions) Go Intel > f) priced between 300-1000 USD > g) serial port preferably with bios level access >=20 The Sunfire had a management processor independent of the Opteron which=20 is a nice thing. Did not try to access it though. Helps if the systems=20 hangs for some reason. Need to see if you can login to the processor=20 thro' the onboard ethernet so that you can reboot the system remotely=20 without a KVM/power control. The Opteron generates a lot of heat. 1U chassis is well provisioned to=20 cool it. These machines being servers are rated to run non-stop for=20 pretty long. You may want to look at water cooling rigs to be safer. Since these are not just routers, I know guys like IEI have OEM network=20 boxes made for networking with multiple high end nics and switches on=20 board. Helpful if you want to run large stateful firewalls or IDS etc on=20 the edge. I'd be satisfied with a 1U server for your requirements though. Mohan _______________________________________________ LARTC mailing list LARTC@mailman.ds9a.nl http://mailman.ds9a.nl/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/lartc