Re: [SAGE] 3U - 24 ServerBlades or 1U - 6 ServerBlades

[Ewan McDonell <ewan@smairlines.com>]

"Company, Paul J." wrote:
> 
> Does anyone have any experience with the following systems?
> Does anyone know of any company doing similar work with
> Intel or AMD processors (running Windows NT/2000/XP)?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> http://www.rlxtechnologies.com/product/


Yes - I've got an RLX System 324 running in my lab
here.

You evidently didn't spend much time looking through
RLX's website before posting this message, because
most of the answers are right there on their site
for the reading.



> 
> Q1: How much HDD space?
> A1: One, probably two HDDs. Comes with one 10GB HDD.

RLX blades come with one or two drive configurations,
with the choice of either 10 or 30Gb capacity.

> 
> Q2: How much memory space?
> A2: Probably up to 4GB of RAM. Whitepaper shows 512MB of RAM in their tests.

It depends on the system you go with. The 3U System 324
will take blades with up to 512Mb of RAM, whereas the
new slimline 1U system will take blades with upto 1Gb
of memory.



> 
> Q3: What type and Number of CPU?
> A3: 633MHz Transmeta; doesn't mention multiple CPU capabilities.
>     Doesn't mention anything about supporting Intel or AMD CPUs.

Right. No Intel or AMD chips. There are two Transmeta chips
offered on their blades at the moment - 633Mhz or 667Mhz.


> 
> Q4: What OS does run?
> Q4: Looks like only Linux?
>     Doesn't mention future support for Windows NT/2000/XP.
>     Please don't ask why I even want support for NT/2000/XP.
>     You can probably already guess - my job only has Windows programers :-(

You can have Redhat 7.1, 7.2 or Win 2K server. My
systems came with the earlier Debian offering.



> 
> Q5: What compilers and development environment does it support?
> A5: They don't mention any. My guess is GNU.

Yup. Standard fare.



> 
> Q6: Are these just independent machines or
>     do they support MP Architectures (SMP/NUMA/etc.)?
> Q7: My guess is independent machines, no tightly coupled MP.
>     Although you can use clustering software.

Exactly so - they are individual separate systems,
which can be harnessed into clusters if that's your
requirement. Each blade in the system is manageable
from a 'master blade' in either of the first or 
second slots. These master blades allow for the
rebooting, and re-imageing of all of the other
blades in the system. RLX's new 'Control tower'
offering enables control of multiple chassis from
a single control blade.



> 
> Q7: How much does it cost?
> A7: Doesn't say....ANYWHERE!!!!!! My guess is ALOT!

It does, you can price your specification right
down to the last cent. They offer bundles, which
are a good way to get going with a system. Otherwise
you're looking at $999 for a basic spec blade, $2,499
for the 3U chassis, or $999 for the 1U chassis.



> 
> The only totally accurate way to measure the performance of a system
> is to test the software applications you use on the system. That means
> asking for a loaner and benchmarking.

Why a loaner? Just go and buy one. It's not an 
expensive system.

I've got no connection with them, but I'm a well
satisfied customer, and I'm happy with the product
and service from RLX. The product is well designed,
well manufactured, and the company is easy to deal
with. I spent a lot of time asking questions and
getting details before I purchased the system, but
the people could not have been more helpful or
friendly. I would recommend both the system and
the company to anybody.

Regards,

Ewan McDonell
ewan@smairlines.com
Santa Monica Airlines, Inc.