HPUX crash and burn server

[Ray Allen_1]

Hi All,

Anybody have a recommendation on an HPUX crash and burn server?
We are just looking for a server we can use as a crash and burn server for installs, testing, and various other things. Something that has decent hardrive, memory, cdrom, and dds drive, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Any ideas where can I get the server. HP or Reseller, possibly?

Thanks

[Torsten. · Accepted solution]

Because it is state of the art, I would choose an Integrity server rather than a PA-RISC box.
I don't know about your budget, but you can have a look at the new rx1620 or rx2620 servers

http://h20341.www2.hp.com/integrity/cache/331424-0-0-0-121.html

or the predecessor rx1600 or rx2600 on the used market. Even HP sells used equipment.

All current servers need an external tape drive.

[Michael Steele_2]

Because of the rules of the forum I don't think a posting of resellers is allowed. Kinda like head hunters collecting email aliases in the forum. Neutral ground, no fly zone, DMZ, etc.

Any install and test machine should copy your production server as much as possible. Otherwise patching will be different as will many other things. For example, a test machine in one server class does you no good if a production machine is in another server class. The ignite recovery tapes will be different, for example. Nor does it do you any good with application developement. All the kernels parms. will vary espeically if the amount of RAM is dramatically different between the two. So I'd recommend for disaster recovery and application develope reasons that you stay within the same class as your production machine.

Bon Soir mon ami.

[rick jones]

Is this for a machine room or other setting? If other, you might want to consider the rx2620 "OFS" or Office Friendly Server configuration. By applying a few configuration constraints it is possible to use slower, quieter fans that make it more palatable for a non-machine room environment.

The point about matching production as closely as possible is a very good one. If you need to "go larger" than a two socket system (rx26XX) there is the rx4640 which is a four-socket. There is also the older rx5670 which is no longer sold (at least not as new).

You definitely want to avoid the really old "Merced" based systems such as the rx4610, rx9610, i2000 or DL590 (Compaq's version of the rx4610) unless you have an interest in historical hardware.

[Alan_152]

HP's low end IA64 boxes would be a good choice -- rx1620, rx2620, and rx4640.

[Ray Allen_1]

Thanks for all your replies guys. My intentions for the crash and burn system is basically just to be able to do OS installs, practice ignite recoveries, patching, test different software and utilies, testing scripts, and whatever else, before actually apply it to production. We will not be trying recover an ignite image from the crash and burn server to another. We are not trying to spend too much on a crash and burn system, so the entry class midrange rx2620 sounds like what might be the best way to go for what we would like to do. Only thing there is no bay for dds drive.

[rick jones]

None of the current crop of Integrity servers has a bay suitable for a DDS drive. The old rx5670, which could be an in chassis upgrade from an L3000 (IIRC) did have a place for one (again IIRC). I've no idea if it remained "supported" as an Integrity.

External is the way to go for those things these days.

[Michael Steele_2]

If that's the case then just get a used workstation. Your manager would appreciate your budgting forsight since you might be saving some money for more important upgrades. In my mind, this is an extremley low priority educational purchase and you should state this matter of factly to your manager.

Here's a reseller's link for used mid range HP servers and work stations.

( I know, no fly zone. If you google, you could find them too. :-0 *)

[Ray Allen_1]

Thanks for your replies guys.
Michael, I don't see the link for the resellers you mention.Can you repost it.

Thanks

[Michael Steele_2]

Here's the link:

http://celticcomp.com/products5.html

You know, a used 32 bit D380 with 2 CPU's can be very affordable. Its an entry level server expandable from two to four SCSI 4 gb disks. Comes with a 4mm DAT drive, but no conventional GSP. So while you could use LVM and mirroring you wouldn't have a good GSP to work with, and that's an important part of being an admin.