Server Specification - Advice Please

[Gordon Brown_4]

Hi Everyone,

We are currently running two K class systems (both K580s with 3 CPUs and 2 GB ram each). They both run oracle applications. CPU usage averages about 50% on both, memory appears to be more than adequate.

We need to consolidate these systems into one machine. Our thoughts are to replace them with one rp7405 (N-class) with 4 CPUs and 4Gb ram.

What are your thoughts on this?

Cheers,
Gordon

[Pete Randall · Accepted solution]

Gordon,

The only thing I would look at is increasing the RAM to 8GB. The N's at least double the processing capacity of the K's so CPU power should be no problem.

Pete

[Patrick Wallek]

I think that the rp7405 should be quite good to replace your 2 K580's. I think I would go ahead and get 6 or 8 GB of RAM if you can afford it though. If you are not running 64-bit Oracle on the K580, you will probably want to upgrade to it on the rp7405, and this will take up a few more resources.

I would also go ahead and go with HP-UX 11i on this machine as well.

Good luck.

[A. Clay Stephenson]

If money is a constraint, I would go for 3 (or even 2 CPU's) and increase memory. Eventhough your current memory
is okay on the K-boxes, 64-bit Oracle really needs big SGA's to really fly. Because the CPU's are so much faster 3
rp7405 can easily outperform 6
240MHz K-580 processors.

You will also find that larger
buffer caches work better on 11.11 so again more memory is better than CPU's.

Your optimum bet might be 4 CPU's and 8GB of memory. You might consider a 3rd party source for memory after installing 1GB of HP memory; you just might find that you can purchase 16GB (1GB HP + 15GB 3rd party) or more for
less than 4GB of HP memory.

Everytime I point that out to my HP reps, they have no real answer.

[Patrick Wallek]

Clay makes a very good point about the RAM. As an example, I just put 2GB of RAM in an L box. It was 3rd part memory (Kingston actually) and it cost a little over $500 US. We had HP RAM quoted and it was several thousand for the same amount of RAM(I think $4000-$5000, but I don't recall exactly).

Check out this page:
http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator/modelsinfo.asp?SysID=+12476+&distributor=0&submit1=Search

[Gordon Brown_4]

Guys,

Thanks very much for your input - much appreciated. I'm glad to see we were on the right lines - I think that we'll probably go for 3-4 CPUs and up the memory to 8GB as suggested. The server will be running HP-UX 11i and 64-bit Oracle.

Thanks for your advice,
Gordon