AmNet Computers
1U System configuration help/pointers.
- CPU:
As most of you know, CPU selection usually depends on the final
application of the system. For instance, a system that is meant to be a
firewall does not require massive amount of CPU power (in most cases the
most basic will do). Conversely, running a web server with SQL engine and
cgi or asp could use as much fire power and as many guns as bottom line
will allow.
- RAID:
RAID Controller adds greater functionality to your IDE
or SCSI Hard drives. There are a number of RAID levels most
common of which are levels 0, 1, 5, 0+1.
RAID 0 (striping) "stripes" 2
or more disks together to appear to the OS as a single hard drive.
Benefits:
Larger disk capacity then currently available on the market. Faster disk
access.
Drawbacks: Larger points of failure (i.e. if a single disk fails
data is lost on ALL hard drives in the array)
RAID 1 (mirroring) "mirrors" 2 hard drives.
Benefits: Redundancy (i.e.
if a one drive fails the other keeps working without data loss or down
time). Read speed (i.e. the read access of the the array drive can
be double of one non-RAIDed drive)
Drawbacks: Slower write speed.
RAID 5 (striping with parity) "stripes" 3 or more hard drives together to
appear to the OS as a single hard drive, but unlike RAID 1 one of the
drives is used as a parity drive.
Benefits: Redundancy and large disk capacity
Drawbacks: Slower speed.
RAID 0+1 (striping + mirroring) is a combination of RAID 0 and RAID 1
- SCSI:
Self explanatory. Remember to add it or a motherboard with on-board
SCSI if you are using SCSI devices.
- Removable_media:
Floppy drive and CD-ROM options. Tape drives are also considered to be
removable media, but here back-up media gets its on category. Due to space
limitations in a 1U case, removable media device and a tape drive can not
fit into the case. There can be only one!:)
- HDD:
IDE Hard drive
- SCSI_HDD:
SCSI Hard drive
- Fixed/Hot-swap options:
Fixed is the more cost effective option for both IDE and SCSI Hard
drives.
Hot-swap is a bit more expensive, but it is recommended in RAID
systems or in hard drive replacement situations where it is preferable
that the case not be removed from the rack cabinet.
- RAM:
RAM is often the most underestimated component. Often, the amount of
memory can increase the performance of the system. For instance in the
firewall situation, where the system caches network packets in RAM, the
amount of memory is more important than the CPU speed.
- Rackmount:
1U Chassis with 200W Power Supply. Over the past few
years, we have found the case in the picture to be the most
versatile and reliable. It has gained the loyalty of our many current
customers as a workhorse in their data centers. Just like a swiss army
knife, there are number of models. Please, feel free to contact us if you
application requires additional functions or if your bottom line demands
something more basic.
- Additional Network:
Is just that -- an additional Network Interface Controller card. Most of
our dual processor 1U systems already have have 2 NICs, but occasionally
you may want an additional controller that is either faster than the
controller on-board, or you require greater redundancy, or you are
managing more then two subnets. Please, remember that in a 1U
case we only have one PCI slot, so the additional NIC may not
be possible if PCI RAID or SCSI controller is required for
you configuration.