Transition to Rack Servers 2

[beaudop]

We are about to purchase a new database server. It will be our 6th server. We purchase a new one every year, so the servers are of varying ages and configurations, though all are HP or Compaq.

Is it a good idea to think about transitioning to rack servers rather than this array of towers now sitting in my office. If I have approximately $7000 to spend, and can find a rack server in the $5500 range, is $1500 enough for the rack and accessories to begin to move toward that type of setup?

I've been to a number of sites and it's hard to tell exactly what I need to buy to put it together.

I am also not sold on HP/Compaq. I would consider IBM or Dell.

 

[tf1]

Racking all your servers has many advantages. You can use a single (large) rack mount UPS, you can use one of the slideout 1u Keyboard/Display units along with a rackmount KVM switch to control them all. Some of your current servers you will be able to get tower to rack conversion kits. You can seci#ure your rack making it safe against roaming fingers and make it very difficult to steal.

This will be an expensive conversion if you try to do this in one step, but if you make the decision now to switch to a RM solution, you can switch over in stages as you can budget for it.

Depending on your server requirements, you have the choice between the highly compact DL360 or the more expandable DL380. These take up far less space (1u and 2u respectively) than the rack versions of the ML range (5u).

If the DLs meet your specs, then you can also consider installing your network switches into the same rack and run them from the same UPS as the servers ensuring protection from poor mains power as there will be plenty of room in a 42u high rack.

If you have tower ML350s and 370s, a cheap and cheerful way to use as an interim step is to get (strong) rack shelves and then strip the tower bits from the servers and turn them on their sides and slide onto the shelves. We have done this many a time for customers converting to a rack solution.

Remember though that rack mount servers have greater forced air cooling so are much noisier: so really need a dedicated server room that is unmanned!

Regards: tf1

 

[beaudop]

Thanks for the post - you answered most of my questions. We do in fact have 3 ML350s and now I can see what you mean about converting them.

 

[ntinlin]

Compaq's proper rack conversion kits are VASTLY overpriced for what you actually get, mounting rails and new fascia. Usually about $350. However I've found with older ProLiant servers that you can usually get the actual mounting rails for about the $100 mark. So if you can live with a non-rack fascia you've saved about $250 a unit.

I'd also agree with TF1 that the DL380's are an almost perfect rack mount server, UNLESS you want to add another RAID card to them. Compaq, at least in the G2 and G3, haven't left sufficient space to put the SCSI cable without it being pinched by the PCI card assembly. You can fit it in but it isn't very nice. Oh, and if you want to add a SCSI card for a tape drive or something the card must be 64bit or 32bit 3.3v. Haven't found a 32bit 3.3v card yet and the 64bit start at over $200 since they are usually LVD Ultra160 etc. Not a big issue for most people of course.

Neill

 

[TheLad]

Strange that? On the UK HP website, the ML530/ML570 Tower to rack conversion kit is only £270 for example?

-----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
-----------------------------------------------------

 

[ntinlin]

Which is over $470 at current exchange rates for the full kit of rails and fascia.
As I said if you can get the rails separately for $100 or so then you are paying the rest for a piece of cardboard with mounting holes marked and an aluminium fascia. A little bit greedy methinks.

Mind you they do usually give you a lovely little piece of springy metal to assist with cage nuts which is extraordinarily useful. Far better than the old screwdriver.