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BigV · 02-29-2008, 05:45 PM

UT: Thank you, sir. I, too, have found HP to be the gold standard, and that is reflected in the price. But compared to the cost of the absence of this kind of concierge support, it is a fair deal for the purpose these machines serve. The way things are shaping up around here is HP in the server room, and Dell on the floor and in the field. It's working so far.

My main problem is that I buy servers so infrequently that I have to relearn how and what each time I get some. I rely heavily on the experience of others' experiences; others whom I trust, like you, like SD, etc.

Sorry, what is "s. p. of f."?

SD: Tasked, asked, aksed, axed, assed, arsed... it's all the same. Though I am keen to avoid being axed. "Tasked" was my choice of words, though my boss did say get me a quote. It's a task. Piper payers call the tunes...

Actually, after some additional conversations with the boss, a colo might be in order. Our main sql app vendor offers a hosted solution. It is definitely in the realm of possible answers to this problem.

As for single point of failure... yeah. Well. No matter what disaster I prepare for, there is some disaster + 1 that is more than I bargained for. I don't have the chance to rebuild everything from scratch, but for those things I do get to replace/rebuild/design I try to put in as much headroom and redundancy as I can justify.

We recently deployed a *small* Citrix farm--two servers. But, that choice, made at the outset, makes scaling up in the future much easier. I'm thinking along the same lines with this sql project. Each piece I install I do so with a mind to the future and what traps I'm laying for myself.

I have not had a switch barf and kill my server's accessibility. It was the ups powering the switch.

I know.. I know. Roseanne Roseannadanna was an IT prophet.

As to the Windows OS... It's my long suit. It may be an ugly suit, but it pays the bills. Steady work, though, you must admit.

PW: Good service for me means 4 hour response time. I don't need a vendor rep onsite or anything quite that exotic.

I will say that HP has embarrassed themselves today. The HP server failed, actually, three of the six hot swappable fans in the case failed, and I asked to have (under the terms of my 4 hour response contract) the replacement fans sent to me immediately. Four hours later they told me it would be another two hours.

Eventually, the courier showed up. With two fans.

I installed them, and one of the new fans was DOA. Actually, the hot swap bay is dead, because switching the fans in the bays shows that the fan's ok, but the bay's dead. Great. Another call to HP. Yes. I need a technician this time. The verdict is the mainboard. Great, roll'em. Now. It will be dinner from the vending machine again tonight.

Now, just now, the server's down again. Shit.

02-29-2008, 05:45 PM	#8
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	UT: Thank you, sir. I, too, have found HP to be the gold standard, and that is reflected in the price. But compared to the cost of the absence of this kind of concierge support, it is a fair deal for the purpose these machines serve. The way things are shaping up around here is HP in the server room, and Dell on the floor and in the field. It's working so far. My main problem is that I buy servers so infrequently that I have to relearn how and what each time I get some. I rely heavily on the experience of others' experiences; others whom I trust, like you, like SD, etc. Sorry, what is "s. p. of f."? SD: Tasked, asked, aksed, axed, assed, arsed... it's all the same. Though I am keen to avoid being axed. "Tasked" was my choice of words, though my boss did say get me a quote. It's a task. Piper payers call the tunes... Actually, after some additional conversations with the boss, a colo might be in order. Our main sql app vendor offers a hosted solution. It is definitely in the realm of possible answers to this problem. As for single point of failure... yeah. Well. No matter what disaster I prepare for, there is some disaster + 1 that is more than I bargained for. I don't have the chance to rebuild everything from scratch, but for those things I do get to replace/rebuild/design I try to put in as much headroom and redundancy as I can justify. We recently deployed a small Citrix farm--two servers. But, that choice, made at the outset, makes scaling up in the future much easier. I'm thinking along the same lines with this sql project. Each piece I install I do so with a mind to the future and what traps I'm laying for myself. I have not had a switch barf and kill my server's accessibility. It was the ups powering the switch. I know.. I know. Roseanne Roseannadanna was an IT prophet. As to the Windows OS... It's my long suit. It may be an ugly suit, but it pays the bills. Steady work, though, you must admit. PW: Good service for me means 4 hour response time. I don't need a vendor rep onsite or anything quite that exotic. I will say that HP has embarrassed themselves today. The HP server failed, actually, three of the six hot swappable fans in the case failed, and I asked to have (under the terms of my 4 hour response contract) the replacement fans sent to me immediately. Four hours later they told me it would be another two hours. Eventually, the courier showed up. With two fans. I installed them, and one of the new fans was DOA. Actually, the hot swap bay is dead, because switching the fans in the bays shows that the fan's ok, but the bay's dead. Great. Another call to HP. Yes. I need a technician this time. The verdict is the mainboard. Great, roll'em. Now. It will be dinner from the vending machine again tonight. Now, just now, the server's down again. Shit. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.