[zwiebel_]

Here is the situation:

I need one xServe that is going to be hooked up into a local ethernet network to manage a 3.5TB xServe RAID. There may be about 10 users accessing the RAID to read/write publication images through Adobe VersionCue, and the server is going to run an intranet site for about 50 users (15-20 accessing the site concurrently).

Another xServe is planned for a web server, that is going to be available to the general public. We expect a user access spike that would probably last two months, with the traffic leveling off after that. It is going to host a records database with images, along with the supporting website.

Any thoughts and/or experiences would be welcome.

[OreoCookie]

For server tasks, a second cpu is usually worth it. Consider that a single G5 is usually at least as fast as a dual G4. For the database-intensive stuff, a G5 would clearly outperform a G4, and depending on the size of the database, you should include enough RAM. AFAIK the minimum amount of RAM you should have is 3/2 the size of the database.

Another feature of the new G5 XServe that almost forces you to use them is that you can use ECC RAM (error correcting RAM), pretty much a must for a commercial database. For the webserver, depending on the complexity, a G4 XServe should be sufficient, granted that the database is hosted on the G5.

If you connect the XServe to an XRaid, you could consider the cluster node which has two CPUs, but just one drive bay. That would suffice to boot from, but to use the XRaid for the real storage. And it costs as much as the single-CPU model with three drive bays.

[zwiebel_]

Thank you for your comments. Indeed, I have not considered a node for the RAID task which would bring the cost down somewhat.

[OreoCookie]

Depending on if you want to have a RAID for the web server as well (depends on what you want and think is necessary), the `smaller' one could be a cluster node as well.

[zwiebel_]

Thanks dudes and dudets on your replies.

I am starting to get really curious about the node proposal. I believe that the only downside of a node is that you cannot plug a video card into it and it has only one drive bay. Would be a good proposition as a RAID controller.

[OreoCookie]

As far as I can see, you can plug in a graphics card into the cluster node as well, but you don't have an optical drive (not really a problem if you have a FireWire drive).

All of the XServes don't have a graphics card installed, although you can custom configure your config to include one. Although you might end up investing an extra $500 to allow more than 10 connections (going from MacOS X server 10 to MacOS X server unlimited). Eats away some of what you save, I would say.

But I would consider taking the AppleCare Premium Support plan ...