Re: Distributed build overhead and Mac Mini vs XServe pricing
Re: Distributed build overhead and Mac Mini vs XServe pricing
- Subject: Re: Distributed build overhead and Mac Mini vs XServe pricing
- From: Rob Frohne <email@hidden>
- Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 08:57:46 -0800
On Jan 16, 2005, at 1:13 AM, Scott Tooker wrote:
The two main factors we've seen with distributed builds are network
speed and I/O speed (i.e. disk speed). Depending on the number of
remote build servers used, there could be a difference between 100MBit
and GigaBit ethernet. Network traffic levels can also affect this.
I believe that the Mac Mini has a 4200 rpm drive so the I/O
performance is not going to compete with the faster disks you find in
the G5 PowerMac or the xServe. However, as you point out the price
for a Mac mini is much lower, so using more Mac Minis may compensate
(don't know since I've never tried).
The rule of thumb I go by is to start with 4 to 6 remote builders and
then increase from there if you are using a fast local machine.
How about using IP over firewire for the networking. It is almost as
fast as gigabit ethernet. Then put some cheap USB 2 3.5" drives on the
USB bus? It seems that 10 Gig drives ought to be enough for your
needs. You can get 10 Gig 7200 rpm drives for less than $20 each here.
http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?src=FG&item=71132 The USB case can
probably be had for around $20. You could stack your minis and your
hard drives up next to one another.
It seems that more memory might be the expensive thing you need. 1 GB
is about $200.
Rob
--
Rob Frohne, Ph.D., P.E.
E.F. Cross School of Engineering
Walla Walla College
http://www.wwc.edu/~frohro/
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