AF:
NF:0
PS:10
SRH:1
SFN:
DSR:
MID:<20081013112033.7e55ebb0@ripper.onstor.net>
CFG:
PT:0
S:andy.sharp@onstor.com
RQ:
SSV:onstor-exch02.onstor.net
NSV:
SSH:
R:<patrick.haverty@onstor.com>
MAID:1
X-Sylpheed-Privacy-System:
X-Sylpheed-Sign:0
SCF:#mh/Mailbox/sent
RMID:#imap/andys@onstor.net@onstor-exch02.onstor.net/INBOX	0	BB375AF679D4A34E9CA8DFA650E2B04E0C011F0D@onstor-exch02.onstor.net
X-Sylpheed-End-Special-Headers: 1
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:22:05 -0700
From: Andrew Sharp <andy.sharp@onstor.com>
To: "Patrick Haverty" <patrick.haverty@onstor.com>
Subject: Re: Supermicro 2U-12
Message-ID: <20081013112205.702be5a4@ripper.onstor.net>
In-Reply-To: <BB375AF679D4A34E9CA8DFA650E2B04E0C011F0D@onstor-exch02.onstor.net>
References: <BB375AF679D4A34E9CA8DFA650E2B04E16352B@onstor-exch02.onstor.net>
	<BB375AF679D4A34E9CA8DFA650E2B04E0C011F0D@onstor-exch02.onstor.net>
Organization: Onstor
X-Mailer: Sylpheed-Claws 2.6.0 (GTK+ 2.8.20; x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Pat,

I have a 2U-6 and it has no possible way to successfully cool the
drives: I populate only 4 of the 6 slots so airflow will go past the
the drives at all.  It doesn't matter how many fans they have, if there
is no space for air to pass the drives, they're just cooking.  I didn't
realize that was what we were trying to do.  If Tyan and Asus make a
2U-8 that's probably the best 2U we're going to get.   I assume it's
with a small space between each 2 of 4 pairs of drives.  Nothing wrong
with the 3U-12 idea either.  Is the problem with the Intel box that
they want more money, or it requires a nuclear reactor to run 10 fans?

I suggest that we call these places, and not bother with what can be
looked at on the web.  Most of them manufacture so many different
things there's no way they cover them on their web sites, which
generally cover only the most top selling stuff.


On Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:07:56 -0700 "Patrick Haverty"
<patrick.haverty@onstor.com> wrote:

> According to what I can find on the web, Tyan has a few 2U-8 options,
> but none has the number of required PCI-e expansion slots.  I haven't
> been able to connect to the Asus website, but a similar Asus 2U-8 pop
> up at various reseller sites.
>  
> I'm beginning to wonder about 12, 3.5", drives in a 2U chassis.  Maybe
> the Intel SSR212MC2 is the only fully engineered solution.  It uses
> the Xyratex 2U-12 chassis according to one article I ran across.  This
> system has 10 fans (5x2) which is more like what I'd expect to see in
> system with high impedance to air-flow.  Supermicro has a 3U-12 that
> might be better able to move air through.
>  
> I'm beginning to feel that the thermal issue may be the reason
> Supermicro doesn't have a Superserver (pre-configured motherboard and
> chassis) model based on the 2U-12.  I also don't think we want to go
> through the process of a full thermal evaluation, so now I'm
> questioning my own recommendation for a 2U-12 system.
>  
> Pat
>  
> ________________________________
> 
> From: Patrick Haverty 
> Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 10:46 PM
> To: Andy Sharp; Narayan Venkat
> Cc: dl-Leopard Core Team
> Subject: RE: Supermicro 2U-12
> 
> 
> I've heard of Tyan and Asus as motherboard manufacturers, do they also
> offer a line of chassis?
>  
> Supermicro doesn't manufacture their own disks, so if the disk failure
> and system reliability problems are related I'd suspect the air-flow
> in a 2U-12 may be problematic.  There's not a lot of room for air to
> pass by the 12 drives or the backplane they plug into.  It would be
> interesting to see how other manufacturers are doing it.  I wonder if
> they have stronger air-movers or reduced CPU power consumption.  I
> don't remember the processor configuration in the Xyratex 2U-12.
> Maybe a separate head is the way to go.
>  
> There's also the Sun 2U-12 with 2.5" drives (more room for air to go
> around).  :)
>  
> Pat
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: Andy Sharp
> Sent: Sat 10/11/2008 6:53 PM
> To: Narayan Venkat
> Cc: dl-Leopard Core Team
> Subject: Re: Supermicro 2U-12
> 
> 
> 
> I can say a lot of very good things when it comes to reliability and
> longevity about Tyan -- we definitely should talk to them; and no
> reason no to talk to Asus as well.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> a
> 
> 
> On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:44:06 -0700 "Narayan Venkat"
> <narayan.venkat@onstor.com> wrote:
> 
> > Folks,
> >
> > 
> >
> > I was talking to my cousin who works for Data Domain.  Apparently,
> > they were using SuperMicro 2U-12 for their entry-level appliance.
> > They have had numerous problems with disk and system reliability.
> > They rapidly transitioned to Xyratex JBODs and 2U-12.  Note that
> > they don't deliver an HA solution today and so all of their 2U-12s
> > have been single heads. They now use SuperMicro for their
> > "head" (server board and chassis) units only.
> >
> > 
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > 
> >
> > Narayan Venkat
> >
> > Vice President, Marketing
> >
> > ONStor Inc. (www.onstor.com)
> >
> > Tel: (408) 963-2404
> >
> > Cell: (408) 221-4297
> >
> > 
> >
> 
> 
