[cobalt-users] RE: Kernel 2.4 for RAQ4 - getting OT

["Strictly Hosting" <support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jerry,

> I know first hand that at least with our oldest Raq3i will only
> run a single
> 7200RPM drive.  When two are connected to the system there
> apparently is to
> much initial current draw for the small power supply to handle when they
> spin up.  Even some of the newer 5400 RPM drives (again I know first hand
> with Maxtor Fireball 3's) seem to have the same issues..

Well I have only done it once so can't really comment -
The drive I used was a Maxtor 541DX - I put it into a raq4 which only had
one
drive (2 IDE sockets though) and restored it with the raq4r iso and it
worked - so I was happy!
BTW - I have bought 2 raq4R's so I don't figure I am infringing any Licence
;-)

However, I did purchase a second identical drive as a spare - I figure that
come the day when a drive packs up a compatible drive may well be hard to
find:-(


> FYI - I've considered trying to figure out a reasonable way to either
> replace the stock Raq power supply or add a external brick style notebook
> power supply just to run 7200 RPM drives but have yet to try anything.  I
> know a secondary power supply is possible as I've done similar on a bench
> with a problem/test desktop computer but all in all it's just not very
> practical to have two separate power supplies, especially at a Co-Lo site.
>
> I suppose that there could be a potential heat issue also with the higher
> RPM drives but I personally don't think that is the main problem with 7200
> RPM drives.. it having enough power to spin them up at boot.
>
> FYI - I recall someone here on list saying that they were able to get to
> 7200 RPM drives to work by temporarily disconnecting the cooling fans on
> their Raq and plugging them back in after initial boot.
> Personally I don't
> see this as a long term or permanent solution to using the faster drives.

Yes I saw that post too - I had to check the calender to make sure it was
not April first.
Is anyone seriously going to do this!

- our little blue washing machine work just fine - run nice and cool.
This later is vital when you have to squeeze ever U out of a cabinet.
I know of 'custom built' servers - wizz bang Debain OS - latest Kernel -
raided
to the max that have rolled over - Admin's scratch their head and figure it
'maybe'
the heat - move it to a better aerated spot and no more problem - apart from
the fact that now it takes 6U's to host a 2U server!

They are always slatting me for not having a 'Real Server' but I would not
give
up my little blue box's for a server that I have to spend half my waking
hours fiddling
with - Don't get me wrong - I do have a custom built box for stuff that I
can't do on
the raqs - custom compiles of php/apache that sort of thing - but it is hard
work compared
to the raqs - and I normally spend hours setting up an install
Compile apache/php/mysql
edit the config files
Port it up from the main apache
restart main apache - start their apache - apache stops - clients on the
phone
Forget to touch log files
Forget to start their apache as that user - go back and chown the lot
Forget which user i am.....and on it goes
Machine gets rebooted - I am on train - client on phone
Forgot to put their apache in the startup
Phone tech in office - can't remember password -
Jump under train:-{

I know this is a bit exaggerated - but you get the picture.

Only worth it if the client really needs it and will pay.
Even so I run ALL client mail on Ra's - so they have their gui! Saves me
hours of work!
We host windos too <duck> and again the mail is on the raq's
Ever tried to do DNS on 500 domains on a 'real server' - I guess you have -
so you
will know what I mean! Even with tools like webmin it is not as easy...

Cobalt <late> found a working formula and stuck to it.
and if you don't fiddle too much with it - it will work well.
It takes me a minutes to show a new tech how to make a site and make the
dns.

I noticed a post about a Perl5.6 pkg - that I am interested in - I nearly
have a raq3
ready to be reconfigured - and I am going to try it on that.

Also the php4.2 is good - but I wait till I have a bare box before I install
anything - then the
only thing I install is the updates <that is enough stress:->

And while I am rabbling on - the cmu is cool - I know guys who's job for the
next month
is to set-up a new server and transfer sites from an old server!
What kind of life is that!
When I installed the chilli soft upgrade stuff it trashed a lot of stuff - I
had another fresh identical raq - using the cmu and I was back up and
running in 2 hours <80 odd sites>!

So the moral of the story is this - I see little point in trying to soup up
a box which <imho>
is already working just fine - I figure that if it is under pressure then it
is time to get a new box.
Putting in faster drives, flashing the bios, recompiling the kernel or
clocking the cpu will have little or no effect on the overall load average
and even if it does then you will only be tempted to push it further and put
off the problem till a later date.

I do like the idea though of plugging in another IDE socket though!

>
> The Seagate Cheetah drives you mentioned.. they don't happen to be SCSI
> drives do they??  I believe the SCSI versions from most of the drive
> manufactures still continue to have longer warrantee's as they should
> considering the price difference between SCSI & IDE.
>

They do IDE's with the same warranty - they even do a 40gb 5400 - problem is
they are a bit
hard to get hold off....

Anyhow, just my 102 cents!

Toodle Pip!
Tim