From:	Lehlan Decker <decker@****.FSU.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Server Prices (was Re: Hacking Security Tallies)
Date:	Wed, 27 May 1998 09:39:20 -0500

>
> At 05:08 PM 5/26/98 -0400, Erik Jameson wrote:
> # At 04:02 PM 5/26/98 -0400, you wrote:
> #
> # >>I haven't priced a mainframe lately, but my last company's mainframe
> # >>cost $3.5 Mil, and it was a small one.
> # >
> # >*Boggle*! What is it used for?
> #
> # Note the difference in terms; he said *mainframe* while you said server.
> #
> # You're probably right for a common server, but he's definitely right for a
> # mainframe machine.
> #
> # It really all depends on what you intend to do with that machine. If it's
> # just a mail server, a P166 running NT 4.0 can service a 100 people no
> # problem at all. My dad does that at his work. Says running the mail
> # utilizes about 3-4%$ of the processor resources.
> #
> # But if you want your server to handle the firewall, the entire corporate
> # database, all the mail, *EVERYTHING* then you need something bigger, like a
> # mainframe.
>
> actually, a fairly inexpensive Sparc 2000 can handle EVERYTHING for a
> decent sized company, firewall and all.
>
And if someone hacks that one machine, your SOL. :) (It will also have
a more likely chance of failure, since it does everything.)
The other problem is of course, researchers. They need their own
dedicated systems, since often one researchers experiments will take
monthes to complete on one system with 20+ gig of drive space, and a gig
of RAM. Now translate this into shadowrun....

--
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Lehlan Decker 644-4534 Systems Development
decker@****.fsu.edu http://www.scri.fsu.edu/~decker
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The universe doesn't have laws, it has habits. And habits can be broken.