Intel-lf-server - Revision history

Charliep: /* What's Next */

2006-12-16T21:16:18Z

What's Next

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:16, 16 December 2006
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	Extended testing, Intel's engineer said that some of the boards are likely to fail after 12-24 hous of run-time.		Extended testing, Intel's engineer said that some of the boards are likely to fail after 12-24 hous of run-time.

	My take is that we would be better off trying to find support (memory, disk, network fabric, space, electricity, management) to set-up the reliable sub-set as a cluster for curriculum design/development and educational use by NCSI/SC Education community than we would be trying to build LittleFe units out of this hardware.		My take is that we would be better off trying to find support (memory, disk, network fabric, space, electricity, management) to set-up the reliable sub-set as a fixed cluster for curriculum design/development and educational use by NCSI/SC Education community than we would be trying to build LittleFe units out of this hardware.

	Stephen said there was a strong possibility that another batch of slightly more production machines might become available during Q1 2007.		Stephen said there was a strong possibility that another batch of slightly more production machines might become available during Q1 2007.

	=== Notes ===		=== Notes ===

Charliep at 20:03, 16 December 2006

2006-12-16T20:03:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:03, 16 December 2006
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	=== Background ===		=== Background ===
	Intel, specifically Stephen Wheat, recently donated about 60 2U Intel servers to the LittleFe project. They are engineering samples which were used for a customer demonstration. The motherboards are pre-production units.		Intel, specifically Stephen Wheat, recently donated about 60 2U Intel servers to the LittleFe project. They are engineering samples (and are clearly marked as such) which were used for a customer demonstration. The motherboards and CPUs are pre-production units.

	=== Description ===		=== Description ===
	* 2U cases, very butch with a dual hot-swappable power supply module (only one is populated), 5 case blower fans and space for 6 drives plus a slimline DVD/CD and floppy module.		* 2U cases, very butch with a dual hot-swappable power supply module (only one is populated), 5 case blower fans and space for 6 drives plus a slimline DVD/CD and floppy module.
	* Extended ATX form-factor dual CPU motherboard. Only supports SATA drives, no ATA/IDE or SCSI. There is no identifiable model number on the motherboard but there are markings that I think would allow us to track-down a manual from Intel.		* Extended ATX form-factor dual CPU motherboard, pre-production. Only supports SATA drives, no ATA/IDE or SCSI. There is no identifiable model number on the motherboard but there are markings that I think would allow us to track-down a manual from Intel.
	* Non-standard DVD/CD cable and interface (marked as such).		* Non-standard DVD/CD cable and interface (marked as such).
	* 2 3.2GHz dual core ~~??? chips~~, ~~also~~ pre-production.		* 2 3.2GHz dual core CPUs, pre-production. I think they are Xeons but without an actual model number it's hard to tell.
	* Slimline DVD/CD drive.		* Slimline DVD/CD drive.
	* No memory, it only takes ECC modules which currently run about $200/gigabyte.		* No memory, it only takes ECC modules which currently run about $200/gigabyte.
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	* Heavy, the heat-sinks and motherboards weigh about 10 pounds for 1 motherboard, 2 CPU/heatsink assemblies, and 2 1 gigabyte memory sticks (even they are heavy, they include heat sinks).		* Heavy, the heat-sinks and motherboards weigh about 10 pounds for 1 motherboard, 2 CPU/heatsink assemblies, and 2 1 gigabyte memory sticks (even they are heavy, they include heat sinks).
	* Cooling will be a challenge, the CPU/heatsink combination expects 3 case coolers worth of air, or 6 with 2 motherboards. Case coolers are high velocity fans that draw a significant amount of power and emit a lot of noise.		* Cooling will be a challenge, the CPU/heatsink combination expects 3 case coolers worth of air, or 6 with 2 motherboards. Case coolers are high velocity fans that draw a significant amount of power and emit a lot of noise.
	* Due to their weight ~~and~~ horizontal orientation the motherboards will require significant support, given their design the way to do this is by slicing the bottom off the 2U case and then mounting that to our plate. This could be done with a reciprocating saw (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocating_saw).		* Due to their weight, horizontal orientation, and heatsink mounting the motherboards will require significant support, given their design the way to do this is by slicing the bottom off the 2U case and then mounting that to our plate. This could be done with a reciprocating saw (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocating_saw).
	* Non-standard interfaces such as the CD/DVD will complicate support.		* Non-standard interfaces such as the CD/DVD will complicate support.
	* Expensive memory.		* Expensive memory.

Charliep at 19:58, 16 December 2006

2006-12-16T19:58:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:58, 16 December 2006
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	=== What's Next ===		=== What's Next ===
	~~Need to do extended~~ testing, Intel's engineer said that some of the boards are likely to fail after 12-24 ~~hours~~ of ~~runtime~~.		Extended testing, Intel's engineer said that some of the boards are likely to fail after 12-24 hous of run-time.

	My take is that we would be better off trying to find support (memory, disk, network fabric, space, electricity, management) to set-up the reliable sub-set as a cluster for curriculum design/development and educational use by NCSI/SC Education community than we would be trying to build LittleFe units out of this hardware.		My take is that we would be better off trying to find support (memory, disk, network fabric, space, electricity, management) to set-up the reliable sub-set as a cluster for curriculum design/development and educational use by NCSI/SC Education community than we would be trying to build LittleFe units out of this hardware.
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	=== Pictures ===		=== Pictures ===
			[[Image:intel-lf-1.jpg]]
			[[Image:intel-lf-2.jpg]]
			[[Image:intel-lf-3.jpg]]
			[[Image:intel-lf-4.jpg]]
			[[Image:intel-lf-5.jpg]]
			[[Image:intel-lf-6.jpg]]
			[[Image:intel-lf-7.jpg]]

Charliep at 16:35, 16 December 2006

2006-12-16T16:35:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:35, 16 December 2006
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	* Tall, with the CPU heat sinks we will need about 2.5" OC vertical spacing which means we could fit at most 3, probably 2, motherboards per unit. With 2 boards we would have an 8 core LittleFe unit.		* Tall, with the CPU heat sinks we will need about 2.5" OC vertical spacing which means we could fit at most 3, probably 2, motherboards per unit. With 2 boards we would have an 8 core LittleFe unit.
	* Heavy, the heat-sinks and motherboards weigh about 10 pounds for 1 motherboard, 2 CPU/heatsink assemblies, and 2 1 gigabyte memory sticks (even they are heavy, they include heat sinks).		* Heavy, the heat-sinks and motherboards weigh about 10 pounds for 1 motherboard, 2 CPU/heatsink assemblies, and 2 1 gigabyte memory sticks (even they are heavy, they include heat sinks).
	* Due to their weight and horizontal orientation the motherboards will require significant support, given their design the way to do this is by slicing the bottom off the 2U case and then mounting that to our plate. This could be done with a		* Cooling will be a challenge, the CPU/heatsink combination expects 3 case coolers worth of air, or 6 with 2 motherboards. Case coolers are high velocity fans that draw a significant amount of power and emit a lot of noise.
			* Due to their weight and horizontal orientation the motherboards will require significant support, given their design the way to do this is by slicing the bottom off the 2U case and then mounting that to our plate. This could be done with a reciprocating saw (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocating_saw).
	* Non-standard interfaces such as the CD/DVD will complicate support.		* Non-standard interfaces such as the CD/DVD will complicate support.
	* Expensive memory.		* Expensive memory.

Charliep at 16:31, 16 December 2006

2006-12-16T16:31:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:31, 16 December 2006
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	* No disk drives.		* No disk drives.

	=== LittleFe ===		=== LittleFe Design Issues ===
	* ~~Very heavy~~ heat-sinks and motherboards, about 10 pounds ~~total~~ for 1 motherboard, 2 CPU/heatsink assemblies, and 2 1 gigabyte memory sticks (even they are heavy, they include heat sinks).		* Large, the extended ATX form-factor would just fit in our current Pelican case if mounted horizontally in a modified aluminum frame.
			* Tall, with the CPU heat sinks we will need about 2.5" OC vertical spacing which means we could fit at most 3, probably 2, motherboards per unit. With 2 boards we would have an 8 core LittleFe unit.
			* Heavy, the heat-sinks and motherboards weigh about 10 pounds for 1 motherboard, 2 CPU/heatsink assemblies, and 2 1 gigabyte memory sticks (even they are heavy, they include heat sinks).
			* Due to their weight and horizontal orientation the motherboards will require significant support, given their design the way to do this is by slicing the bottom off the 2U case and then mounting that to our plate. This could be done with a
			* Non-standard interfaces such as the CD/DVD will complicate support.
			* Expensive memory.

	=== What's Next ===		=== What's Next ===

Charliep at 16:23, 16 December 2006

2006-12-16T16:23:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:23, 16 December 2006
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	Stephen said there was a strong possibility that another batch of slightly more production machines might become available during Q1 2007.		Stephen said there was a strong possibility that another batch of slightly more production machines might become available during Q1 2007.

	===Notes===		=== Notes ===
	* Emails from Stephen and Paul with background on the machines in Earlham/NCSI/Intel-Donation.		* Emails from Stephen and Paul with background on the machines in Earlham/NCSI/Intel-Donation.

			=== Pictures ===

Charliep at 16:21, 16 December 2006

2006-12-16T16:21:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:21, 16 December 2006
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	Intel, specifically Stephen Wheat, recently donated about 60 2U Intel servers to the LittleFe project. They are engineering samples which were used for a customer demonstration. The motherboards are pre-production units.		Intel, specifically Stephen Wheat, recently donated about 60 2U Intel servers to the LittleFe project. They are engineering samples which were used for a customer demonstration. The motherboards are pre-production units.

	=== ~~Specifications~~ ===		=== Description ===
	* 2U cases, very butch with a dual hot-swappable power supply module (only one is populated), 5 case blower fans and space for 6 drives plus a slimline DVD/CD and floppy module.		* 2U cases, very butch with a dual hot-swappable power supply module (only one is populated), 5 case blower fans and space for 6 drives plus a slimline DVD/CD and floppy module.
	* Extended ATX form-factor dual CPU motherboard. Only supports SATA drives, no ATA/IDE or SCSI. There is no identifiable model number on the motherboard but there are markings that I think would allow us to track-down a manual from Intel.		* Extended ATX form-factor dual CPU motherboard. Only supports SATA drives, no ATA/IDE or SCSI. There is no identifiable model number on the motherboard but there are markings that I think would allow us to track-down a manual from Intel.
	* Non-standard DVD/CD cable and interface (marked as such).		* Non-standard DVD/CD cable and interface (marked as such).
	* 2 3.2GHz dual core ??? chips, also pre-production.		* 2 3.2GHz dual core ??? chips, also pre-production.
	* Slimline DVD/CD drive.		* Slimline DVD/CD drive.
	* No memory, it only takes ECC modules which currently run about $200/gigabyte.		* No memory, it only takes ECC modules which currently run about $200/gigabyte.
	* No disk drives.		* No disk drives.

			=== LittleFe ===
			* Very heavy heat-sinks and motherboards, about 10 pounds total for 1 motherboard, 2 CPU/heatsink assemblies, and 2 1 gigabyte memory sticks (even they are heavy, they include heat sinks).

	Need to do extended testing, Intel's engineer said that some of the boards are likely to fail after 12-24 hours of runtime. ~~If we can weed those out~~		=== What's Next ===
			Need to do extended testing, Intel's engineer said that some of the boards are likely to fail after 12-24 hours of runtime.


	~~=== What's Next ===~~
	My take is that we would be better off trying to find support (memory, disk, network fabric, space, electricity, management) to set-up the reliable sub-set as a cluster for curriculum design/development and educational use by NCSI/SC Education community than we would be trying to build LittleFe units out of this hardware.		My take is that we would be better off trying to find support (memory, disk, network fabric, space, electricity, management) to set-up the reliable sub-set as a cluster for curriculum design/development and educational use by NCSI/SC Education community than we would be trying to build LittleFe units out of this hardware.

	Stephen said there was a strong possibility that another batch of slightly more production machines might become available during Q1 2007.		Stephen said there was a strong possibility that another batch of slightly more production machines might become available during Q1 2007.

	Notes		===Notes===
	* Emails from Stephen and Paul with background on the machines in Earlham/NCSI/Intel-Donation.		* Emails from Stephen and Paul with background on the machines in Earlham/NCSI/Intel-Donation.

Charliep at 16:06, 16 December 2006

2006-12-16T16:06:27Z

New page

=== Background ===
Intel, specifically Stephen Wheat, recently donated about 60 2U Intel servers to the LittleFe project. They are engineering samples which were used for a customer demonstration. The motherboards are pre-production units.

=== Specifications ===
* 2U cases, very butch with a dual hot-swappable power supply module (only one is populated), 5 case blower fans and space for 6 drives plus a slimline DVD/CD and floppy module.
* Extended ATX form-factor dual CPU motherboard. Only supports SATA drives, no ATA/IDE or SCSI. There is no identifiable model number on the motherboard but there are markings that I think would allow us to track-down a manual from Intel.
* Non-standard DVD/CD cable and interface (marked as such).
* 2 3.2GHz dual core ??? chips, also pre-production.
* Slimline DVD/CD drive.
* No memory, it only takes ECC modules which currently run about $200/gigabyte.
* No disk drives.

Need to do extended testing, Intel's engineer said that some of the boards are likely to fail after 12-24 hours of runtime. If we can weed those out

=== What's Next ===
My take is that we would be better off trying to find support (memory, disk, network fabric, space, electricity, management) to set-up the reliable sub-set as a cluster for curriculum design/development and educational use by NCSI/SC Education community than we would be trying to build LittleFe units out of this hardware.

Stephen said there was a strong possibility that another batch of slightly more production machines might become available during Q1 2007.

Notes
* Emails from Stephen and Paul with background on the machines in Earlham/NCSI/Intel-Donation.