Dr. Peter Bast wrote:

Hello,

I intend to use SuSE Linux 9.1 on a Asus AW171 Single Opteron Server with the following basic hardware configuration: Processor: AMD Opteron OSA 146 (2,0 GHz) Mainboard with NVIDIA nForce 3 pro150 Chipset (corresponds to Asus SK8N) Graphic ATI Radeon 7000 64 MB Integrated LAN: RealTek RTL8201BL Memory: 2 x 512 MB DDR333 ECC Kingston RAID controller: 3ware Escalade 7506-4LP Harddisk: 2 x 120 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 /Serial ATA /8MB (ST3120026AS)

Is it possible to carry on a stable server with this system using SuSE Linux 9.1. Has anyone testet such a system with SuSE Linux? Are any bugs known with the hardware described above . What is your opinion to such a configuration.

Thanks for help

Peter

First, have you searched the list archives for specific reference to your motherboard. I believe the NVidia nForce3 pro150 chip set has been discussed in the past. Second, what is the intended workload of the server: file serving, web server, application server, or ?? How important is file system performance relative to processor performance? I ask because depending on the workload type you might be better served with a dual Opteron motherboard and a pair of slightly slower Opteron chips (240 or 242). The cost would not be much different. You always have the option later to upgrade, next year when AMD comes out with dual-core chips. Third, I have read on this list thatcertain models of the Escalade have had problems in the past. Hopefully someone else will post more recent experience. Also, are you going to run RAID 1? You've purchased a relatively expensive, but high-performing RAID controller - but your disk drives are not on the same level. Unless you actually need the 120GB, their are Western Digital Raptor drives in 74GB sizes that perform much better. And then if IO is really critical there is SCSI Ultra320, but that will add about another US $500 to the cost. Hope this helps - Richard