Here Comes the Sun (Server)

Yup, TechSoup is excited to have a new donation partnership with Sun to make its server products available through TechSoup Stock.

But before you sing, "It's alright...", just wait a minute. How do you know if you even need a server? What kind of servers are out there? And very important--how much should you expect to spend on one?

Never fear, TechSoup has compiled some handy discussions and articles to help you determine if serving up one of these Sun servers is right for you.

You can find relevant server discussions here under the "server" tag that contain some helpful discussions including How to know when it's time for a new server and

Keep or replace?.

If you use RSS, you can subscribe to server-related discussions: http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/search/Searchrss.aspx?o=DateDescending&tag=server&orTags=0

You can learn about more hardware servers with these Learning Center articles: Do I Need a Server? and A Field Guide to Servers.

And don't forget virtualization, another server option. There are many different virtualization methods and this Virtualization 101 can help you get your head around them.

Hopefully these resources will help shed some (sun)light on servers, but if you have any further questions, post 'em here in the Hardware forum.

Best,

Megan

That is great, always nice to see new donation partnerships! 

Those servers look very good, and probably overkill for many small NPOs, but at the price they look almost too good to pass up.

How much dedicated IT staff would they really require? Solaris is an open-source *nix system and I'm pretty sure it is available now for free (Sun gave me a CD at a Linux conference last year); anyone out there with hands-on experience? Would the hardware be incompatible with Linux or SBS? Couldn't a purchasing NPO use one as a sandbox?

Hi Jesse,

Those are all great questions. I have worked with these at TechSoup during the process and with one that is spec'ed similarly with the ones they are donating. Unless they are significantly different, you can expect them to come with Sun OS, as well as a disc for OpenSolaris. You can run Windows or Linux (Though I haven't tested specific distros), as well as VMWare hypervisor-based virtualization. I haven't tested Windows 2008 on this but I don't expect any issues either. How would you define getting one as a sandbox? Just for testing environments but may or may not use in a production? I would encourage orgs who have sprawled or outdated server systems to seriously consider these, since they are such a great deal and highly flexible in many environments.

-Kevin

That's great!  How long was this in the works?  Do we anticipate it being affected by the Oracle, Inc. purchase of Sun, Inc?

I've mentioned this to the boss since we were planning to get a new server setup anyways. I also mentioned it to a techie brother who immediately wanted one. I think it's a great deal. However, I'm a bit concerned about the service plans as I have not been able to find out the actual prices for them. I'm also curious if the SAS drives are 10K or 15K as well as what the onboard video is like.

I believe you can format it to windows server.

anyone know which interface it come with?? PCI-e or PCI-X.  I have PCI-e NIC card. if it's PCI-X I will  have to but extra card.

"Two internal low-profile eight-lane PCIe slots."

OK I was about to pull the trigger on one of these as I found out after I built my budget I need a separate piece of iron for our on-line registration server to comply with PCI requirements. but then when I started to read the Sun agreement for the product I came across this line about "not for production uses" and I did not see anything in Exhibit A about allowed uses.

1.2 Software License(s). Company's use of the Software is governed by the Software license(s) applicable to the Software
(the “Software Licenses”); provided, however, that Company may only use the Software for the purposes stated in Exhibit A
but not for production uses and no distribution of the Software is permitted. Sun retains all right, title and ownership of the
Software. Company may not transfer the Software License to any third party without Sun's prior written approval.

I guess I could remove the solaris and use Windows but it seems a shame when everything looks so good with these.  (they are an end of life product according to the warranty page)

Is there any other info about using this donation in a production environment? Or do I have a mis-understanding of their definition of production?

Dave

Well, you could run the SunOS or Windows instead of Solaris.  I am guessing say that about Solaris because its now open source and like many free Linux distros, they are doing a CYA.  So instead, run SunOS and buy a SunOS support plan if you're concerned about it.  Although, nowhere does it say that I've read except in this forum that it will come with SunOS, and the service plan link for available service plans also doesn't talk about SunOS (Solaris/OpenSolaris, Windows, and Linux seem to be available).  Are all versions of Solaris now OpenSolaris, or is it like RedHat where they produce Fedora and RHEL/RH?

Hi all,

I'll do my best to address some of the questions here:

@rrci, I personally don't know how much the prices for the service plans will be. We can find out for you. As for the SAS or specs in general we are given minimum specs for the servers but not to the level of the speeds of the drives. But as you may already know they are at least 10k. Onboard video as the exact RAM? It was more than adequate running RDP and ILOM. I wouldn't suggest running Crysis though ;)

@ajeab, they are PCIe. It already has four Gb NICs onboard.

@dave, I believe Chris' reading is correct. and refers to OpenSolaris. I would think that a service plan covers Solaris/SunOS but probably not OpenSolaris. They don't make it easy for us but "SunOS 5.10" is now "Solaris 10" and that's the closed version, and as for OpenSolaris we are now at 2009.06. (though I think the command prompt still says SunOS 5.x) The boxes should come with the latest OpenSolaris on a disc but of course you can just download it. You are free to run any OS or combinations of OS'es on these.

@Chris, I really don't know how long exactly it's been but it's been awhile. We don't know, or at least I don't know, whether ORCL's acquisition will affect this. We believe in first and foremost a strong partnership with Sun, and to make the desired impact in the sector through this donation program. Your interest with this program therefore will help us sustain this, and to ensure that the sector continues to have access to these technologies.

-Kevin

Kevin thanks for your input, but it's still confusing.

So I should interpert the "not for production" as use open Solaris at your own risk, otherwise license and use one of the other operating systems for production?

Dave

Folks,

We are looking into the service plans pricing with Sun and I will update you once we have more info.

@Dave, where are you seeing this language exactly? My guess is that I can't see why that language would have to do with the donation or the program themselves, and thus suspect it refers to OpenSolaris and not the Solaris that comes with the system.

-Kevin

tsg_kevin:

Dave, where are you seeing this language exactly? My guess is that I can't see why that language would have to do with the donation or the program themselves, and thus suspect it refers to OpenSolaris and not the Solaris that comes with the system.

Recipient organizations must agree to accept the terms of the Sun Microsystems Equipment Transfer and Software License Agreement.

http://www.techsoup.org/stock/download/sun_agreement.pdf

Paragraph 1.2 in RECITALS in the above agreement.

I'm wondering if they reworked their NFR agreement, or an agreement they use for demo equipment for a try and buy.

Dave