Mid-range (servers, minicomputers)

• Large cupboard/freezer size

• Processor & RAM
  • High-reliability memory chips
  • • Moniter and alert the administrator when the chip needs replacing.
    • Error Correcting Code (ECC) memory chips can automatically correct small errors themselves, and will indicate which chip is bad.
  • Additional CPU's
  • High specification CPUs (1998 Minimum PII-333), Memory (128MB min)
• Storage
  • Hard Disk options to improve reliability. Fast SCSI drives common)
    • Mirrored drives. Two drives share a disk controller and are maintained as identical copies of each other. Problems if Disk controller fails!
    • Duplexed drives. Two drives (mirrored) with separate disk controllers. Has performance penalty.
    • Raid (Redundant array of inexpensive drives) - distributes data across an array of drives. When a drive fails the other drives serve the missing data - with a small performance penalty.
    • Hot-swappable drives - replaceable while server stays up.
  • Tape backup
• High specification devices
  • High performance network adaptors
  • Big case - built for expandability.
• Reliability & Security
  • Built in security
  • Remote diagnostic cards enabling remote access including remote re-booting of the machine.
  • Two heavy duty power supplies
    • Hot standby - one provides all the power. On a fault power switched to other power supply.
    • Load balancing. Both work at half load. On a fault load switches to working power supply.
  • Server Mirroring - Two servers communicating via high speed link, whereby all data and memory are mirrored. Used in cases like medical life support systems.
  • Sensors - temperature and condition sensors can alert administrators of potential problems.
  • Uninterruptible Power supply. (UPS) external to the server.

• Installing & admin of network operating system.

• Run central databases
• Handle mail
• Link every type of peripheral (Laser printers, etc)
• Connect to a wide area network, including Internet.
• (Miastkowski,S 1998, Nov), (Madden & Tittle 1996, May)

IBM PC Server 320 Small Business Solution at a glance
PC320 SB Exploded View: Click picture for an exploded technical view.	Model: 8640-SB1 Type NonRAID Form factor Full tower without pedestal: 24.5"(622mm)H x 7.5"(190mm)W x18.6"(473mm)D Full tower with pedestal: 25.6"(651mm)H x 12.4" (315mm)W x18.6"(473mm)D Processor (1) 166MHz Pentium (upgradeable to 200MHz Pentium)
SMP upgrade Every IBM PC Server 320 can support 2 Pentium processors; secondary processor must be identical to primary processor Level 2 cache256KB L2 write-back cache standard on all models; expandable to 512KB Memory (RAM)32MB ECC-on-SIMM, Maximum 256MB Architecture PCI/EISA I/O slots (total/available)2/2 PCI, 5/4 EISA, 1/0 shared Storage maximum527.0GB Total bays 6 x 5.25" half-high, 3 x 3.5" slim-line, 2 half-high 5.25"; 3 slim-line 3.5" Hard drive (standard)(2)1 x 2.25GB, Hot-swap Optional 0E0: Open bay; 0EV: 1 x 2.16GB CD-ROM drive/floppy disk4X SCSI CD-ROM drive and 1.44MB diskette drive standard PCI disk controllerSCSI-2 Fast/Wide; Optional IBM PC ServeRAID SCSI Adapter I/O ports 2 serial; 1 parallel; 1 mouse; 1 keyboard; 1 SVGA video Power supply 300-watt, 110-220 volt switchable worldwide power supply standard System BIOS Phoenix, industry-compatible; FLASH EEPROM upgradeable from diskette Operating systems supported Novell NetWare Systems management, TME 10 NetFinity systems management software, utilities, drivers and online documentation included at no additional charge; QA Plus/Pro Diagnostics; APC Power Chute Plus also provided IBM PC Server Start Up Support 90-day toll-free telephone access(3) to IBM HelpCenter for assistance with popular network operating systems, network interface cards and workstation adapters, both IBM and selected non-IBM products Other features Lotus Notes Server Release 4.1 (single processor edition) available at no additional charge; patented Flo-Thru airflow design with 2 cooling fans; Plug-and-Play BIOS support; key lock; keyboardless operation Limited warranty(4) Three-year onsite (Mar 97) © IBM 1997, Download from http://pc.ibm.com/

• several thousand to $.5 million

memory capacity

storage capacity

• Disk:
• Tape:

complexity of tasks

• Multitasking/multiuser with interfaces for communications and tasking.

number of (simultaneous) users

• 10-100

Operating System

• Unix,
• Proprietary

Application

• Specialised

Development

complexity of software

• Custom written for the computer

Software

• Vendor supported software
• maintenance contracts

Hardware

• maintenance contracts
• Leasing arrangements possible.

data sharing

• distributed data processing (decentralised)

data integrity

data security

[Rev: 24/10/98] Jun 97 © 1997-98 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.