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TOTAL for Option 1 column: <$50,750 + $1,000/yr backupfor backups.
Component | Option 1 (most likely)
| Option 2
| To consider, to do's, questions, notes and comments.
|
---|
A. New head node | Dedicated chassis. (1 U) $3,000
| None.
| We considered using one of four computers (within a Quad), in one chassis (2U), for the head node. This is only worth considering if needing to save $5,000 by giving up one (of 8) compute node. Note 1: Head node has lower proc, lower memory, and 256 GB SSD drive (for OS and applications). Note 2: Head node price includes a large drive 4TB "WD black" for temp. user data (~$2,700+$250). |
B. New storage machine | Synology-branded dedicated storage array (RS 3412XS) $3,000, plus five 4TB hard drives ($250ea). Total price is for 12-16TB initial storage, depending on risk choices (see Notes, at left). $4,250
| Home-brewed dedicated storage array, perhaps running OpenNAS software. To do: Get price of appropriate hardware.
| Consider Option 2 for cost savings (if any). BUT, must also consider risk, support, and staffing effort. To do: What connector? If ethernet: iSCSI (all compute node writes through head node) or NFS (theoretically could be accessible by compute nodes)? If not ethernet, what connector technology, at what price and complexity? Note 1: Five 4TB HD's can allow for 1 drive to fail (16TB) or 2 drives to fail (12TB). Note 2: Price for Option 1 includes five large 4TB "WD red?" for temp. user data (~$2,700+$250). Note 3: $1,000 get you a redundant power supply.
|
C. New computational node
| 8 nodes (in 2 Quads), with higher computational processors. Each node: 2 * E5-26700v2; 2.5GHz, 10 cores/ proc (thus, 20 cores/ node). Add $2,500 per node compared to Option 2. Thus, $5,100 each node. $40,800
| 16 nodes (in 4 Quads), with standard computational processors. Each node: 2 * E5-26200v2; 2.1GHz, 6 cores/ proc (thus, 12 cores/ node). $2,600 per node. $41,600
| Consider Option 2 for increasing number of cores from 160 to 192, but with slower set of processors. See Czarek's note, from 4/14, below. For either choice, to do: Storage: Fast or large? Or both? Note: Buying in multiples of 4 (Quads) is most cost-effective.
|
D. Arrange an efficient back-up plan | EZ-Backup $1,000 per year, at current amounts (2.7TB) and current rates (see Notes, at left).
| N/A. At current quantities of backed-up data, ChemIT cannot recommend an alternative.
| On-going to do: Evaluate cost-effectiveness as volume grows. Note 1: At current 2.7 TB's of backup (including compression and versioning), costs are as were predicted (no surprises). That is to say, were considered affordable and cost-effective compared to investing in own hardware and staffing. Note 2: Costs are ~$80/ month currently for 2.7TB. Future amounts expected to be more. Note 3: Rates likely >10% drop July 1, 2014, as in past years. |
E. Components for networking, power. And new rack.
| Under $2,700.
| N/A. Not much discretionary elements in this category.
| Specifics: Networking (~$1,500) 1 switch (Cisco SG300-52; ~$750) Network cabling (price dependent on above decisions. Expect well under $1K) Power (~$700) UPS (APC SMC1500-2U; $500; for head node only, or also for storage node?, storage node, and switch; Use current (cheaper) UPS, when again available from current head node, if necessary to spread load or for manageability.) 2-3 PDUs (power distribution units; a.k.a. power strips; $100 each) Exact qty depends on processor decisions (amperage calculations) Rack (~$500) |
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