Subject: NetBSD-amd64v2.0 as server on Shuttle SN95G5 hardware
To: None <port-amd64@netbsd.org>
From: Alicia da Conceicao <alicia@engine.ca>
List: port-amd64
Date: 12/29/2004 10:31:46
Hi everybody:

Sorry for asking such a newbie question, but I am flying overseas
in a little over a week and need to take a few of high-speed
NetBSD servers to do crypto for banks.

I have seriously consider using the new NetBSD-amd64 v 2.0 port,
on the very portable Shuttle SN95G5 hardware, which support the
939 chipset:

	http://global.shuttle.com/Product/Barebone/SN95G5.asp

These Shuttle cases are very affordable, and can be found in
Toronto for only (CAD)$379+(15%tax), including motherboard and
heatpipe, sans CPU.

Unfortunately, I am new to the AMD64 port for NetBSD, and I don't
have enough time to experiment with these units properly, so I was
hoping for answers to the following:

1) Is the new NetBSD-amd64 v 2.0 port stable enough to use for
	mission critical servers?  Note that I currently use
	NetBSD v 1.62 on i386 & sparc64 hardware for mission
	critical servers, and often run with load-averages
	that rarely, if never, drop below 2.0.

2) Are hardware units with AMD64 that are designed for gamers,
	like the Shuttle SN95G5, stable enough to run
	continuously 24/7 as a server?  I am worried that units
	designed for overclocking and gaming may not be suitable
	as servers.

3) Does anyone else on this list have any experience with the
	Shuttle SN95G5 hardware?

Although 1U hardware cases would be nice, I need to carry these
cases on a plane in carry on in a backpack.  The last time a co-
worker checked a computer into his lugguage, someone in a US
airport stole it, likely a TSA employee.  The lugguage arrived,
but the contents were completely empty.  And I cannot afford the
time and expense of losing anymore computer hardware to airport
theft.

Thank you in advance.
Alicia.