IBM had a rack full of them at the show, as did Compaq and SGI.
They were Intel-based machines.
I didn't ask prices though.
Generally I find you have to trade off reliability against price.
Reliability testing costs heaps, which is why some machines are a lot
cheaper than others for the same spec hardware. When I was working at
Digital, they had equipment being temperature cycled in room-sized chambers
to try to eliminate the units that die early.
Computers that haven't had this treatment are a lot cheaper, but you get to
do the reliability testing yourself :)
In the case of racks, some rack manufacturers can give you a vibration spec
for them because they have had their gear certified for use in (eg) aircraft
or trucks, where it's important that the racks don't fall apart.
If there is vibration from a rack with fans, and you choose a rack without
vibration testing done on it, then you might have to occasionally re-tighten
screws.
That's not a big deal if you don't have many racks. So you can choose a rack
without this testing maybe.
But check out the rack loading: can it take the weight without buckling?
I've seen sad looking racks which were rated for light trays and have had
buckled flanges because too much weight had been put on them.
Do your maths and check the weight.
Regards,
- Jill.
___________________________________________
Jill Rowling
Senior Design Engineer & Unix System Administrator
Electronic Engineering Department, Aristocrat Leisure Industries
3rd Floor, 77 Dunning Ave Rosebery NSW 2018
Phone: (02) 9697-4484 Fax: (02) 9663-1412
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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