[SunRescue] RE: starter system (future purchase)

[Ken Hansen]

My suggestion for a starter Sparcstation would depend on the amountof money you can afford:

Up to $100 (not incl. monitor) - *maxed* LX (96 - 128 Meg RAM), or a low-end SS/5 or SS/4 (w/64 Meg RAM) and some form of reasonable HD (1-2 Gig).

Up to $200 (not incl. monitor) - Look for a nice, low-end SS/20 (w/64 Meg RAM) and an SM*1 CPU (something that can be mated for SMP, like an SM41, SM51, SM61, etc.).

Up to $300 (not incl. monitor) - either a nice SMP SS/20 (w/128 Meg RAM) or a nice SS/5-170 (w/64 Meg RAM).

Up to $500 (not incl. monitor) - An Ultra 1/170e (w/128 Meg RAM) or Ultra 1/200E (the 'e' designation is important, faster SCSI and Ethernet port).

Up to $750 (not incl. monitor) - start looking for a low-end Ultra 2 w/200 MHz CPU and 128 Meg RAM - may take some effort, but be patient...

Up to $1,000 - The Sun Blade 100 is where you should be - low-cost expansion makes this a nice system (IMHO).

My advice, if you can swing it, keep your eyes open for an Ultra 2 and just wait for the price to get to what you can afford. My fall-back position is an SS/20, as loaded as you can get it, but be careful - aside from RAM & HD, every dollar invested in an MBUS-based Sun4m system is money you will never see again. The SS/20 RAM can go in Ultra 1s and 2s, as can the HD.

HTH,

Ken

Message: 14
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 22:50:22 +1200 (NZST)
From: Kenneth Dunn <luser at xtra.co.nz>
To: rescue at sunhelp.org
Subject: [SunRescue] Old machines
Reply-To: rescue at sunhelp.org


Hi all,

Tomorrow I'm off to pick up an Alpha Server 1000a (192MB core,  8GB
disk total) minus monitor and software for $NZ750 (about $US325). I found
a link to a Compaq web page that listed refurbished Alphas and the AS
1000a was listed as costing between $US4000-9000 depending on
configuration. I think this includes OpenVMS + 1 year warranty. So it
appears that I've got a good deal (fingers crossed). 

If all goes well with the Alpha I plan to look for a basic Sparc at a
later date. I want to learn the basics of Solaris administration but not
sure what sort of machine I should be looking for. If I happen to be in
the right place at the right time and be in a position to buy a used 
Sparc what should I look for ? Yeh I could just get Solaris 8 and run it
on my AMD based PC but that wouldn't be the same.

PS. anyone know of a good OpenVMS mailing list for beginners ?

-- 
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt