[Ilugc] Please suggest Linux server
- From: suraj@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Suraj Kumar)
- Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 14:56:40 +0530
On Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 4:05 PM, freeos <freeos003 at gmail.com> wrote:
As of now we have thinclients with Windows 2003 server. Before adopted
with this setup, we had checked using one thinclient. While testing, we
felt that it was ok. After place 15 thinclients by connecting with IBM
X3400 server , we started to realize slow issue. For example, if one user
opens a pdf file, it takes time. Due to this slow issue,we are planning to
replace all these thinclients by desktops. Then these desktops will be
installed by Windows OS. Then these windows desktops will be authenticated
by Samba PDC. Samba PDC configured in a desktop configurationCeleron 1.8
GHZ,512 MB RAM). This system will act as gateway and squid proxy also for
our network.IBM X3400 is 4 years old. So we are not able to decide to
continue with this server for further operations. Please suggest
configuration or server model for Samba PDC to authenticate 30 users.
What you have now is a sensible Infrastructure policy, just that the server
is out-dated (or perhaps you've not looked deeper). Moving to a
thick-client infrastructure is only externalizing the problem (perhaps, it
will also get solved since now nobody will depend on the network or the
centralized server). But, let's get this straight: You are moving to a
cost-wise, maintenance-wise and moving-parts wise a more complex and
"expensive" infrastructure (FYI: Hard disk prices have doubled in the past
6 months).
The problem you've described might be most likely related to computing /
disk bottle necks... but you may have to look into some hardware usage
statistics (does I/O top out when these folks are reading their "PDF"? ...
and maybe also, Are there "Viruses" on your Windows Server(TM)?).
Try and meditate over how you can best solve the current problems you're
facing in the existing thin-client based infrastructure. Its a matter of
identifying bottle necks and clearing them up. Once you've cleared them,
you've scaled and you've also learnt the recipe to scale (atleast some of
the ingredients in the journey thus far). Centralization is where the world
is moving to - because today, it is easy to do (really beautiful software
exist, virtualization is reality) and it makes a lot of sense in today's
world (with rising costs of materials and energy). It also makes common
sense because most end user PCs don't get used to its designed capacity
most of the time. They idle and waste away.
If you'd like to take to virtualization here is your chance :) I'd think
its still a hardware-wise / energy-wise cost effective thing to do to
consolidate. Think about it: The "Internet" is moving in that general
direction too (move stuff to a centralized place where it makes a lot more
sense to take good care of it in bulk). End user computing at an office
environment is no different, just that its all local. Thick clients Messy
and I guess there is also something very fundamentally wrong when people
hate the presence of the "System Administrator" at their "desktop PCs"
taking away their productive time. How simple would it be, if we just
rebooted? ;)
I'd say: Centralize, Measure, Forecast and Scale.
cheers,
-Suraj
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