Xserve Cluster Node Server Wrong Purchase

[Lyn]

Thanks for the reply. I am familiar with OS X Server admin and will  
fire up the new Xserve on the network later today. Similar to you, it  
will eventually end up at a co-location where everything is headless  
anyway.

As long as I have this Cluster Node Server, is there some advantage I  
could reap? Does buying another cluster node server make sense in  
terms of improved performance or something? Is there a Xserver  
Cluster Node primer (for dummies) that I could learn from?

Thanks again

Lyn


On Apr 3, 2007, at 2:03 PM, Brian Willoughby wrote:

> If you're familiar with Mac OS X Server admin, it shouldn't be too  
> hard.  You install the admin tools on another Mac on the same  
> subnet, and it will find the new Cluster Node and allow to you  
> remotely configure it for your installation.  If you completely  
> mangle the setup, you can put the Cluster Node into Target Disk  
> Mode, attach to a PowerBook or other Mac, and reinstall a fresh  
> copy to start over (just make sure you don't reboot the installing  
> computer, because it will then configure the Cluster Node drive for  
> the wrong system).  Note: The documentation implies that you must  
> use the FW400 port on the front, but I found that the FW800 ports  
> on the rear work equally well, and cut down on installation time if  
> you have a fast drive (10K?).
>
> It's tough at first without a video card (although you can install  
> one), but once you get past the setup its unnecessary.  I made a  
> few mistakes along the way, since this was my first Xserve, but  
> with the reinstall I was eventually able to get it perfect.  I  
> purchased a Cluster Node because it gives you dual processors for  
> the same cost, only sacrificing the extra drive bays.  Since my  
> Xserve is in a co-location facility where I may never touch it  
> again, I'm glad I didn't pay for video.  You may find that you made  
> the right purchase, if you can make it through the configuration.
>
> Brian Willoughby
> Sound Consulting
>
>
> On Apr 3, 2007, at 08:50, Lyn wrote:
>
> I feel a little foolish posting this, but I figure I'm probably  
> among friends. ;-)
>
> I recently purchased a G5 Xserve on eBay to deploy a dedicated 4D  
> database application. Would have used a MacPro, but 4D Server isn't  
> universal binary yet and our timing tests indicate our application  
> will be significantly faster on a G5.
>
> The Xserve arrived today & I now realize I actually purchased a  
> Xserve cluster node server. I see there is no video card onboard so  
> I can't connect a monitor. Am I screwed? Can I get this machine to  
> work anyway? I'll be placing this unit on the same rack adjacent to  
> a G4 and G5 Xserve running other applications. Will that help my  
> setup at all?
>
> Lyn