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September 2000, Week 2

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From:
LLTI-Editor <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 14 Sep 2000 08:30:40 EDT
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--- Forwarded Message from John de Szendeffy <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 12:05:26 -0400
>From: John de Szendeffy <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>Organization: Boston University
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum     <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5688 Suggestions for a new server?
>References: <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
"Fatima Chajia" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi y'all,
> 
> We have a small computer lab in our dept. It has 25 machines (Apple). We are
> considering purchasing a new server, a server fast enough and with enough
> memory to handle a lot of audio files  . . .  We do not have a technician and therefore we are
> looking for a server that can be used and networked easily by an average lab
> director( myself!). Any suggestions? . . . 

Your last point, about not having technical support, largely plays your
hand.  You need a server that *you* can setup and support, and if you're
already supporting Macs, then you are most likely prepared to support a
Mac server.  You might want to check out the new G4 servers, even the
dual processor numbers running OS X, which provide native support for
multiple processors.  OS X also holds out the hope of being infinitely
more stable and reliable as a server than previous Mac OSes. If you are
encoding these audio files into an efficient codec, such as RealAudio or
streaming QuickTime, then 25 clients accessing such files puts less of a
strain on the server's i/o ability.  Just be sure to load the thing up
with RAM, say 256 or 512MB min. as it's the cheapest way to improve
performance. And use the built-in Fast Ethernet (100Mb/s) or GigEthernet
(1000Mb/s) networking to a 10/100 or faster switched hub.  Check out the
specs on the OS X servers at

http://www.apple.com/powermac/server/osxindex.html

The question you need to research is whether this server can dish out
your audio files to 25 clients with no dropped packets. I can't imagine
that it wouldn't do this.  

There are other options, such as inexpensive pre-configured NT and Linux
boxes, but not if you can't get local support for these technologies.

Good luck.


-John
__________________________________________
John de Szendeffy       <[log in to unmask]>
Multimedia Language Lab
Center for English Language and Orientation Programs
Boston University
ph (617) 353-7957       fx (617) 353-6195  
Lab:            http://www.bu.edu/celop/MLL
WebFeat:        http://www.bu.edu/johndesz/

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