LoTR , Linux, and Database Management

minus23 writes: "Very interesting article over at Digitalanimators.com, talking about some of the challenges faced by the crew working on the second installment in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Interesting bits include managing an off-site database of 45TBs, Linux workstations from IBM, 1400 processors, and the animation methods to be used on Gollum. It's a good thing. :)"

Comments

Just a thought

[cr@ckwhore]

Overall, the article was a good read. But, I must point to the following observation..

"... The problem with Linux is that it's an open source system, so if you are having issues or difficulties with its stability, it's like pushing on a rope; there's no single vendor to deal with. ..."

The very next paragraph...

"Weta had just taken delivery of 25 Linux workstations from IBM and Labrie reported that IBM and Hewlett Packard were the frontrunners for additional Linux workstation upgrades."

Alright, so... what am I missing here? You've got IBM behind your efforts. Whats the problem?

Perhaps the comment was referring to specific pieces of software, although my experience has been that dealing with a group of open developers is far more useful than dealing with a single inept vendor. When the vendor is full of crap, where else can you turn?

The first paragraph I mentioned continues...

"You have to be self-deterministic in terms of how things work. You have to make your own choices and do your own tests on motherboards, graphics cards, applications, operating system releases, all those kinds of things."

Again, I'm not buying this comment either... afterall, you have IBM behind you! Don't they test the motherboards, graphics cards, operating system releases, and all those kind of things?

Obviously Linux has been a good solution for them because they're using it. They're having success with it, and its saving them loads of $$ versus using an alternative proprietary system.

Can't wait to see this installment of LOTR!