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Apple Releases Cluster Node Xserve

Posted by pudge on from the for-the-basement dept.

JHromadka writes "Apple today released a cluster node version of its Xserve rackmount server. The Cluster Node is a dual 1.33GHz G4 that has 256 MB RAM, no optical drive, Gigabit Ethernet only on the logic board, no graphics card, and only 10 client licenses. Starting price is $2799, which is a grand less than the normal Xserve."

11 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Re:10 Client Licenses? by mcwetboy · · Score: 3, Informative

    When bought separately, Mac OS X Server comes in two licences: 10-client ($499) and unlimited ($999). The cluster box simply comes with the smaller of the two licences.

  2. Only one hard drive by mcwetboy · · Score: 2, Informative

    Note also that the cluster node only comes with a single 60 GB hard drive (rather than four of them on the Xserve proper), and you can't BTO a bigger one at the Apple Store.

  3. Re:10 Client Licenses? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    It's just for appleshare connections. They probably ship the smaller one cause who the heck is going to cluster appleshare?

  4. Re:256 Megs RAM, huh? by psyconaut · · Score: 2, Informative

    There are lots of clustered applications that don't require huge amounts of RAM....and, as someone already pointed out, Apple RAM is expensive too.

    -psy

  5. Re:10 Client Licenses? by heychris · · Score: 4, Informative
    To be specific, it's 10 AFP (Apple File Protocol) client licenses. SMB and NFS are unlimited. The "unlimited" version allows unlimited AFP connections (though I believe there is a technological limit of 500 or so per server).

    Of course, if you have OS X clients, you can always use SMB or NFS on the client to connect to an OS X server. Only OS 9 or lower Macs would use up the AFP client licenses. Go figure.

    CC

  6. License info, from Apple by daveschroeder · · Score: 3, Informative

    As others have said, the "10-client" limitation is for AppleShare file sharing (Apple File Protocol, or AFP) connections only. Nothing else about the server is restricted or limited in any way.

    Sorry it can't be linked directly, but if you go to http://store.apple.com/, click "Apple Software" under "Software and Books" on the left, and scroll down to "Mac OS X Server v10.2 (10-User Lic.)", you will see:

    A 10 User license should be used if your server load is no more than 10 simultaneous file sharing connections (for more connections, please select the Unlimited license).

  7. Re:G4 processors 128? by tupps · · Score: 2, Informative

    G4 Processors have a number of vector based units (known as Altivec) which process vectors (128) very very quickly. This is what gives the G4 the huge distributed.net advantage.

    --
    Go out and get sailing!
  8. Re:G4 processors 128? by Lynn+Benfield · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually, G4s perform better than P4s on RC5 due to their faster hardware rotate support - not AltiVec.

  9. Re:G4 processors 128? by NeuroKoan · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually a new rc5 client is soon to be released (may already be release by this posting) with AltiVec instructions. There are claims of a 300% speed increase in checking rc5-72 keys.

    macslash article

    --

    "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation."
  10. Re:G4 processors 128? by redplasticcup · · Score: 3, Informative

    after reading someone in the iMac thread complain about gettng a dual Xeon system for cheaper, i went over to dell's site to look at the 1U dual-cpu configs they offer. For about the same price as this server, Dell offered a dual-P3 at 1.26GHz. The fastest available processors in the list were 1.5ghz or so. Not an extensive search, but interesting results (to me) regardless.

  11. Re:good price by tbmaddux · · Score: 3, Informative
    Since my main apps arent written with the altivec in mind (they are in fortran and have branches inside loops), i'm hosed.
    Have you explored the use of Absoft's Fortran compiler with the VAST vector/parallel libraries? Apparently it can automagically vectorize/parallelize code for multiple G4 processors.

    I'm thinking about getting this for an upcoming project.

    --
    Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?