When I consulted there a few years ago, they were outsourcing most of their IT operations to EDS. You might want to make sure it's actually Worldcom you'd be going to...
I am an independent consultant (a DBA / data modeler / architect by trade). Before that I had, IMHO, way too many jobs - corporate, vendor and large-firm consulting.
What my MBA has gotten me career-wise is flexibility - if I wanted to get a management spot, the degree paved the way; if I wanted a high-level technical spot, the technical certifications I've achieved got me the time of day for an interview.
That's all the piece of paper means in the workplace. You can self-teach the subject matter easily enough (that's what grad school mostly is anyway); if you can get into a top-ten B-school your income will certainly go up; but most important is that your resume will have a better chance of catching a hiring manager's eye. After that it's all up to you, anyway.
Oh, there is one other thing - your selection of women will improve. They figure a graduate degree shows ambition. But then, wrenching your abs into a six-pack will probably do the same thing...
You've hit it on the head - there's lots of used Sparc-stuff out and about - check usenet and yahoo as well as ebay.
The issue, I suspect, is that few Linux users need the raw power a Sparc can provide - and with the older boxes, you are dealing with proprietary, expensive spare parts (though the newer ones do a much better job of using commodity parts).
As an early PC'er, hailing from the S-100 days (actually helped a friend solder up a MITS Altair), there were many times I gave thanks for WordStar. It fit on a floppy and could be found anywhere, being one of the first programs widely pirated. Where do you think vi's commands originated? Just substitute 'ctl' for 'esc' when you're changing direction...
What Libranet is ignoring is the fact that, while they may have the latest and greatest whizbang disto out there, they are not perceived as head and shoulders above the free distros. I have no idea what they offer that Mandrake doesn't, for example. More to the point, they'll be available on Cheap Bytes or linuxiso.org in a matter of days or weeks anyway, so where is the value-add in paying them for their work? Sorry, guys, you fail the free market test.
I have run 30GB Oracle databases on 8.0.5 using RH 6.1.
The big problem here is the SMP performance. Generally when one is using a database of that size one wishes to take advantage of parallel processing, or at least use SMP to support a certain number of users.
I believe any performance problems you encounter will be in that area. Sun, HP, IBM et al just kick Linux' butt in SMP performance, and when you are supporting large queries and/or large numbers of users, all the memory in the world will only carry you to a certain point - beyond that you need fast, robust SMP support.
Other than that, you can certainly set up an Intel-based system to handle 30GB database, be they ORacle, Sybase, Postgres or whatever.
Has noone heard of the Department of Defense "Orange Book" (actually I think the latest standard may be a different color)? When commercial OS vendors say they are 'C2 out of the box, B1 when you buy blah-blah-blah)', that is what they refer to as the standard for setting security levels of trusted systems. Why wouldn't that be the place to start? My enthusiasm for Open Source is based on the fact that the finished products are at least as good, and often superior, to commercial implementations. For the corporate marketplace to accept open source software as a realistic, viable alternative, the OS vendors (Red Hat, BSDI, Corel) must be able to equal (if not better) the HP-UX and Solaris' of the world by any objective measure.
I, too, have kept a weather eye out for an open-source RDBMS ready for whatever "mission-critical applications" are defined to be this week. Postgres comes closest IMHO, but insufficient attention has been paid to the ancillary utilities - data loading/unloading, failover, monitoring, parallel operations, etc. You are probably best off ponying up for Oracle and setting up a standby database. Linux versions are priced like NT. If you want to play before plunking down the bucks, you can register at technet.oracle.com (it's free) and download the current release of Oracle 8i. Check out 'standby databases' in the doc set (also found in its entirety on technet.oracle.com). If you have only a 64MB machine(s) to use, download Oracle 8.0.5 (or.6, whichever is there). If you need configuration help, email me at jared@hwai.com. Regards, jh -- "Crisis occurs when women and cattle get excited"...James Thurber
The only way to combat misinformation is to trumpet the facts - over and over and over again - until the non-sheep of the world clue in to the fact that the 'decency' organizations are no more than propaganda machines. I have yet to understand why the fundamentalist right - and their allies, "People for a Decent " - are tolerated merely because they cloak themselves in "Christianity". It has long been clear that the majority of these sects are Christian in name only; any objective review of their literature reveals that they seek political domination, not spiritual enlightenment. The Federal Government, when they try to distribute misinformation, is attacked immediately by the media, academia and anyone with a web site and an ax to grind. If turn this type of attention on those who would attempt to control the flow of information in an attempt to force their view of the world down their throat, they will drown in their own lies. And why are these organizations allowed tax exemptions anyway?
A methodology is just a checklist; so let's look at where a checklist is needed. I would submit two situations: where there are a bunch of kiddies involved (sorry, just because you've been coding since you were ten does not make you an experienced commercial developer without *actual work experience*); and where there is a complex, multi-team project to be implemented.
I agree with the respondent who blames the execution rather than the methodology. It's easy for a pedant or paper-pusher to emphasize the means over the end. I have worked for a few great project managers and have seen how they use these lists to keep track of the umpteen details needed to put a large project in place. The modern, n-tier architectures we are all designing and writing to these days are significantly more complex than the old mainframe or two-tier client-server apps of ten years ago. A methodology is a powerful tool in the hands of a pragmatic, experienced manager; like any powerful tool, it has the potential to be a problem when misused.
Lastly, all methodologies are not equal. The good ones recognize different sets of activities are needed for say, a from-scratch e-commerce implementation vs. implementing Peoplesoft. I have, for better or worse, worked with probably a half-dozen full-bown ones and there is only one I would ever put the time into implementing, because it is flexible, extensible and makes no pretense of being anything other than a checklist.
Someone who worked for me had it done, and she loves it. She was in her mid-40's when she had it. She said it hurt a bit more than the doctor said it would (big duh), but after a few days her visual acuity was 20-20 and she hasn't worn corrective lenses since. She had the surgery three years ago, when it was new, and hasn't had problems yet. She is also a DBA and stares at a screen all day. FWIW, it cost her about $5K here in Joisey.
Listening to what others have said about the procedure, one suspects the key to success lies in the surgeon performing the procedure. If you decide to do this, I would look for the guy with the best rep and hang the cost.
I haven't used Postgres for the last eighteen months, so I am not up on its latest bells and whistles (though I liked it fine then). I can say that Oracle, properly tuned, scales up pretty big and can stay fast; I have run half-terabyte data warehouses with happy users and hear tell (though they may be fish tales) of terabyte-sized db's on large SMP machines. What I am really waiting for is Oracle Parallel Server on Linux. Unfortunately Oracle wasn't comfortable with Beowulf's DLM, so it will probably be a year or so. However, given, say, a multi-processor Netfinity and a later kernel (for better SMP support), Linux should handle a 40GB Oracle database easily.
Amounts of data aren't so much an issue these days as concurrent connections. The nature of your app does not suggest thousands of users needing lightning response; I suspect either product will be adequate. The issue is wich support model you are more comfortable with.
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When I consulted there a few years ago, they were outsourcing most of their IT operations to EDS. You might want to make sure it's actually Worldcom you'd be going to...
I am an independent consultant (a DBA / data modeler / architect by trade). Before that I had, IMHO, way too many jobs - corporate, vendor and large-firm consulting. What my MBA has gotten me career-wise is flexibility - if I wanted to get a management spot, the degree paved the way; if I wanted a high-level technical spot, the technical certifications I've achieved got me the time of day for an interview. That's all the piece of paper means in the workplace. You can self-teach the subject matter easily enough (that's what grad school mostly is anyway); if you can get into a top-ten B-school your income will certainly go up; but most important is that your resume will have a better chance of catching a hiring manager's eye. After that it's all up to you, anyway. Oh, there is one other thing - your selection of women will improve. They figure a graduate degree shows ambition. But then, wrenching your abs into a six-pack will probably do the same thing...
You've hit it on the head - there's lots of used Sparc-stuff out and about - check usenet and yahoo as well as ebay.
The issue, I suspect, is that few Linux users need the raw power a Sparc can provide - and with the older boxes, you are dealing with proprietary, expensive spare parts (though the newer ones do a much better job of using commodity parts).
As an early PC'er, hailing from the S-100 days (actually helped a friend solder up a MITS Altair), there were many times I gave thanks for WordStar. It fit on a floppy and could be found anywhere, being one of the first programs widely pirated. Where do you think vi's commands originated? Just substitute 'ctl' for 'esc' when you're changing direction...
What Libranet is ignoring is the fact that, while they may have the latest and greatest whizbang disto out there, they are not perceived as head and shoulders above the free distros. I have no idea what they offer that Mandrake doesn't, for example. More to the point, they'll be available on Cheap Bytes or linuxiso.org in a matter of days or weeks anyway, so where is the value-add in paying them for their work? Sorry, guys, you fail the free market test.
I have run 30GB Oracle databases on 8.0.5 using RH 6.1.
The big problem here is the SMP performance. Generally when one is using a database of that size one wishes to take advantage of parallel processing, or at least use SMP to support a certain number of users.
I believe any performance problems you encounter will be in that area. Sun, HP, IBM et al just kick Linux' butt in SMP performance, and when you are supporting large queries and/or large numbers of users, all the memory in the world will only carry you to a certain point - beyond that you need fast, robust SMP support.
Other than that, you can certainly set up an Intel-based system to handle 30GB database, be they ORacle, Sybase, Postgres or whatever.
hth -
Regards,
jh
Yea! Briscoe County Jr. rides again!
Has noone heard of the Department of Defense "Orange Book" (actually I think the latest standard may be a different color)? When commercial OS vendors say they are 'C2 out of the box, B1 when you buy blah-blah-blah)', that is what they refer to as the standard for setting security levels of trusted systems. Why wouldn't that be the place to start? My enthusiasm for Open Source is based on the fact that the finished products are at least as good, and often superior, to commercial implementations. For the corporate marketplace to accept open source software as a realistic, viable alternative, the OS vendors (Red Hat, BSDI, Corel) must be able to equal (if not better) the HP-UX and Solaris' of the world by any objective measure.
I, too, have kept a weather eye out for an open-source RDBMS ready for whatever "mission-critical applications" are defined to be this week. Postgres comes closest IMHO, but insufficient attention has been paid to the ancillary utilities - data loading/unloading, failover, monitoring, parallel operations, etc. You are probably best off ponying up for Oracle and setting up a standby database. Linux versions are priced like NT. If you want to play before plunking down the bucks, you can register at technet.oracle.com (it's free) and download the current release of Oracle 8i. Check out 'standby databases' in the doc set (also found in its entirety on technet.oracle.com). If you have only a 64MB machine(s) to use, download Oracle 8.0.5 (or .6, whichever is there). If you need configuration help, email me at jared@hwai.com. Regards, jh -- "Crisis occurs when women and cattle get excited"...James Thurber
The only way to combat misinformation is to trumpet the facts - over and over and over again - until the non-sheep of the world clue in to the fact that the 'decency' organizations are no more than propaganda machines. I have yet to understand why the fundamentalist right - and their allies, "People for a Decent " - are tolerated merely because they cloak themselves in "Christianity". It has long been clear that the majority of these sects are Christian in name only; any objective review of their literature reveals that they seek political domination, not spiritual enlightenment. The Federal Government, when they try to distribute misinformation, is attacked immediately by the media, academia and anyone with a web site and an ax to grind. If turn this type of attention on those who would attempt to control the flow of information in an attempt to force their view of the world down their throat, they will drown in their own lies. And why are these organizations allowed tax exemptions anyway?
Singular Plural VAX VAXen maybe - pretty thin + ox oxen handle work without complaint ---------------------- box boxen
A methodology is just a checklist; so let's look at where a checklist is needed. I would submit two situations: where there are a bunch of kiddies involved (sorry, just because you've been coding since you were ten does not make you an experienced commercial developer without *actual work experience*); and where there is a complex, multi-team project to be implemented. I agree with the respondent who blames the execution rather than the methodology. It's easy for a pedant or paper-pusher to emphasize the means over the end. I have worked for a few great project managers and have seen how they use these lists to keep track of the umpteen details needed to put a large project in place. The modern, n-tier architectures we are all designing and writing to these days are significantly more complex than the old mainframe or two-tier client-server apps of ten years ago. A methodology is a powerful tool in the hands of a pragmatic, experienced manager; like any powerful tool, it has the potential to be a problem when misused. Lastly, all methodologies are not equal. The good ones recognize different sets of activities are needed for say, a from-scratch e-commerce implementation vs. implementing Peoplesoft. I have, for better or worse, worked with probably a half-dozen full-bown ones and there is only one I would ever put the time into implementing, because it is flexible, extensible and makes no pretense of being anything other than a checklist.
Someone who worked for me had it done, and she loves it. She was in her mid-40's when she had it. She said it hurt a bit more than the doctor said it would (big duh), but after a few days her visual acuity was 20-20 and she hasn't worn corrective lenses since. She had the surgery three years ago, when it was new, and hasn't had problems yet. She is also a DBA and stares at a screen all day. FWIW, it cost her about $5K here in Joisey.
Listening to what others have said about the procedure, one suspects the key to success lies in the surgeon performing the procedure. If you decide to do this, I would look for the guy with the best rep and hang the cost.
Good luck in your decision -
I haven't used Postgres for the last eighteen months, so I am not up on its latest bells and whistles (though I liked it fine then). I can say that Oracle, properly tuned, scales up pretty big and can stay fast; I have run half-terabyte data warehouses with happy users and hear tell (though they may be fish tales) of terabyte-sized db's on large SMP machines. What I am really waiting for is Oracle Parallel Server on Linux. Unfortunately Oracle wasn't comfortable with Beowulf's DLM, so it will probably be a year or so. However, given, say, a multi-processor Netfinity and a later kernel (for better SMP support), Linux should handle a 40GB Oracle database easily.
Amounts of data aren't so much an issue these days as concurrent connections. The nature of your app does not suggest thousands of users needing lightning response; I suspect either product will be adequate. The issue is wich support model you are more comfortable with.
hth -