Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!shadooby!accuvax.nwu.edu!tank!uxc!uxc.cso.uiuc.edu!uxd.cso.uiuc.edu!uxf.cso.uiuc.edu!bob From: bob@uxf.cso.uiuc.edu Newsgroups: comp.sys.sequent Subject: Re: Questions about Pyramid/Sequent Message-ID: <63900002@uxf.cso.uiuc.edu> Date: 31 Mar 89 02:10:00 GMT References: <764@sactoh0.UUCP> Lines: 35 Nf-ID: #R:sactoh0.UUCP:764:uxf.cso.uiuc.edu:63900002:000:1993 Nf-From: uxf.cso.uiuc.edu!bob Mar 30 20:10:00 1989 We have 3 pyramids purchased years ago. one of them had to get swapped out it failed so miserably. we average 1 or 2 board failures every quarter. we have a source license with them and now we learn as of the current version of the operating system they will no longer provide source code (unless you 'subscribe' at the everyday low price of $2000/month) at the $1500 snapshot price. we do self-maintenance (and this is the only reason we still have these machines). the local sales office is absolutely the worst thing i've ever had to deal with. we subscribe to monthly PTF service (it's the ONLY reasonable and reliable way to get anything out of the support center) and refer to it as the "operating system of the month club". on the other hand we've had one sequent for nearly 5 years without any board failures (until an extremely ugly power glitch last friday -- Good Friday -- hmmm). it has recently been upgraded to a b21 and i have seen 126 concurrent users all editting and compiling with good response. i always use the analogy of a grocery store checkout lane. if you have a store-full of people trying to get out and there is only one checker you wait and wait. if there are four checkers, everyone, even the ones with full carts, get serviced quicker. we just bought a s81 for database users. if your choice comes down to more processors or more memory, go for the memory. in the long run you'll be ahead of the game. although since the system is easy scalable, you can add anything later simply by sliding in another board. (this really is the case as we added more processors and more memory when we upgrade to the B21) the support folks at sequent are reasonable people who treat any problem you encounter as THEIR problem and resolution is quick. "from the rumor mill" --- pyramid announced a big mis-server that now won't see light of day for another year or so. it is also rumored that at&t is going to buy pyramid. pyramid stock dropped more than 5 points recently.