Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!sdsu!arul
From: arul@sdsu.edu (Arul Ananthanarayanan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mips
Subject: Advice Sought on MIPS Machines
Message-ID: <1990Mar3.073759.10@sdsu.edu>
Date: 3 Mar 90 07:37:59 GMT
Organization: San Diego State University Math Dept.
Lines: 49



We are looking for a new machine to replace our departmental time sharer and
one of the machines we are considering is a MIPS RC3260. (R3000 @25Mhz)

I have had little or no experience with MIPS based products, so naturally
I have some questions:

1. Performance:   How well does the machine perform under a load?
		  Of course this depends on what you consider a 'load', but
	 	  assume general University environment with 20 or so
	  	  concurrent users running TeX, large compiles, heavy
		  number crunching etc.

2. Configuration: Would you recommend buying at least one disk drive from
	          MIPS, or going completely third party? 

3. Disk Drives:   Have you had any trouble using third party SCSI
   & 8mm.	  drives such as Imprimis Wren V,VI, VII etc. or
		  using Exabyte 8mm drives?

4. Maintenance:   What type of service contract do you have? How would
   and Support:   you rate field service, board replacement and phone
		  support?

5. OS:		  Are you able to keep your BSD users happy under Risc/OS?
		  Have you had any major trouble porting applications that
		  assume a 4.3BSD environment while using systype bsd43.
		  

6. Networking:    Is Risc/OS a good citizen in that it is easy to get things
		  like the latest versions of gated, sendmail and named
		  up and running without too much effort? 
	   

I realize that the above list is extensive, but past experience has shown
that it pays to be well informed. I have been testing an RC3240 the
last few days and I have been very pleased with the performance.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Please send replies by
e-mail. I will send summaries to those that request them.

Thanks,

Arul

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