John R Pierce wrote:
On 05/17/11 12:49 PM, m.roth@5-cent.us wrote:
We need to replace several servers, quickly - four of our Dell PE 1950's died in one week. (!!!) So, we're looking around, and I was checking out IBM. I customized to what we want, and hit 'continue', and suddenly there's another $800 for a "system common planar" that's "required". Googling only finds specs with it - does anyone know what it is? I mean, it's not like it's the motherboard, right?
indeed, Planar is IBM-speak for a mainboard. IBM has a lot of their own unique terminology. For ages disk drives were called DASD (Direct Access Storage Devices).
Yup. I started on mainframes, and can think DASD.
generally, on the IBM 'express' configurations, everything required is included in the base configuration. sounds like you were off in their custom build land, which is mostly intended for bulk orders and everything is /a la carte/.
I got the base configuration, I thought, for something like $2100+, and was customizing it. I wonder what I got for that amount - the case, and (as my co-worker said) the IBM logo?
I *highly* recommend working with an IBM VAR who will sort out the configurations for you.
Yeah, well, we probably won't go with them; we'll probably do Dell, but I was looking around - when we get to ordering, we're required to have three competing bids.
mark