RSS
Subscribe to magazine
Follow us on:
  • Recommend:
  • 0 Comments

Xeon Servers: They're a Gas, Gas, Gas

Have you spent too much on your low-performance, high-maintenance server? Maybe it's time to upgrade to a Xeon- or Pentium III-based powerhouse. With faster cache and more of it, plus built-in redundancy and reliability features, the seven workgroup servers we tested are no flash in the pan.

  

Operating Options: Linux

Last September, Chad Dickerson, vice president of technology for Salon.com, and his staff were rebooting Salon's Web servers constantly. The upstart Internet magazine had broken a story exposing an extramarital affair of House Judiciary Committee chairman Henry Hyde. "The Associated Press picked up the story, it moved to all the majors, and we were getting thousands of hits per minute," says Dickerson. "We were rebooting servers like musical chairs because our Windows NT servers couldn't handle the load."

Because of the fiasco, Dickerson switched his server farm to Linux. He says the move saved him money--partly because Linux runs well on his existing low-end servers. But also, he says, "Many of the apps and tools we needed were free. We didn't have to buy any software for remote administration, for sendmail, or for the OS itself." Dickerson has no regrets about the switch. "Since installing Linux, we haven't had to reboot any of the servers [45 days after the initial installation]."

Would you recommend this story? YES NO

  • Recommend:
  • 0 Comments

  • Speed Up Everything!

    PCWorld shows you the secrets to improve performance on all your hardware.

    Get the Superguide now!

  • Become an Android authority

    Play music or games, run productivity apps and essential utilities.

    Get the Superguide now!

Lenovo Laptop Deals

Subscribe to the Digital Gear Review Newsletter - weekly

See All Newsletters »
Today's Special Offers
Editors' Picks