[Info-vax] The Future of Server Hardware?

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2012-10-15 20:21:43 +0000, JF Mezei said:

> When you have a gazillion servers,

...and have irreconcilable and budget- and power-profligate fools in 
the C-level management...

> you also have a gazillion power
> supplies, and multiple gazillion fans always running in those servers.
> While modern servers have the ability to vary fan speed based on heat in
> CPU, there is still much of a waste with the "idle" machines still
> running fans and still running a power supply.

...But then few organizations can afford to have C-level fools these days.

Yes, some do have C-level fools.   But the organizations that do have 
those fools tend not to last.

A powered-down idle server is a cost.  A powered-up idle server has a 
cost, and obviously adds a power and cooling cost.  An inefficient 
powered-up server adds yet more cost.

You should be well aware of this with your Xserve box, both with how 
much you paid for it and how much it costs sitting there, and how much 
it costs in power.   The Xserve box can draw far more power than most 
any recent Mac Mini Server, for instance.

Why does the C-level notice these costs?  Excess power usage or excess 
idle or unused equipment means the fixed costs are higher, and that 
means the competitors can gain a price or profit advantage.  Or the 
company isn't making as much revenue as it could.  Or both.

And even semi-competent C-level folks will hunt down unnecessary fixed 
costs, and ways to make money or save money.  This because those fixed 
costs (savings, efficiencies) can directly effect their salaries and 
bonuses.



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