Big Unix Systems

[George M. Sipe]

In article <17700004 at ti-csl> fordyce at ti-csl.UUCP writes:
>In the past several months in various notes files, I have seen
>requests for, and responses containing, opinions regarding the "most
>mips per buck", the "best" systems to support 15-30 users, etc.
>
>What about *bigger* UNIX systems ?  (i.e., systems to support on the
>order of 80-160 simultaneous users).
>	...

If you look at my organization line, you'll note right off that I am
biased.  With that said...  Tolerant Systems sells a Unix based system
which meets your requirements.  The system starts around a VAX 780 in
power and grows very large through the addition of processors, disks,
I/O channels, communications front ends, etc.  It is based on a mix of
both tightly and loosely coupled processors.  Regardless of the number
of nodes involved, a global name space presents a single system image
to all users and processes.

The largest SINGLE system installed to date employs 33 nodes, each
containing at least 4 processors.  The system is used to access an 80
GB (thats right, billion) database.  Note also that raw device access
is not necessary for performance or data integrity (standard Unix file
systems are used - this is a Unix system, not a Unix based front end
for something else).  There are up to 7,000 on-line users (generating
2.2 million transactions per day, at an average of 55 per second).  The
system is also fully fault tolerant.  I don't personally know of any
other single (SYS V / BSD) Unix system this large (but would appreciate
hearing of any that come close...   I'm interested in actually
installed customer sites, not marketing claims).

For more info, call Tolerant at (408) 946-5667.
--
UUCP:	...ihnp4!akgua!rebel!george
	...{hplabs,seismo}!gatech!rebel!george
Phone:	(404) 662-1533
Snail:	Tolerant Systems, 6961 Peachtree Industrial, Norcross, GA  30071