Bok, I have a Supermicro H8SGL motherboard that has not worked for the last year. I am going to RMA it right now. When it comes back I could donate it along with a 6172 processor and heatsink. You would still need $500 to $1000 dollars worth of ram but I imagine we could raise that through donations.
I have posted a thread at TeAm AnandTech to collect ideas, solutions, and opinions.
I've had one idea from AMDave that seems very feasible. Never considered it before but it should be doable with some small changes and would eliminate the writes.
Instead of replicating the data from one drive to another, instead 'oscillate' the database connection from the webserver.
i.e.
still have two distinct databases on distinct drives as I currently have, but make them identical for all intents and purposes (I'd actually have a 3rd for static data which I've been considering anyway).
1. Run the stats update on db1, whilst the webserver points to db2.
2. On completion change the pointer from the webserver to point to db1.
3. Run the stats update on db2 (and ensure any changes include the ones to the prior update as well as any new), webserver still points to db1
4. on completion change pointer from the webserver to point to db2
5. Rinse and repeat.
It will mean I'll be duplicating some updates, but that's actually fairly minor.
Part 3 is the tricky part but is doable.
Might need a 3rd SSD in there perhaps.
Still need to think this out a little more.
Thanks Rudy, I do appreciate it, not looking for donations at the moment until I at least have a plan. More looking for ideas. See my previous post for the best one I have so far.Originally Posted by Rudy Toody
I wonder why you don't run this off a VelociRaptor HDD.
If writing and rewriting is that big of a problem for the SSDs, the VelociRaptor might be a good alternative.
It would be a real shame if you'd have to shut this down. It's such a nice stats page, and I do check on daily bases...
I tend to agree with the post by Raubhautz*, above. That is, SSD is just not ready for this kind of abuse (and may not be anytime soon). You can set up some mighty fast RAID-0's with rotational HDD's for mighty cheap! Not as fast, admitted, as the blinding speed of SSD's, but keep 'em reasonably cool and they run practically forever. On my business systems, SSD's are used only for OS and programs, i.e. very infrequent writes. All my precious data resides on spinning memory. AMDave's ideas sound good, too.
HOME: A physical construct for keeping rain off your computers.
I do appreciate everyones input - am reading everything for sure.
Started work on the oscillation idea.
FYI, the machine on reboot brought up the drive just fine, no errors on it at all. Not going to switch the stats on just yet though.
Bok,
Since I belong to AMDUser's of course I like AMDave's idea. Not because he's a teammate but I get to see his work more than most. Might I suggest a compromise in that you try the 'oscillate' idea and a reduction of the frequency of the updates. Even the sick numbers freaks like me would rather have less updates than to see you chuck the whole thing due to ongoing frustration. Take it from 20 to 10 for awhile and just see how it works out. I would be interested to see the frequency of people checking their stats and see just how many check more than daily. With that said I want to thank you for the time, effort, and money you put into these stats that we get to enjoy. They are a big part in why some people crunch and fun for many more.
Terry
Bok,
As a Techno illiterate, but as one who reads and dreams about building THE system I have to agree with a couple of the initial posters above.
1) Use the SSD for just the O/S and the program(s);
2) Get 2 or 3 HDDs and use them set up as hot swappable or raid-0 so that there is always at least one HDD online to be used for the data (Velociraptors sound good); and
3) Reduce the updates to just 12 a day at most. I mean, if I truly really want to know the latest credit score from a site, I go to the site, but look forward to my sig file generated here being updated. Having just read last sentence again.... Why not just do four updates a day, at 0600, 1200, 1800 and 2400hrs your time.
It would be a pity to see this site go the way of... hmmmmmm was going to say the Dodo, but probably more accurately, the way of Geocities.
(I know... nothing new, but did warn you I was a Techno Illiterate *grin*sigh*)
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