sparc64 builds and hardware

[Erich Jenkins, Fuujin Group Ltd]

So, I've been reading the discussion about build platforms, and I 
thought I'd drop this into the fray. I originally sent this to Colin and 
Marius, but it now seems I should have also posted to the list as the 
conversation has garnered more interest than I expected given the user base.


Here's the original message:

Colin & Marius:

I've been reading the discussion in the sparc64 mailing list regarding 
buildworld requirements for sparc64 and I'd like to help. I've been a 
user of FreeBSD since v2.0, an I can say it is the reason I completed my 
PhD (only reliable open-source BSD unix variant available at the time, 
and I still think it's the best thing going), and it's the lifeblood of 
my network and services.

Marius has been working to get the v1280 platform supported, and 
depending on whether this fits your requirements, I'd like to make the 
two machines I have in the lab available to the project.

I understand there are access issues that will need to be addresses, but 
this is one option I see that may help you:

I'll rack these up in our data center and hang them on the end of our 
OC-3. I'll get the aLOM set up on a VPN box in the same way Marius is 
accessing it now (though I'll put in a better server with a SSD drive 
and dual power). I'll throw the power over to the protected grid 
(generator support and 6 hours of UPS). Since these monsters cost a 
boatload to run and cool, I would not be able to have them powered up 
continuously (not in the run state anyway), but you would have access to 
them via the VPN and aLOM to power them up as needed. Also, since hangs 
might be a problem, I'll install a serial REPO control on the UPS 
segment feeding them so you can power cycle them from the VPN box on 
another power segment (wouldn't want to kill the jump box too!).

One machine is running (12) 1.2GHz USIII Cu procs and the other is 
running (12) 900 procs. I believe both have 24 gigs of ram, and I can 
make whatever storage you need available, either via our SAN (also a 
FreeBSD machine) or via direct attached storage. I have a spare Seagate 
1TB SAS drive I can rack up in a hot-swap eSAS enclosure as well 
(possibly two of them, I'll have to check).

If this is of value to the FreeBSD project, please let me know. You 
folks have built a wonderful OS that carries a workload to rival HP-UX, 
AIX and Solaris. I'd like to give back to the community that has given 
so much to me.

-- 
Erich M. Jenkins
Fuujin Group Limited


"You should never, never doubt what no one is sure about."
-- Gene Wilder