[OpenAFS] openafs fileservers in VMware ESX

[Rodney M Dyer]

At 11:51 PM 4/20/2005, Derek Atkins wrote:
>I've never seen any reason to virtualize an AFS server.  Ever.  The key is IO
>bandwith, which isn't increased by virtualization.  You really want separate
>PHYSICAL servers for AFS servers.  Virtualization does not give you any
>benefits due to hardware failure, power failure, or any other failure.  It 
>just
>adds overhead.

I agree.  I've never understood the "big honking box" syndrom.  It has 
always seemed to me to be an indication of "Pointy Haired Bosses" being 
marketed to that causes this situation.  The point of AFS is speed, 
distribution, and scaleability, but you also get redundancy.  Putting an 
AFS cell on a virtualized server is just IMHO...silly.  I can't see how in 
the long run you save money with specialized boxes when server PCs from 
DELL, which can be used for AFS file servers, cost less than $500 a 
pop.  Of course if you go rack mount, things get more pricey, but still, 
compared to some specialized box from a proprietary vendor?

Rodney