We have a Xserve G4/G5 Cluster running iNquiry from the bioteam. We really like it. What we find best about it is that the average Scientist is able to admin the cluster without much if any IT help. I think ultimately it boils down to your needs. We needed a bioinformatics cluster that is easy to use, easy to run, easy to set up, and the workgroup cluster gives that to us at a very nice pricepoint. We haven't had any issue with it at all, and we have received fantastic support from both the Bioteam and Apple. I would recommend it as highly as possible. It really is a true turnkey solution. Again the real advantage that we see is the ease of administration, not only of the informatics side with iNquiry, but on the OS and Hardware side with OSX server and Xserve/Xserve RAID. My personal opinion is that for the price, ease and power it can't be beat. iNquiry has a Linux package as well, we chose OSX/Xserve for ease of use. Gary Van Domselaar wrote: >Hey Gang, > >I've been called in at the last moment to "consult" on the purchase of a >cluster for a sequencing project. Admittedly, I know nothing about life >science clusters, despite having been subscribed to this list from its >inception. I am not making any money on this consulting, just helping out >a neighbouring academic lab. So what I know at this point is that they >have about $Cdn 200K to spend. They hae already talked to Sun, and Sun is >offering them a "sweetheart" deal for (something) at about $120k. My only >exposure is to a G4/G5 cluseter from BioTeam. I am impressed with it >andit works really well for my purposes, and Im guessing it would work >well for theirs too. I'm guessing a linux cluster would perfrom nicely >too. The lab currently does not have a bioinforatician, but I thnik they >have money for one. I'll probably just end up pointing them to Glen, Joe >, and Chris, but any advice, suggestions, and pointers to where I can get >a little more familiarity, well shucks, that would really be swell. > >Decidedly, > >g. >-- >Gary Van Domselaar, PhD. >Postdoctoral Fellow, Computing Science >and Biological Sciences >University of Alberta >Edmonton, AB, Canada >Phone: 780-492-5969 > > >Assistant Director, Bioinformatics.Org >gary at bioinformatics.org > > >_______________________________________________ >Bioclusters maillist - Bioclusters at bioinformatics.org >https://bioinformatics.org/mailman/listinfo/bioclusters > > -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: smime.p7s Type: application/x-pkcs7-signature Size: 4062 bytes Desc: S/MIME Cryptographic Signature Url : http://bioinformatics.org/pipermail/bioclusters/attachments/20050225/e0371c0a/smime.bin