There's so many choices in this area it's difficult to recommend one single solution. In general terms however, there will be easier setup and deployment with Linux than Sun; (for example, with most Linux distributions, gcc and compiling tools and such are all built in). Sun has great hardware, but the overall maintenance costs will be a huge factor. With cheaper x86 boxes for example, you could have a whole lot of compute nodes, and not worry too much about support costs ("throwaway" boxes?). A lot of it also depends on the in-house operating system expertise they have. That's my $0.02. > -----Original Message----- > From: bioclusters-bounces+brodie=mcw.edu at bioinformatics.org > [mailto:bioclusters-bounces+brodie=mcw.edu at bioinformatics.org] On Behalf > Of Gary Van Domselaar > Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 1:26 PM > To: bioclusters at bioinformatics.org > Subject: [Bioclusters] Need some advice on a cluster for EST/cDNA > assembly,clustering > > > 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