AmigaOne based WebServers

[asian1]

Hello
On several webhosting companies, the customer can choose "dedicated server" with various hardware / OS (Mac OSX, Linux, BSD etc).

Is it possible to use an AmigaOne computer or several AmigaOne clusters as web server?

Can AmigaOne webserver be connected to CISCO 12000 + OC-192 (10 Gbps) Internet backbone?

What is the best "secure" OS for such Server?
Is it Linux for PowerPC, MacOS X or AmigaOS 4?
Thank's.

There should be nothing technical stopping it

Linux is perfectly capable of running a web server, and on minimal hardware. A G3 would i think even be overkill for a lot of web applications

perhaps not if you have a lot of database accessing and a busy site

a 10Gbps backbone would be nice for a busy site too

That way the only restrictions are on your hardware, which is something you can control. perhaps a 100mbit ethernet card would be very easy. I can see the linux side working well

On a related topic and I hope I don't hijack this thread, does anyone have AmiTCP experience? I know it was BSD based and even had some of the BSD file layout in its directories. Was the httpd in amitcp related in any way to apache?

I'm only asking out of curiosity and hobby factor, not expecting it to fully function like new apaches. Much like running a web server on an amiga the reason its fun is just to see 'can it be done'

What is the best "secure" OS for such Server?
Is it Linux for PowerPC, MacOS X or AmigaOS 4?
Thank's.

Forgive me, I missed the last section of your question here.

AmigaOS 4 is an unknown as yet. It may be very good as its a very different system to common known ones. Security through obscurity is a weakness however and as such I would just mark that as "unknown" for now

Linux can be made very secure, and OSX also can be. Both have strong kernel based firewalls which can be configured to disallow or allow everything with flexible.

OSX running on an amigaOne is also an unknown. perhaps its possible, by copying roms and having a dedicated person provide the support. Apple have no drivers for amigaOne hardware. That would have to be written.

Perhaps a good hacker can whip up some code. That's not so reliable however as a happening. Not unless you are said hacker .

Linux as I understand already is working on the amigaOne? That would be my choice. Not only does it already work, but you have full control over it. If you wanted you could completely recompile the kernel to a different state so breaking in is difficult for scripts.

All opinions and I may be wrong in points. I'm sure others will correct me!

[iamaboringperson]

yes it should, run linux on it though!
 :-)

[amigau]

an interesting sub-topic for your post would be if you used Linux on an AmigaOne, can you make a 'beowulf cluster' out of it?  that would be cool, not unlike the 'render farms' used with Lightwave of old. .

http://www.fysik.dtu.dk/CAMP/cluster-howto.html

Now, the first challenge is to own ONE AmigaOne, let alone several, of course.

kevin orme
amiga university
www.amigau.com

gimme gigabit ethernet if I'm building a web server with that kind of backbone... for that I'm sorry to say both A1/Pegasos are ill equipped...

[JoannaK]

Considering untested nature of Amiga.one hardware I would not yet consider24/7 use for it. I assume when time goes by some people do so and report results but in meanwhile I would suggest you using better tested alternatives.

[iamaboringperson]

amigaone & pegasos are probably best for workstation use, i think
 :-)  IMHO

[Dagon]

What is the best "secure" OS for such Server?

They say OpenBSD is the most secure OS (not linux :-P)

[DaveP]

Depends on how serious you are!

There is absolutely no reason why you can have a LAMP, LATP or any other configuration of server on an AmigaONE running Linux.

Given that you can load it up with 2Gb of RAM and have multiple 100Mb ethernet cards or even GigE the only concern you would have would be would the processor be able to keep up? The answer is yes.

I have a webserver that takes several million pageviews per day running on a 300Mhz PPC RS/6000 ( 604 chip ) with only 512Mb RAM and it holds up lovely it uses four 100Mb ethernet cards to connect into the network and runs a cluster of four apache servers. This sits behind a server that uses dns redirection to round-robin around the ip addresses. AnyNet or something.

The web, unless you have complex server side includes or complex query, is a mostly data oriented operation ( which is why mainframes and mid-range servers are designed around data operation and data speed rather than raw processor power ) so make sure you have at least two drives, both the fastest you can buy and set up one to mirror the other.

Then run a minimal linux installation either behind someone elses firewall or running its own firewall and you will be able to manage very well.

The AmigaONE has been through extensive testing so don't worry too much on that point.

I think "sixgirls" does machine hosting  so there is a good possibility.

Don't worry overmuch about the BSD vs Linux bigotry uh sorry "debate" because both do very well thank you very much.

Simplest way to test it is to have at least two other boxes connected up on the same network to it running many concurrent curl downloads to see what percentage of cycles and memory goes to apache, mysql etc. This helps you identify bottlenecks in your code - you may need to lighten your queries to stop bottlenecking on mySQL or you might want to decrease the amount of processing code you have in your PHP ( or EJBs or whatever you use ).

AmigaONE boards are fine for rack-mounting too.

Ignore the FUD, get one and get playing!  :-D

differance is that 604 chip is 64bit... its got better memory management...and its a time proven platform... not an unproven machine.

I'd wouldnt  buy an AmigaOne or a Pegasos(right now!) to use as a webserver until their tested and bugs can be worked out... their not tested...this 'april' fix implimented in hardware apperantly is only done to the pegasos... I dunno about the AmigaOne... that could cause issues if it hasnt been corrected( is it?) ...

I wouldnt call it FUD to say a non-tested system with a solderd on/socketed  g3 600mhz..and questionable chipset wouldnt be the best choice for a reliable web server...

In a few months when all the facts can be seen about these bugs/etc if they are minimal/etc I'd say ok.


compareing an RS/6000 to an AmigaONE is like comparing a ferarri to a yugo...

[DaveP]

"I'd never buy an AmigaOne or a Pegasos to use as a webserver ... their not tested...this 'april' fix implimented in hardware apperantly is only done to the pegasos... I dunno about the AmigaOne... that could cause issues if it hasnt been corrected( is it?) ... "

Do you know what the April chip fixes? Can you explain precisely how without the April chip somehow magically it is going to have an effect on data transfer between an ethernet card and the rest of the system? If not, dont bother.

"I wouldnt call it FUD to say a non-tested system with a solderd on g3 600mhz..and questionable chipset wouldnt be the best choice for a reliable web server."

Oh come on, what you think the solder is going to come loose? Questionable chipset? Questionable how? Sheesh. Non tested by whom??

Finally I am running in 32 bit mode on that lil old 604 and it is slower than the g3@600Mhz according to benchmark tests already done.

If you aren't going to be precise then it frankly smacks of FUD. Like alluding to the fact that the Amstrad 512 didnt ship with a fan so the hard drive might melt.

Ive still got visions now of solder coming loose or melting under the strain.
 :-D

Do you know what the April chip fixes? Can you explain precisely how without the April chip somehow magically it is going to have an effect on data transfer between an ethernet card and the rest of the system? If not, dont bother.

April is fixing an IDE issue last I read... therefore it could effect disk access...  that most certinly effect a server of any kind..

Oh come on, what you think the solder is going to come loose? Questionable chipset? Questionable how? Sheesh. Non tested by whom??

not tested by anyone... show me a serious review on the board? and I'm not talking about some zealot I'm talking about a normal technical site reviewing it.

Finally I am running in 32 bit mode on that lil old 604 and it is slower than the g3@600Mhz according to benchmark tests already done.

speed isnt everything... I'd take stability over speed in a server every time..unless its a media server

If you aren't going to be precise then it frankly smacks of FUD. Like alluding to the fact that the Amstrad 512 didnt ship with a fan so the hard drive might melt.

IBM .v. MIA ... IBM .v. Eyetech ... that smacks of FUD

Ive still got visions now of solder coming loose or melting under the strain.

I've seen it happen to solderd on cyrix chips used in cheap POS terminals... its not a pretty sight...

[DaveP]

"compareing an RS/6000 to an AmigaONE is like comparing a ferarri to a yugo..."

I think that is overselling the RS/6000 significantly. I would say like comparing a Maserati Biturbo ( expensive, huge depreciation and fun for all the family performance ) with an Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0.

[DaveP]

April is fixing an IDE issue last I read... therefore it could effect disk access... that most certinly effect a server of any kind..

And yet the demonstration of it happening on an A1 has not been shown at least in public by anything other than a zealot and in fact not even by a zealot. ;-)

Would you call Tom a zealout? Or MAIs testing engineers zealouts? Hmmm?

No its this whole A1 is an unknown factor, untested, no April chip fud bandwagon that is going along. It would be nice to see some details of what exactly it fixes and some EVIDENCE that it impacts the A1 board for once but that is OT.

I compared the A1 with IBM 43P hardware for a very good reason. Firstly the A1@600Mhz benchmarks at 30% increase in speed worst case over the 43P  ( Yes it would be nice to see some public tests results I'll see what I can arrange ) and secondly it is demonstration that PowerPC chips are lower rates than the current 2GHz Intel based systems can cope with a reasonable load.

What you get in the A1 package, XE or SE is superior to what I have in my 43p ( rated 332 Mhz not 300Mhz just looked on the front cover ).

Plus when you look in the 43p there are surface mounted ( soldered! ) chips everywhere and that has done quite a few years of service now. Must have been 5 years since i bought it.

If you really piss your pants about surface mount chips go and get an XE.

But Ive seen chips work their way out of sockets before now! Quick front page news! Better not buy socketed chips anyone ;-)