unix servers?

[yenuwine]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to explain to a good amount of detail how unix servers work. also...how much does a server cost? How many terminals can it support? How fast does the connection between server and terminal need to be? Also could you comment on its relative performance compared to a personal computer, you can set your own comparisons, I just need a general idea. Thanks. I would also appreciate links to where I can read about them also.

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: yenuwine
Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to explain to a good amount of detail how unix servers work. also...how much does a server cost? How many terminals can it support? How fast does the connection between server and terminal need to be? Also could you comment on its relative performance compared to a personal computer, you can set your own comparisons, I just need a general idea. Thanks. I would also appreciate links to where I can read about them also.

try asking in operating system forum.... its right below general hardware. Unix is NOT HARDWARE realted.

Unix is not a "personal computer" operating system. It's pure utilitarian. First read up on what Unix is. Sounds like you're just using the buzz word.

 

[Megatomic]

It would take volumes of books and more specific questions on your part to answer you properly. This is a very broad topic...

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Mday

Originally posted by: yenuwine
Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to explain to a good amount of detail how unix servers work. also...how much does a server cost? How many terminals can it support? How fast does the connection between server and terminal need to be? Also could you comment on its relative performance compared to a personal computer, you can set your own comparisons, I just need a general idea. Thanks. I would also appreciate links to where I can read about them also.

try asking in operating system forum.... its right below general hardware. Unix is NOT HARDWARE realted.

Unix is not a "personal computer" operating system. It's pure utilitarian. First read up on what Unix is. Sounds like you're just using the buzz word.

SCO runs on personal computers, and I believe it's a Unix. BSDi ran on PCs, but it wasn't certified as a Unix, I don't think.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Be more specific. Which Unix? There are a few of them (HP-UX, Solaris, AIX off the top of my head). Do you want dumb terminals, or some other kind of application?

Most big iron systems cost something like $5kUSD on up. I got to play with a quarter million dollar sun system or two at my last job.

 

[yenuwine]

Thank you for the responses and Sorry for my ignorance. I'm wondering about something like what I have in my computer lab at school, I do remember the word Solaris. What i'm talking about is where there is a main server that does most of the processing and a bunch of terminals where u have a monitor and a keyboard. I only know the general concept of what is going on. I do not really know specific names or terminology.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Ok, the thing you sit at is typically a dumb terminal. It does almost nothing. The server is called a server.

Anyhow, 10mbit should work for those, but 100mbit makes it a lot smoother. I got the chance to use one briefly at a SUN training center and I was half inspired to sell my family to buy a setup. These thin clients are nifty. I think the one I used was closest to the 1g. Anyhow, everything is run on the server, and I think you can have just about any sun server for this, but there are minimum requirements depending on how many clients.

These thin clients let you have a smart card keyed to you. You enter your username and a password after putting the card in. Your desktop pops up. If your workstation is being used by someone else for some reason, you can jump on another one, pop in your card, login, and the stuff you were working on before lunch comes up. Everything is stored on the server (have I mentioned that yet).

You need a fairly beefy server if you have a lot of clients. Can't remember the specs, but they should be in the documentation there somewhere. With OpenOffice/Staroffice, I'm thinking that these could be a great solution for offices.

Hopefully that rambling gives you a place to start.

 

[Mday]

Really, go ask in operating systems. Its one click down. This thread will be locked soon.