The title of the topic says it all:
What makes a good machine (computer!) in your eyes? What features are a must have and why? And what machine(s) do you consider (a) good machine(s)?
For me the following things come to my mind right now:
<LIST>
-
<LI>
- <B>supports serial console down to the firmware level</B>
Because I want to be able to control it remotely without the need for a glass console, so actually a net console would also be OK for me. A combination of both, e.g. like Sun ALOM would be even better.</LI>
<LI>
- <B>netboots out of the box</B>
Because I want to be able to use my machines diskless (no on-disk FS support needed in boot loader (avoids a lot of possible problems!), no need for old disk or disc or floppy disk or tape drives and respective media)</LI>
<LI>
- <B>remote control (power on, power off, reset and such things)</B>
Because I don't want to manually control my machines but via software, especially if they're installed far away from my lab. I also consider "automatic power on after power loss" or the existence of a real power switch that can activate the machine a sort of remote control.</LI>
</LIST>
A few examples for <I>
good</I> machines in my eyes:
<LIST>
-
<LI>
- SGI Origin 200</LI>
<LI>
- SGI Octane(2)</LI>
<LI>
- Sun Enterprise 3500 and similar</LI>
<LI>
- Sun SunFire V240 and similar</LI>
<LI>
- HP c8000</LI>
<LI>
- HP rp3440 and similar</LI>
<LI>
- HP AlphaServer DS25 and similar</LI>
</LIST>
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