[ale] Monarch Computer
James P. Kinney III
jkinney at localnetsolutions.com
Sat Dec 30 16:27:29 EST 2006
I won't buy, recommend or use Dell, HP or Gateway for any Linux purpose.
I would use IBM for Linux but only if they load it.
I think I'm going to open a small Linux-only system shop. I don't think
it is possible for a systems builder that has been in the M$ world for
as long at the above unholy trio has to actually attract good Linux
geeks and make a transition to dual OS support.
I don't know (m)any _good_ Linux geeks that are comfortable having to
use a M$ machine as their desktop when they build/support Linux systems.
On Sat, 2006-12-30 at 14:21 -0500, Jeff Lightner wrote:
> Dell makes decent hardware and the PowerEdge line does run RedHat.
>
> Support from a hardware standpoint may be good.
>
> However, support for Linux at Dell BITES even though they claim to do
> that!
>
> So far as I've determined there are exactly 3 people in the "Linux"
> support area. Their skill level leads me to believe they were promoted
> from the Windows side rather than being actual Linux experts. Most
> issues I've talked to them about end up with something along the lines
> of "boot from Windows and run the following Windows utility". This
> even occurred when THEY shipped a Linux fix and said it was important to
> run it on their servers. The thing didn't work and on pressing them
> they told me to boot from Windows and run the Windows version. The fact
> THEY wrote the Linux thing didn't seem to make them feel responsible for
> troubleshooting it. Even once I figured out what was wrong with it and
> just sought confirmation for the change to the script included in what
> they shipped they simply just didn't bother returning my call.
>
> If it were up to me we wouldn't buy Dell computers for Linux any more.
> We certainly don't bother buying our Linux support from them any longer
> but go directly to RedHat for it. Unfortunately we still have to deal
> with their non-support for the original Dell RedHat servers we installed
> until that (non)support expires.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of
> Dow_Hurst
> Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2006 12:35 PM
> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
> Subject: Re: [ale] Monarch Computer
>
> James,
> Can't you use Dell with Redhat? I may reload SUSE on to the systems
> once we get them, but they are guaranteed to run with Linux. The
> support is good from my experience too. Of course, this is the
> Precision workstation line I'm referring to. I don't have much
> experience with the other systems they sell. The 20 Dimensions that
> were purchased for a Linux based molecular graphics labs have been
> supported well for hardware. You can request AMD CPUs from Dell now for
> clusters.
>
> TeamHPC did us well on our cluster. We've had excellent software
> support and never had to use the hardware support. I believe they sell
> individual systems that are multiprocessor. So, I can recommend them.
>
> For laptops, I like EmperorLinux since they have a good variety and have
> excellent support.
>
> My two cents,
> Dow
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: "James P. Kinney III" <jkinney at localnetsolutions.com>
> >Sent: Dec 29, 2006 10:04 AM
> >To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
> >Subject: Re: [ale] Monarch Computer
> >
> >One the one hand, the apparent death of Monarch is a loss. They were
> the
> >only quality builder that actively wanted to make Linux systems.
> >
> >On the other hand, their death is not much of a loss. As their customer
> >service has been in near freefall for the past several years, I have
> >been forced to go back to building my own systems. I have been looking
> >at adding systems building to my list of other thing I do for an income
> >but I keep walking away from it as being more of a hassle than I can do
> >successfully with the size of my organization.
> >
> >At the moment, I don't know of anyplace where I can spec a system and
> >have it run (or even get shipped with) RedHat, Debian, Gentoo, or
> >Slackware AND get great support after the sale.
> >
> >If anyone has some leads for a replacement for the Monarch of about 3
> >years ago, don't keep it a secret :)
> >
> >In the meantime, I guess I'll go back to evaluating at the business
> >model of building solid Linux systems again as the demand for them is
> >only going to go up once Vista hits the streets.
> >
> >If you think Gentoo runs slick on old hardware, you should see what it
> >does on new, fast hardware!
> >
> >On Fri, 2006-12-29 at 02:28 -0500, Vernard Martin wrote:
> >> The skinny on Monarch Computer is that they were purchased/merged
> with
> >> another company. I believe it is StarMax. That is the build/parts
> >> division of the same company that owns TigerDirect by the way.
> >>
> >> In the last couple of months, the company effectively has laid off
> most
> >> if not all of its employees with them given the option of going to
> work
> >> for the new company. They are over 40 days behind their standard
> holiday
> >> load and customers that are trying to get warranty help have
> basically
> >> been ignored. They removed their phone numbers from their web site
> >> recently if that is any indication.
> >>
> >> I used Monarch computer equipment to build a high performance cluster
> >> for the Rollins School of public health. Each node costs about $15K
> with
> >> the head node coming in at around $29K. We had a motherboard go out
> and
> >> it took us over two weeks to get it resolved and that was only with
> us
> >> physically driving the unit over to them and with me physically
> standing
> >> there helping them solve the problem.
> >>
> >> It is obvious from what I observed that the company is going through
> a
> >> transition that has effectively killed all of their credibility. I
> pity
> >> the company that tries to use their name in the future. My personal
> and
> >> professional experience with them is that they are no longer worth
> the
> >> effort to try to do business with them. If you have some equipment
> from
> >> them, then you are most likely never going to get any service on it
> in a
> >> timely fashion.
> >>
> >> Its sad since they used to be a fantastic company. Alas, all good
> things
> >> come to an end.
> >>
> >> If you want more info, then drop me a private email :-)
> >>
> >> V
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Ale mailing list
> >> Ale at ale.org
> >> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >--
> >James P. Kinney III
> >CEO & Director of Engineering
> >Local Net Solutions,LLC
> >770-493-8244
> >http://www.localnetsolutions.com
> >
> >GPG ID: 829C6CA7 James P. Kinney III (M.S. Physics)
> ><jkinney at localnetsolutions.com>
> >Fingerprint = 3C9E 6366 54FC A3FE BA4D 0659 6190 ADC3 829C 6CA7
>
>
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--
James P. Kinney III
CEO & Director of Engineering
Local Net Solutions,LLC
770-493-8244
http://www.localnetsolutions.com
GPG ID: 829C6CA7 James P. Kinney III (M.S. Physics)
<jkinney at localnetsolutions.com>
Fingerprint = 3C9E 6366 54FC A3FE BA4D 0659 6190 ADC3 829C 6CA7
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