[ale] Monarch Computer

Sun Dec 31 03:49:28 EST 2006

Sorry about the Dell recommendation.  I just never think about going to the vendor for software support on workstations and rarely on servers.  The TeamHPC cluster is the exception to the rule.  They were fantastic and rebuilt the MPICH library for me with an update remotely in a couple of hours.  All I had to do was recompile my app to that lib and was in business with updated MPICH.

The hardware compatibility was what I was thinking about with the Dell Precision workstation line.
Thanks,
Dow

-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeff Lightner <jlightner at water.com>
>Sent: Dec 30, 2006 2:21 PM
>To: Dow_Hurst <Dow.Hurst at mindspring.com>, Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
>Subject: Re: [ale] Monarch Computer
>
>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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