qlogics fiber channel adapter

[skiflyer]

So I'm setting up a new server in our company.

I have the option to aquire an existing blade server, or to get a new box. The blade server is the preferred route, if feasible... but since I'm no linux guru, I have a couple concerns I was hoping you guys could address for me.

The blade servers have no hard drives, rather they use a Qlogics fiber channel adapter to access a hitachi SAN.

Good fine great, I know Linux can support such an adapter... but, not being a linux guru, am I asking for trouble? In other words, our SAN is mission critical, do I have the potential to wreak havok on it.

Or does someone simply have some good reading for me, I'm pretty stumped, and the IT department here is pretty heavily windows biased.

I'm leaning towards the separate stand alone machine right now to avoid the hassle, but would love to be able to just take the blade server and get it working properly if I won't be too far in over my head.

 

[ericbrunson]

You definitely have the ability to screw yourself hard in that scenario. Is it possible at all to put a hard drive in the blade server? Just a small one to hold the system and swap.

 

[skiflyer]

Probably, but I'd probably be better off getting myself a normal server at that point.

If you have a minute or two, could you elaborate and just how badly I screw myself (or someone else on the system)? The more I'm seeing, the more I'm leaning towards just buying a regular server.