Unix Server Question 1

[shannanl]

First off I know nothing about Unix. I have a Unix server, a HP LH-4 running Unix. I need to add memory. It currently has 256, I need to at least double it. It is running a hospital information system (h.i.s.). The his company monitors it and told me that it is low on memory. They want over $900.00 to add 256mb of ram. They told me it was SDRAM. I am not sure what speed (PC-66, 100, etc). I am quite comfortable with Windows comuters. I have actually built from scratch 3 raid-5 Windows 2003 servers that we use. I am being told by the HIS people that they have to run a utility to reset the kernel and some other stuff when the ram is upgraded. As I said, I know nothing about UNIX. Is this something I can do? I hate to pay them this much money for something that should only cost a fraction of that.

Thanks in advance.

Shannan

 

[fredericofonseca]

What is the exact machine configuration, and what Unix vendor/version are you using?.

Depending on the Unix version you may need to change some Kernel parameters, but you may be able to do this yourself.

Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[shannanl]

I have no idea on either question. I don't even know how to find this out. By machine configuration do you mean the actual physical configuration such as mirrored disks, etc?

Thanks,

Shannan

 

[fredericofonseca]

The LH-4 has several models. and it can even be a LH-4r.

I think the memory type is the same for both, but I would need to check up.

For 256MB (4 * 64), as this machines are a 4 * 4 bank, the retail price for brand new Kingston ir around 200 UKP plus delivery. well below your $900 (if these are USA dollars.)

as this is an intel machine you will probably have one of the following.

SCO OpenServer
SCO Unix
SCO Unixware
Linux

but we really need to know what OS vendor and version.

try and do a uname -a or uname -x or uname -X and give us the output of all of them (that work).



Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[shannanl]

I does just say Netserver LH-4 on the outside. I tried the uname with the -a -x and -x parameters and they all returned a illegial option error. I tried -s and it gave me a return of 5000.

Shannan

 

[fredericofonseca]

try all the following individually.

uname -aAmnrsvX

and if the above fails try
uname -- (two "-")


And what messages do you get when you login to the system?




Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[fredericofonseca]

and try "man uname" to see options available on your Unix version.

Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[alexhu]

First off I know nothing about Unix.........I hate to pay them this much money for something that should only cost a fraction of that.

You stand a good chance of completely breaking it (and end up paying someone to dig you out of the hole) for the sake of $900

If I was you I would get them to do it - then they are responsible

Alex

 

[piperent]

I tend to agree with Alex, but then I also think $900.00 (of any type of currency) is way over priced for a simple 256K SDRAM memory upgrade. That being said, for a *nix neophyte to try re-configuring a kernel would be about as smart as a first year med student performing open heart surgery. If you want to keep that system up and running, call those folks, pay the money, get it done right. Then you absolve yourself from the 'whose fault is it' syndrome, when problems arise somewhere in the future (and they will). Worry about learning the *nix internals later.


Good Luck

JP

 

[shannanl]

I agree with you guys. I was mainly wanting to find out if they were just trying to take advantage of my or if there would actually be configuration changes needed. It appears by your posts that the changes are needed and as I know nothing about that, $900.00 is a small price to keep our main server running.

Thanks for your posts.

Shannan

 

[mrregan]

as long as you are adding 256, why not more? It sounds like most of the money is for the labor anyway.

 

[fredericofonseca]

Shannan,

As I said before you MAY NOT NEED TO DO ANYTHING to the UNIX kernel. Some OS versions do not require it, and some of those that require a change is type of "change BUFFERS=128 to BUFFERS=256", hit save, click yes twice and reboot.

And installing more memory is something you should be able to do.

If you are able to tell us which OS it is, then we may be able to advise you further, and this may eventually go through pointing you to someone that won't charge you as much.

Eventually you may ask the "HIS company" and ask them how much they are charging for the memory, which brand it is, and how much they charge for install and configuring the Unix bit, making sure the install bit remains the same even if they do NOT supply the memory.

Then see if it is worthwhile getting the memory somewhere else.

http://www.memory.com

has it (256MB = $263.60)
so has transcend

http://ec.transcendusa.com/product/ItemDetail.asp?ItemID=TS256MHP6112

(211 + tax)


Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[piperent]

I don't think so. They have this priced for profit, plus, they have you between a rock and a hard spot (darned if you do, darned if you don't type of deal). Make the change yourself, and if anything goes awry, shame on you because they are really going to gig you on the repair cost. Have them make the change with more memory, and they're just going to up the price. Basically, they got you. So, you just do it and get over with, then go on about your business.

 

[edfair]

There would be nothing wrong with finding what OS version you really have and asking further questions.

It is possible that your supplier, knowing that they have you by the short hairs, is using this as an alternative to having to work for a living. Doesn't have to be, but if it is, wouldn't you like to know it.

Can you get root access, and do you know how to shut it down and boot it up?

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[shannanl]

uname --" returns "\5000". That is the only command that I have tried (from the suggestions above) that returns a value.

I do know how to login as root but I can't shut it down because it is running our main system. I do know how though.

Thanks,

Shannan

 

[fredericofonseca]

Did you try "man uname"?

And what messages do you get when you login?

You can also look at /etc/rc2.d, and /etc/default and files within to see if there are any with an indication of what OS you are dealing with.

Also and assuming you have the commands try and do

strings /unix|more (where /unix may eventually be on /boot/unix.

Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[piperent]

Just to clarify. You asked "is this something I can do?". With little or no knowledge of either the OS or the Application internals, the answer would be "I'd advise against it". The reasoning is based on the following: A) Unix is a rather complicated operating system for even an experienced tuner to tinker with. Many parameters are dependent upon the settings of others, therefore, change one and you also may need to change others to keep the system load balanced. B) Many applications (especially those based heavily on database architecture) are tightly coupled to the system tuning parameters. To optimize one without knowledge of how it affects the other could be devine or devastating. That is why 'SCO' asks at installation - 'Will this machine be used for large databases?', and why they automatically re-tune the kernel when you add additional user licenses.

It's easy enough to pop open the case, add another memory stick, and boot it back up. You could do that and it will fire back up and take off like a champ. But, whether or not the Application takes advantage of that increase is what 'H.I.S.' is mostly concerned with. That is where the tuning comes in, and that is most of what they are charging for.

I hope you see where I'm coming from here. You'll find some answers here, some will come from other places, but if you want that change done now, it's better to let people in the know make the modification, because your employer is depending on that system to be functional and sound.

JP