Topic: SME not keeping pace with hardware

[uwe]

I'm a long time user of SME and have recently been looking into new hardware to replace older servers. I've gone through the hardware compatibility list for SME 9.1 via the RHEL 6 compatibility list.

The end result of two days of searching has resulted in the following findings.

1. The old kernel doesn't work current generation motherboards.
2. The old kernel doesn't support new chip-sets (Skylake etc).
3. Compatible motherboards when available are end-of-line or no longer available.
4. If a compatible motherboard is found the CPU is end-of-line or no longer available.

SME 9.1's 2.6.32 kernel is now 8 long term releases behind the mainline and 4.4 mainline has just been released. Finding hardware to suit SME 8 or 9 is almost impossible and will continue to get harder over the months ahead.

So what can we do to bring SME in line with current hardware?

[Stefano]

just use certified hw from HP, IBM, DELL and so on
HP's microserver works flawlessy, and most of HP's products are certified for RHEL6 (SME9)
If you're working and not playing, creating your own server assembling hw pieces is not an option

[Daniel B.]

SME 9.1's 2.6.32 kernel is now 8 long term releases behind the mainline and 4.4 mainline has just been released.

Yes, RHEL kernels (as that's what we use in SME) are "old", but a *lot* of hardware support is backported (among other things). Any professional server will work out of the box with no issue at all. Don't look at the kernel version, it just doesn't mean anything.

[ReetP]

So what can we do to bring SME in line with current hardware?

As Daniel said, SME 9 is fine, but you can start helping with a newer version

http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_on_CentOS_7

http://bugs.contribs.org/show_bug.cgi?id=9189

[janet]

uwe

You might do better to ask your favourite computer store re which motherboards are compatible with SME9.1/CentOS 6.7
(see http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:9.1)
They should know if they are handling a lot of different boards.
They may even let you try SME out (install it) on any new machine they are building.
I personally see nothing wrong with using carefully selected components & having machines built for you.
It is difficult though to get reliable components that have any degree of longevity these days, so be prepared to pay a little more for better quality power supplies etc etc.

[Stefano]

I personally see nothing wrong with using carefully selected components & having machines built for you.
It is difficult though to get reliable components that have any degree of longevity these days, so be prepared to pay a little more for better quality power supplies etc etc.

that's why using certified hw coming from "big players" is a good choice (or the only one if we're talking about reliable production servers).. you know that the install will work without issues and you'll have no issues in the future.. moreover, all business class servers (even if very cheap like HP's microserver) are reliable and tested..

finally, when we choose hw we must think about time.. wasting hours to make something work in a unsecure/unreliable way is not a good thing, and the same in case of unexpected hw problems.. in other words: spending hours to find some piece iss't cheap as just buying one that works for sure

all IMHO

P.S.: using branded hw has the advantage of something like nbd warranty policy: paying a little more, you know that if a problem hw related arise (a failure), you have support in a day or two, even after 3 years (with no business hw it's quite difficult to find the same mb just 1 year after you bought it)