Ian,
1. The RocketPort `16port serial /distribution/interface/breakout panel' you mention in your document is what exactly ? I looked on the Rocketport website and the rackmount interfaces all have RJ45 jacks, but your list of accessories mentions `DB9 Null Modem Cable Female to Female' which suggests DB9 at both ends. Also, I think we should be buying two 32-port panels to go with our two 32-port cards. So I think we need two of these:
http://www.comtrol.com/rocketport-multi-port-serial-cards/rocketport-infinity-express-interfaces/rocketport-32port-rj45-rackmount-interface
I will have my supplier get the RJ45 version of the patch panels and the associated cables. I think we can make an even swap so the totals will not change. I will contact RocketPort to talk to one of their tech support people.
2. In para 12 you mention `The software required to make the COMTROL Multiplexer operational'. What software would that be ? I did a brief search and the Linux kernel contains Documentation/serial/rocket.txt from which it appears that the Comtrol RocketPort is fully supported by an in-tree Linux kernel driver, so no other software ought to be needed. (For a userland test utility, I suggest the use of `picocom'.)
I was approaching this form a pure hardware point of view, independent of the OS supplied. I need to have a manufacture’s test program to prove to me the hardware is working as a stand-alone-device.
We can use the OS as the test software and make it perform once the OS is installed as an additional test set.
Also in Para 12 you mention some `CHIP SET/BIOS software identified in Exhibit A' but that isn't mentioned in Exhibit A. I assume you mean the BIOS. I suggest leaving the text and just deleting the reference to Exhibit A.
I was planning to use the built-in CPU tests on the chip set CD to test the hardware and memory. I will remove the reference to Exhibit A.
3.
> There is one HP AMD Server (Item 2 in Appendix A) that I am asking my
> supplier to re-quote it seems high.
Indeed. The DL385p that I had was about $4000 and your supplier is quoting about $5000.
There is a little profit in the price but I also questioned the base price because I also went to the HP site and could configure a server that was less expensive than what my wholesaler quoted. I told him to call HP and ask for a “Smart Buy” price. That is why the prices look better on the HP Site, they are quoting their own “SMART BUY” price. I am an HP reseller so I should be getting the best price. I will get back to you if there is any changes in the price.
4. Finally I had one practical point that I perhaps mentioned on the phone but can't find a record of having said in an email: we have a plan to host (at least) one 4U ARM testing chassis in this rack, along with the x86 machines. How much spare space is there going to be ?
In your list of equipment I see 4x 2U servers, 22x 1U servers, 2x 1U switches, 2x 1U Comtrol panel. That's a total of 34U leaving 11U of a standard 45U cabinet. So I think we have some space headroom.
I believe we can support another 4U Rack mounted server. I have to worry about Wire management, even if we use 1U
With 4 1U Wire Management Racks we will still have 3U left
> I am assuming that the Linus Foundation is a tax exempt organization
> in the US. I will need the 501(C)(3) documentation to prove the tax
> exempt status.
Wikipedia says the LF is a `California 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization'. I know very little about US tax law but I don't think that's quite the same.
Lars will be able to confirm the status.
This is not a problem and documentation that shows tax exempt status with a tax exempt number is working work for us. MA State Tax is 6.25% that is about $3,750.00 on 60K, we absolutely do not want t0 pay that.
> I can include a maintenance agreement, just verify for me the total
> number of hours a month you will require. The maintenance agreement is
> based on a yearly total so if we do not use the allocated hours in any
> one month it does not change the terms or the price of the agreement.
> I.E. 48 hour block time agreement is based on usage per year, although
> it is billed yearly in advanced or monthly in advance.
We do need a maintenance/consultancy agreement. My guess at the amount of your labour we'll need, post installation, is about 0.5 to 1 day per week.
Can we go with (say) 96 hours as a low-ball estimate for the number of hours in the first half of the year, and buy more as we need it ?
No problem, I can modify the maintenance agreement and send the corrected copy to you. I will list all the payment options the foundation can choose any option they want.
Paul L. George
PLG Enterprises, Inc.
All-Net Computer Solutions
42 East Main Street
Westborough, MA 01581
P: 508-898-9057
C: 508-450-9332
www.plginc.com
