> > Three processors with 1000MB of memory on the Dec Alpha 2100.  That's THREE
> > times the number of processors on the HP3000 and FOUR times the memory, for
> > LESS THAN ONE THIRD concurrent users.
 
In the context of which Dan Hollis replied:
 
> What wasn't elaborated on is what else the Alpha was doing. Is the application
> X windows based? (Eg is the alpha not only running the application but also
> serving X terminals?) How complex is the database on the Alpha? What language
> is the application written in? Is the Alpha doing anything else at the same
> time?
>
> Details, dammit! :-)
 
First, to answer Alfredo's earlier question, yes, of course we
use TurboImage to store our data on the HP3000 with a mix of
PowerHouse, HP utilities, and Adager (double of course) to maintain
the environment.  The user interface for the financial applications
was mainly terminal-based (or Reflection emulating terminals) via
COBOL programs.
 
Now, on the Alpha .... it is doing nothing more than ORACLE
financials.  No X-windows.  No nothing else.  Some client/server
access, but mostly telnet client from a VT terminal emulator.
Sure, the comparison smacks a little of 'apples and oranges',
but let us not loose sight of the business case--you take
the functions off MPE/Image and put them on UNIX/ORACLE and
it costs you .... a lot.
 
And let us also not forget that on the HP we only used less
than one-quarter of the CPU .... so the Alpha CPU is arguably
TWELVE TIMES what we were using before.  The memory is FOUR
TIMES the HP's--and it is doing nothing but serving the
financial apps, whereas on the HP the paltry 256MB served
(and continues to serve) over 200 users (typically 190
sessions and 16 jobs).
 
Ron
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