Re: AS/400 vs PC as a server

For a paradigm shift some people may want to check out the Client Server
Labs site at
www.cslinc.com.  Their benchmark may help shatter some illusions and also
give you an idea on the scalability of the AS/400.....

I quote:

"RPMark95 is a comprehensive, client/server performance benchmark that can
be used to measure the performance of virtually any component within a
client/server environment. RPMark95 is characterized by OLTP, Decision
Support, and PC File Serving loads running simultaneously in a
client/server
environment. This test of balanced system performance closely approximates
the actual computing environment of companies today, and it provides
helpful comparative information for end users."

The AS/400 server models do very well in this arena:


         AS/400 Extends RPMark95 Performance Leadership
                          Client Server Labs

 AS/400 once again extends it leadership position in the Client Server
 Labs RPMark95 performance benchmark.  This key multi-application
 performance benchmark has become a hallmark for measuring client
 server multi-user and multi-application commercial environments.
 The previous leading RPMark was held by AS/400 Mod 50S, Feature #2121
 uni-processor since Feb '96 (485.40 RPMarks, $196.48/RPMark).

 AS/400 Model 53S, FC#2155 (2-way) shatters the old RPMark with a new
 performance level of 722.40 RPMarks at $156.24/RPMark.

 Nine other vendors, reporting over 30 tests, using even the latest 4-way
 Intel based 200 MHz Pentium Pro processors have not beaten the AS/400
 Mod 50S uni-processor and continue to show less than 6-8% scalability
 between their one to four way processor configurations.  The AS/400
 Model 53S FC#2155 has raised the performance bar 150% above the nearest
 competitor for raw performance in this multi-application benchmark.

               REAL WORLD MULTI-APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT

 The "client/server computing" environment tested uses distributed
 applications, OLTP, Decision Support and File Serving Office Automation
 to stress various system components that model the loading on C/S in
 real-world environments. The results of the 3 applications are then
 reported using the geometric mean of the test suite results.  The
 RPMark95 test is designed to approximate the workload which might
 typically be placed upon a multi-user server by 150 users operating
 simultaneously.

 The RPMark95 test suite includes the following tests:

  1. OLTP Application - primarily the new order portion of TPC-C BM
  2. DSS Applications - 5 query types from TPC-D BM
  3. FS/Office Applic - includes Harvard Graphics, Lotus 1-2-3, MS Word,
                        cc:Mail, Freelance Graphics


  Now, the reality is the AS/400 isn't perfect and the PC servers can
                        compete quite well in other areas.
  However, I would suggest that anyone who says the AS/400 doesn't do
                        client/server or is expensive
  that they take a look at these reports........


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