"Cheap" HP Moonshot with 128 nodes

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Patrick

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Check this one out: HP MOONSHOT CS100 Chassis with 32 x Proliant M700 Server Cartridges 32GB RAM

$20,000 seems like a lot, but from the pictures it appears to have the switches and uplink modules included. Still, if you just need cheap nodes with 8GB ram and an integrated GPU, they are at least interesting. Here is the M700 guide: http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA4-9883ENW.pdf

I was thinking about buying these and offering them as $20/mo dedicated servers (or something like that) backed by shared storage.

If you wanted to add more nodes, the cartridges are $315 ea with / 32GB: HP 734012-001 Moonshot M700 1.5GHz 32GB Ram Cartridge 733745-001
I think these also would work $245 ea: HP 764974-001 Moonshot M700 Server Cartridge X2150 1.5GHz 32GB RAM 731137-001

Getting all 12 of those cartridges as well would be $135.11/ node.
 
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jpk

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Ha! You totally want to be one, you just have the restraint not to become one! :)
 

dba

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Check this one out: HP MOONSHOT CS100 Chassis with 32 x Proliant M700 Server Cartridges 32GB RAM

$20,000 seems like a lot, but from the pictures it appears to have the switches and uplink modules included. Still, if you just need cheap nodes with 8GB ram and an integrated GPU, they are at least interesting. Here is the M700 guide: http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA4-9883ENW.pdf

I was thinking about buying these and offering them as $20/mo dedicated servers (or something like that) backed by shared storage.

If you wanted to add more nodes, the cartridges are $315 ea with / 32GB: HP 734012-001 Moonshot M700 1.5GHz 32GB Ram Cartridge 733745-001
I think these also would work $245 ea: HP 764974-001 Moonshot M700 Server Cartridge X2150 1.5GHz 32GB RAM 731137-001

Getting all 12 of those cartridges as well would be $135.11/ node.
Not a great price. You can get a version of this with 15 cards (cartridges) for just $3-5K on eBay. Look for HP part number G3T52A or G3T51A, both of which include the chassis, power supplies, management card, dual network switches, dual uplink boards, and 15 M700 modules (60 tiny CPUs total). G3T51A is 32GB SSD per, while G3T52A is 64GB. Buy 15 more cartridges to match the $20K auction, and you are still under $7K.
 
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Patrick

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@dba - G3T52A HP CONVERGEDSYSTEM 100 HDI CHASSIS PERFORMANCE STARTER KIT very interesting indeed.

I did not see any for $3k.
 

dba

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@dba - G3T52A HP CONVERGEDSYSTEM 100 HDI CHASSIS PERFORMANCE STARTER KIT very interesting indeed.

I did not see any for $3k.
Actually, that's because I ended up buying the $3K one on a whim. I always wanted to play with a Moonshot system, and I hope to make it cost effective by retiring about 30 smaller AWS instances used for development - those instances that everyone just can't do without but that sit around doing nothing most of the time.

Or maybe they'll come out with Xeon-D cartridges, and I'll put it into production? Or maybe I'll just resell it if it doesn't work out.

Some info: Fragmentation Needed: HP Moonshot - Stuff I Wish I'd Known
 

Patrick

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@dba darn you! Ha let me know if you do sell it. I would love to do some STH content with one.

The reason I was looking at these is basically to replace that virtual desktop I provisioned for you with bare metal ones. Better jumping point for the DemoLab since it gives you a local connection.
 

dba

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@dba darn you! Ha let me know if you do sell it. I would love to do some STH content with one.

The reason I was looking at these is basically to replace that virtual desktop I provisioned for you with bare metal ones. Better jumping point for the DemoLab since it gives you a local connection.
They cancelled my order, saying that someone else bought it. To be clear: I bought it on eBay at midnight and they cancelled my order before I had time to enter payment info in the morning, even after I emailed them to say that I would enter payment in the morning . Talk about bad business behavior.

The seller is Core 4 Solutions in MN - avoid. They have earned themselves negative eBay feedback and a BBB complaint.
 
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Patrick

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wardtj

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The switch modules are expensive. For example, with the M700's you would use: HP Moonshot 180G Switch Module 712692-001
40GbE Uplink: 712694-001 - Moonshot 4-QSFP+ uplink module - Includes four 40Gb QSFP

Also add in more money for the PSUs and uplink ports and it will take a lot of time and money to get these going.
Remember the WW2 stories of GIs shipping Jeeps home part by part? I've been doing that here.

You have to be patient and watch. There are deals they just take forever since only now the first ones are coming off lease (2013 release)

I know many Moonshots where deployed into hyperscale HP customers in the US on demo or for big compute needs, so I do expect more to come in the fall or winter.

I've seen deals on the chassis, it's just the switches that are hard to find. Considering these where 15k CAD new loaded with 45 cartridges 20k US is a rip off.

HTH
 
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dba

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...

I've seen deals on the chassis, it's just the switches that are hard to find. Considering these where 15k CAD new loaded with 45 cartridges 20k US is a rip off.

HTH
Anyone who got a fully loaded CS100 for $15K Canadian got one heck of a deal. Here is a quote from the 2013 release:
"That solution, the Converged System 100 for Hosted Desktops, combines 45 ProLiant m700 server cartridges with integrated graphics prepackaged to run 180 hosted desktops. It has a list price of $137,999, or well under $1,000 per hosted desktop, Gromala said.
See HP Releases Moonshot-Based Hosted Desktop Solution, New Moonshot Modules
 

Patrick

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@dba - I watched a few videos of these just to watch the HP marketing folks describe the desktop performance.

I have a feeling these are going to be really close to the AMD Athlon 5150 in terms of performance. AMD Athlon 5150 Benchmarks and Review – AM1 APU

The 100MHz step down from 1.6GHz on the Athlon to the 1.5GHz on the Opteron is likely noticeable given low clock speeds and low core counts.

With the GPU it might be passable.
 

wardtj

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Anyone who got a fully loaded CS100 for $15K Canadian got one heck of a deal. Here is a quote from the 2013 release:
"That solution, the Converged System 100 for Hosted Desktops, combines 45 ProLiant m700 server cartridges with integrated graphics prepackaged to run 180 hosted desktops. It has a list price of $137,999, or well under $1,000 per hosted desktop, Gromala said.
See HP Releases Moonshot-Based Hosted Desktop Solution, New Moonshot Modules
Years ago when I was at HP, discounts on these where attainable for enterprise customers. I was at a HP event with one of the 1500 series and we gave 15k as the ballpark for the unit loaded up. Support, services, etc drive the total price up. No one ever pays list..if you are a HPE enterprise customer that 137k is VERY high to pay:)
 

frogtech

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85% discount is pretty high even on enterprise hardware.

As an update - ETA Wednesday. It is on a pallet and 200lbs so it is going directly to the data center.
Have you been keeping up with your squats and deadlifts? :D