For the following five exercises, you will go to www.dell.com or some other online computer vendor’s Web site. You will then specify and configure a bastion host server by evaluating the component described in each exercise. If using the Dell site, start by selecting For Public Sector, then Higher Education. On the left-side menu, select Servers under Systems, then click the green button labeled Choose under Rack Servers. You will see several variations of PowerEdge Rack Servers. Print out your configuration when you are finished with all five exercises.
1. Processor: Review all the servers listed and identify the two major processor vendors used by Dell in its PowerEdge servers. Identify the three most common processors from each vendor and compare their capabilities. Use a search tool to locate these processor manufacturers’ Web sites and find a complete description for each processor. Which would you prefer if cost were no object? Which seems to be the “best buy”?
2. Memory: Identify the range of memory size and type. Repeat the process for Exercise 1 and identify the top two vendors and the top three memory configurations for each of those vendors. Research the characteristics of each. What type and amount of memory would be your selection if cost were no object? What memory do you consider the best buy?
3. Hard Drive: Here, you have to determine two major components: configuration and drive size/speed. What different hard drive architectures do you find? Research and describe each drive configuration. Which do you prefer and why?
4. Hard Drive Size: Repeat the process of identifying top two vendors and top three models from each, then compare them. What if money were no object? What is the best buy?
5. Specify the bastion host: Pull it all together. Select the PowerEdge 2970 (or current comparable system) and customize it with the options you have selected above. What other options must you choose from? Using the “best buy” option, identify each option you would select, and write a brief description of why you chose that option. Print out your configuration when you have completed this exercise.