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96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

simbimbo.wordpress.com

11–20 of 159 posts

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#12

I wonder why all of the display backlights are on? I understand having the laptops open to stop them going to sleep without an external display, but I'd've thought you could turn the backlight all the way to "off".

Perhaps the light is on so that they can spot dead devices at a glance?

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#14
post #3

How on earth do you test retina displays when inside a server a rack? What are they doing here that can't be done with Mac minis?

No idea what they do, but they had a mac mini setup in the past: https://simbimbo.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/in-production/

- These systems run 24/7 in our Build and Test environment constantly building and testing the software we produce.

- Can you say who you work for?

- Sorry, unfortunately no.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#16
post #3

How on earth do you test retina displays when inside a server a rack? What are they doing here that can't be done with Mac minis?

Potential reason is that they need see how their tests affect screen burn. They mention they specifically need Mac hardware so this could be why they specifically need retina screens.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#17

That's an expense rack. If the average MBP cost $1500, that's a total of $144,000 in the one rack. They must have some serious reasons to create something like this.

For a full rack that's not a ridiculous price. Oracle will gladly sell you racks that cost in excess of a million.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#18

That's an expense rack. If the average MBP cost $1500, that's a total of $144,000 in the one rack. They must have some serious reasons to create something like this.

It would make sense to try the refurbished ones. I doubt you'd get 96 of the same model, though. http://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbo... Refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Pro 2.7GHz Dual-core Intel i5 with Retina Display $1,099.00 Save $200.00 15% off

Their requirements apparently include "i7 CPU’s, 16GB RAM" so I imagine the selection of refurbished and good enough is limited at best.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#19

That's an expense rack. If the average MBP cost $1500, that's a total of $144,000 in the one rack. They must have some serious reasons to create something like this.

That's not terrible. We have a couple of high end HP machines that are 4U and cost more than that each.

Re: 96 MacBook Pro’s in one server rack

#20

I wonder why all of the display backlights are on? I understand having the laptops open to stop them going to sleep without an external display, but I'd've thought you could turn the backlight all the way to "off".

Perhaps the light is on so that they can spot dead devices at a glance?

Yeah perhaps, but I'd've thought some software mechanism (regular pings etc) would be easy enough to offset the power / heat of having the backlight on. Although I guess backlights are just a few LEDs these days, so probably actually not too bad to keep on.
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