Webserver Firewire vs Ethernet?

tsmmos2 · 02-15-2008, 06:34 PM

Hello, we are looking to get a couple of Xserves. One would be a webserver with an IP and another would be a database server. We are looking to either connect the two servers together via gigabit router and gigabit ethernet, or via Firewire 800.

Basically the web Xserve needs to post and read to the database on the second Xserve. We have been told that it might be better to go via Firewire for speed and efficiency even though it is only ~800mbps compared to 1 gigabit.

Does anybody have any suggestions on networking two Xserves, if you don't want one of them available on the internet with their own IP?

giskard22 · 02-16-2008, 04:57 PM

The problem with using IP over Firewire is it often precludes you from using the Firewire bus for anything else. Apple even has a kbase article that says doing other things with Firewire while making heavy use of IP over Firewire can cause the system to crash.

I've found IP over Firewire to be VERY fast for doing file transfers, but I don't know about database traffic.

The other issue is that ethernet networking is a known quantity, and you can easily troubleshoot it or switch to another port if you have a hardware problem.

02-15-2008, 06:34 PM	#1
tsmmos2 Prospect Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 29	Webserver Firewire vs Ethernet? Hello, we are looking to get a couple of Xserves. One would be a webserver with an IP and another would be a database server. We are looking to either connect the two servers together via gigabit router and gigabit ethernet, or via Firewire 800. Basically the web Xserve needs to post and read to the database on the second Xserve. We have been told that it might be better to go via Firewire for speed and efficiency even though it is only ~800mbps compared to 1 gigabit. Does anybody have any suggestions on networking two Xserves, if you don't want one of them available on the internet with their own IP?

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02-16-2008, 04:57 PM	#2
giskard22 Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,272	The problem with using IP over Firewire is it often precludes you from using the Firewire bus for anything else. Apple even has a kbase article that says doing other things with Firewire while making heavy use of IP over Firewire can cause the system to crash. I've found IP over Firewire to be VERY fast for doing file transfers, but I don't know about database traffic. The other issue is that ethernet networking is a known quantity, and you can easily troubleshoot it or switch to another port if you have a hardware problem.