Advice on Xserve , building ports

[Lastic]

As I regurarely build things from source or install new ports using Macports , it tends to become a tedious process.

My current process is to take a CarbonCopy clone of my current state on my PB G4 (2 hours) , then try to build something,
if it works all fine,no worries.
If it fails and has messed up a lot of system stuff, restore from the previous created image (2 hours).

Hence my consideration of putting an Xserve ( I have sort of a server closet/cabin outside , cool, no noise ) to use.
Also I could use it to host a site or try some other server stuff to teach me more about monitoring and could hook it up to my
network lab as a real host.

Anybody has any experience with running a build server , I could do it on my Powermac G5 also but that one sits in my living room and makes way too much noise when under load.

Should I consider a G4 Xserve so I'm matching the architecture (altough the processors are different off course between a PB G4 and an Xserve G4) ?
Or an G5 Xserve, also considered a iMac G5 since it takes up less space than my Powermac G5.

 

[AphoticD]

Instead of a full carbon copy, just copy or zip/tar your /opt directory to create an archive of your ports only. If you break things, delete the /opt directory and drop in your archived copy. It should only take minutes instead of hours.

Do many ports build as ppc64 on a G5 or are they all just ppc (32bit) binaries?

I have worked with an Xserve G5 and it was LOUD. Even under minimal load, it was much louder than the G5 towers. Maybe stick the G5 tower in the server cabinet and free up the living room. Unless you’re using the G5 for heating

 

[Mac03ForLife]

I would go with whatever works best for you both cosmetically and noise-wise. You should be able to make either of them work (A powermac g5, xserve g4, or iMac g5)

Happy MAC-ing!