I’ve attempted to summarize the discussion of build options for the repository-surgery machine. You should see a link at the top of the page: if not, it’s here
I invite all the commenters who have shown an interest to critique these build proposals. Naturally, I’d like to make sure we have a solid parts list with no spec conflicts before we start spending money and time to build this thing.
As the Help Stamp Out CVS In Your Lifetime fund has received $965 and I said I’d match that, even the Xeon proposal is within reach. Though I don’t mind admitting that I wasn’t expecting to have to match quite so much generosity and the thought of spending $900 on the machine makes me swallow a bit hard. If the gentleman who instigated the Xeon proposal is still willing to toss a couple of bitcoins at it, I won’t be too proud to accept.
Plans are not yet final, but John Bell (who started this party with his $100 “Get a real computer, kid!” donation) says he’s eager to do the build at his place in Toledo. Then he’ll haul it out here and we’ll do final installation and system qualification, probably sometime in mid-November.
I’ve already had one nomination for the next CVS mammoth to get speared: Gentoo. I’ve sent an offer but seen no response yet. NetBSD is definitely on my list. I’ll cheerfully accept suggestions of other deserving targets.
Not to forget that I do Subversion repositories too. I’ve actually converted more of those than CVS ones, I think – Battle For Wesnoth, Hercules, Roundup, and Network Utility Tools are the ones that leap to mind.