I posted this once before, thought I would try again... Any suggestions?

Here is the scenario....

I have several middle tier (5 presently )app servers each maintaining
3 or 4 connections to a single database.

I could host the middle tier apps on 1 or more servers in a DMZ, and
leave the database on its own server, the configuration for which could
be about anything we choose.

I was thinking 1 or two small servers for the middle tier apps, a
separate single machine ( perhaps multiple processors if classic is
used) (1.5.3 BTW). in addition, in house, perhaps as many as 5
additional connections directly to the database ( not through the
middle tiers).

My question, is whether to use superserver, or classic in this
scenario? either way, define the hardware for the database server...
and perhaps the firebird.conf settings, in an optimal situation.

Virtually no limits to memory, machine, etc. other then I would
like to limit the cost of a new DB server to between 5k-10K US.

The database will be fairly high volume of inserts, and less frequently,
a few semi-nasty queries for reporting ( a few times per day).

So we are looking at between 15 and 25 simultaneous connections with
nearly constant activity on inserts/updates, and only 5 or 6 direct connections with only occasional
queries. (insert volume averages around 500-1000 records per minute, with occasional spikes up to 30,000 inserts per minute.

Suggestions?


Thanks,
Mitchell Peek