R-community,
Sometime during the next 12-months, I plan on configuring a new computer system on which I will primarily run "R" and a SQL database (Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, etc).  My primary goal is to "optimize" the system for R, and for passing data to and from R and the database.

I work with large datasets, and therefore I "think" one of my most important goals should be to maximize the amount of RAM that R can utilize effectively.

I am seeking advice concerning the version of R, OS,  processor, hard-drive/storage configuration, database, etc. that I should consider. (I am guessing that I should build a system with lots of RAM, and a Linux OS, but am seeking advice from the R community.) If I choose Linux, does it matter which version I use? Any opinion regarding  implementing a commercially supported version from a vendor such as Red Hat, Sun, etc? Is any database particularly better at "exchanging" data with R?

While cost is of course a consideration, it is probably a secondary consideration to overall performance, reliability, and ease of ongoing maintenance/support.

Thanks!

       
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