Server advice :)

Hey there,
I am looking to buy/build a server, I don't know which one is better.
Building or buying? I know stuff about PC's, but learning stuff about servers

Anyway, place where I work are looking to upgrade... technology wise. We thought connecting the computers together and having a server database so everyone can access. What would I need set it up? (6 employees)

What do you Overclockerians recommend we buy/build?

 

Have a read through http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=1038347

I think the first thing you need to do is decide what you need the server to do/what your ultimately trying to achieve with it

 

I would not be building a server yourself. Buy a server from DELL/IBM/HP with a 5 year warranty. These days they do not charge too much of a premium.

The Dell T110 or T310 will suit your needs and they aren't very expensive.

 

What he said. I just bought a Dell PowerEdge T320 for a small office of ours. Was sub 5k (with 10TB of Disk) and its a great little server.

 

This but please engage the services of a company that specialises in IT for a company your size. The reality is, the terminology you use leads me to believe you aren't going to know exactly what you need and Dell are just going to sell you what they want to sell you.

Talk to a few businesses your size in your local area or industry. Find a company that they're happy with. Start a relationship with them.

 

Nowhere near as simple as it seems. Unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing, it's likely to result in an ugly (and often costly) drama.

Firstly what server database do you need access to?
Does it require anything like SQL to run? If so then how large is the projected databse size (because if it's too large you'll need to look away from Microsoft Small Business Server / Server Essentials and towards Windows Server instead).

How much storage do you need?
How much growth is projected in the companies future?

What other requirements / needs does your server have?
What is your backup plan?

If there is no need for SQL/MySQL/a windows based component in order to drive the database, then an HP ML110 with a decent amount of RAM and storage running Mitel SME Server (linux variant) is well worth a look and quite easy to maintain, install, and use.

 

We were thinking about getting Small Business Server and it's a SQL database

1-2TB
We don't plan on expanding ALOT, maybe just afew more employees if we can afford

With this server we are going to purchase we want to:
Print from all computers
Have better data and resource management through centralized storage
All users can access database (SQL)
Backup plan? not sure

How much RAM would I need? for 6 users

 

As much as;

The server can handle
You can afford

Its the cheapest and best upgrade going.

The way im seeing it having a quick look, you could get away with spending $3k and have 4 years onsite pro support with something from Dell or HP. Um with a max of say 10 users down the track 6-8TB would be fine so 2TB drives is fine and can anyone see a problem with holding most (if not all) of the SQL db in RAM alone?

 

Rack or tower server pc?

 

Go with Office 365 or similar and reduce your server requirements...

 

I wasn't kidding before. Hire someone. Here's why.

FYI, they've announced that product is discontinued. Why invest in something you don't know anything about, only have to learn 3+ new products when you can no longer buy them in a bundle with a wizard.

Have you actually performed any kind of growth analysis? I'd say not. You have zero idea how much space you're going to require in 6 months 1 year, 3 years (the average expected minimum life of the server). Is it going to cost you more to buy what you need now or later? Again, no idea right?

Really don't need a server for this, really don't want to be putting buggy printer drivers on your only server - if you can avoid it.

This sounds like marketing BS. What is the actual problem you're trying to solve?

Yes everyone can 'access a SQL server'.. but you haven't mentioned what database or front end application you're going to run on your "sql server". What are the requirements? Does it need fast disks? How many?

How long is a piece of string? There is simply no way to answer this question in isolation. 6 users.. doing what?!

If you don't know what your requirements are, how are we supposed to know?! It isn't like we can say "go rack, it's better!". Do you have a server room? Is it appropriately setup to cool a rack?

Consult with a professional who can analyse your requirements - including the ones you don't know about or understand - and you can get answers to these questions and the reasons behind the choices.

 

Not exactly. Windows Small Business Server 2011
But in order to get SQL he'll need to get the Premium Addon (which I believe means SQL CALs as well!).

You'd be bonkers to go live with Server 2012 at the moment and become a Microsoft guinnea pig whilst you help them sort out their bugs.

My customers won't be touching it / we won't be recommending it until at least 12 months in the marketplace, or the arrival of the first service pack.

Therefore Server 2011 is the best (current) bet. Or Server 2011 and downgrade to Server 2008 (if licensing allows).

That said I love Server 2008. It just works so well

Hmmm if setup correctly it shouldn't be a problem. Printer Management (using the Print Server Role), works really nicely in 2008.

Besides, being able to go \\SERVER and setup printers via UNC path name, or set them up via group policy is sweeeeet !

This is a fair assumption. Not to mention the projected size of SQL database.

Completely agree. If you don't know what you NEED to get, you should consult someone that gets paid to consult in IT.

 

2011 is still based on the 2008 R2 code base, there is no new version of SBS being released it will be Server 2012 Standard edition with connectors to Office 365

Seeing as Server 2012 wont be RTM for a month yet no one can really go live with it, why would you wait 12 months before recommending it and what are these bugs you are talking about? I have been using it since late October in a semi production environment last year and havent had many problems at all except drivers and things like that but these will be sorted out by now.