Mini server suggestion?

[Nameite]

Hi guys,

Now my company is quite small, only around 10 people and we dont have a proper server.

We have an aging P4 which is taking long to start sometimes so I proposed a new server.

What we need the server for:
File storage
Running our finance software

Now the IT guy from our friend's company says we need a proper 20k server which also does mirroring and auto backup or something.

Since this company is running on budget for now, I proposed a home PC with a celeron dual core E3200, 3 gigs of ram and a 1TB hdd on a G31 board with gigabit lan.

Is this a bad idea?

Any suggestions?

 

[ambo]

I would not put less that 3 hard drives with RAID5 into a server. If you were just storing files then I would suggest FreeNAS but that won't be able to handle your accounting stuff.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

A home PC as server should be fine, but I would strongly suggest that you look at RAID5 as a minimum. And a tape streamer for backups.

It is not a good idea to skimp on removable media storage (tape backups etc).

Should RAID5 not be an option, RAID1 (mirroring) should be.

Wiki on RAID : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels

Also, try to allocate as much RAM as possible to the server should you go for a software RAID.

There are also other add-on cards which can do RAID, but you have to be careful as the cheap ones implement a type of software RAID, and does not really offer a speed boost.

As an aside, most standard Linux distros (such as FreeNAS) will enable you to use software RAID instead of the more expensive hardware RAID solutions. Keep in mind that hardware RAID is optimized for speed though.

As for software Linux distros which can be used as a server :

freeNAS
SME Server (from Contribs.org)
ClarkConnect

The motherboard which you've specced seems to be adequate enough for the job.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Libs

 

[Conradl]

Definitely use RAID1/5. Don't worry too much about using a hardware RAID solution, it can cost around R4k and not necessary for 10 users - fakeRAID will be fine. What financial package are you using?

 

[Nameite]

Ok thanks for the feedback so far guys.

Just a few Q's from my side:
With Linux distros, how do I run a windows based accounts server?
If I get a motherboard that supports Raid 1, would that be fine too, whilst running windows (7?) and the accounts server.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I would look at getting a bottom of the range server from someone like HP or Dell...

Will set you back about R10k possibly but that comes with a 3yr onsite NBD warranty, if I remember correctly, and from a business perspective that is worth ALOT of money.

I'm running 2 HP ML110's at home as my servers and niether of them have ever given me a moments hassle... startup in next to no time and they're a dream to work on.

 

[greggpb]

This really depends on the finacial software you want to run... and hoe you want to run it.. "having the *.exe on a network share is not running an app on the server"

for file storage I would take the current p4 and throw in Freenas, 5 drives, 2 GB NIc's
then, if nessacary, a small spec pc to run the other software.

 

[Nameite]

Program is called UFIDA, always been running on the old P4 since like two years ago.
Data stored on D: drive, same physical drive as C, data is periodically backed up on a 500gig external drive.

What I want to achieve for the company is:
lower power consumptop and noice level, by not using the P4 and not an external drive.

Actually our time-capsule was out wireless storage, it feels like its packing up, and our old accounts server is getting really hard to boot up.
Many BSODs on start up, stabilizes after like 3 hours.

So instead of buying a new time-capsule or a new server, I want to work out a cost effective soultion for the company.

Since i'm in China, a 1TB time-capsule is around R1500, and an upgrade with the above mentioned components is also R1500.

Seems like the boss and MD likes my idea, but before I do it I would the advice from my fellow techies with more experience with servers in companies.

ps. the server will mostly serve as a database platform for accounts and only occasionally get large backups dumped on it.

 

[Spazmatic]

I Have to agree with ToxicBunny, I recently bought 2 ml110's set me back R2700 cost. They where having a big special

The servers are awsome, I have put 4x 750GB's Sata's in the one and running a Raid 10. Use this as my file server get great performance and reliability.

The second is a domain controller and exchange server, also nice and quick.

If you are willing to spend around 12K, You can get two ML110 G5's from HP and also throw in a few drives, memory and even upgrade the CPU if you feel you have to.

PS. I dunno if the special is still running, from what I understand it was only for 7 days.

 

[mh348]

@ToxicBunny & Spazmatic

I also have two ML110's, I need to add more RAM and setup RAID..

Which type of RAM should I get and do you have any links to guides on setting up RAID.

Running Server03.

 

[Beachless]

EDIT, just realized mh348 revived a 2 year old thread...

 

[ponder]

With Linux distros, how do I run a windows based accounts server?

UFIDA has linux/unix versions of their apps from what I have read. If you are not familiar with linux then it might not be such a good idea to go that route.

 

[PsyWulf]

This definitely was an old thread revival,i'd stab anybody recommending RAID5 (+fakeraid +Celeron CPU) and call them a madman