Server Guru's help please

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guest2013-1

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I have 4 servers (No I didn't set them up)


1 x Web Server
1 x Database Server (these two are live)
1 x ISA Firewall Server
1 x Dev Server

Now biggest problem I have with how the d00s set these up is that the 2 UPS' he got was for a normal desktop, as soon as the power goes the UPS gets pulled to death by the server (Initially found both live servers connected to 1 UPS even though there's 2)

This morning I found out that the Dev Server also acts as the DHCP server.

So, you're looking at 4 Servers that ALWAYS needs to be online. Even the crappy Dev one. If the firewall ***'s issues. If the Dev server needs a restart, entire office goes down etc.

Now they have wireless in here as well. It's not a 4 port wireless router come firewall thing. Just one of those silly jobbies that turns your network into a wireless hotspot thing.

There's also a crap load of cables (only God or Alah would know why) at the back which I can't seem to touch without breaking something else. It's a total and utter mess.

I'd like to sort this out for once and for all.

There's at least 3 network hubs plugged in back there (even though 3/4 of the office runs off wireless anyway) and we have 2 wireless hotspot thingies (we share the office with someone else)

Any advice on hardware I could purchase?

I'm thinking a 32 (or more) network managed switch (or unmanaged, whichever is cheaper) + a Netgear DG832G router which can act as the firewall / routing device / DHCP

This way I can get rid of 2 servers. (Or at least get rid of the firewall and keep using the dev machine as intended!)

Any other bright ideas? Need hardware specifics here.

Thanks
 
wireless hostspot = Wireless AP or Wireless access point.

Sound like you have a lot to do and to help you in a forum would take forever. Do you want to get rid of the servers? Why not just get beter UPS's. It will go a lot faster and will be less work as well.
 
I wouldn't suggest ditching the ISA server, as that thing is far more powerful than any ADSL router can hope to be, and has far more features for logging and control.

Managed switches are fairly cheap, so long as you don't go for gigabit speed. That's when the price tend to climb.

Also, get more powerful UPS devices, and after things are more stable, you can look at consolidating roles.
 
At my previous company I had 3com 24port gig switches and I paid like R7k for one. :D

Edit : Non=manageable obviously :o
 
I have ISA server 2000. It's a pain in the ass really. I don't really mind not having control, actually, I have had better control working on a router firewall than I have with this thing... it truely is a nightmare setup this.

I'd like to sort out the network so that it doesn't have all the cables and **** in one place like it has now. I need to sort out the VOIP phones here as well. It really is a mess. I guess step 1 would be better UPS units.

Step 2 would be switches. I can then possibly install the switches we currently have at seperate points in the office giving everyone "hardline" access to everything instead of using wireless.

Actually, would prefer cutting wireless access entirely. But yea, would have to check the office a bit.
 
48 Port DLink gig switches are under 8K these days. I purchased one for our office recently at around 7K.

If you're going for a decent quality ADSL router look at the Draytek Vigour 2820n, I have one and they're brilliant.
 
@ AcidRazor

ISA 2000 is older than I expected, so maybe you can get away with it then. You are right, it is a complex beast, but it works well when configured right. It seems you don't have the time to mess with that now, so rather make things simpler for yourself and work with what you know.
 
@ Acid - If you don't like the complexity of ISA Server 2000, then you can always look at Smoothwall... plus it's got a built-in DHCP server as well.

Feels your pain... good luck with sorting that mess out.
 
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