Will a server benefit our office?

[CataclysmZA]

Wow. Really wow.
Pastel evolution on a custom built Pentium.

Yup. Happens all the time I'm afraid. Most businesses aren't willing to spend incredible amounts of money on a server if they can help it. Considering what we've been told so far, OP's workload doesn't require a quad-core Xeon, or SAS SATA drives in RAID 5. Or Windows Server, come to think of it (the network uses well under 10 concurrent connections). Their use case is far too light to require that kind of money.

Let's take a business critical app and stick it on a matrix box with no warranty, no Onsite

I never suggested Matrix and if OP wanted options with that kind of hardware that I suggested, I would have provided a pre-built solution with On-Site support for, say, three years. I'm not a fool. I'd personally run computers that I've built myself for use in a business, but others would want better peace of mind.

and most of all a consumer ssd (unless you are referring to a 20k ssd with your Pentium?)

What's wrong with a consumer SSD? Why would anyone in their right minds suggest a SSD costing R20k for a butchery that only has three computers in use? Get off your high horse, please. Are you afraid of a few bit-flips? SSDs are just as reliable has hard drives these days, if not more, and there's little risk especially if one's data is backed up properly.

but our shared docs on a software based raid?

A software-based RAID array is far easier to recover data from than a hardware-based solution. Also, I suggested a mirrored array. Maybe you thought I recommended a striped setup?

OS of choice Mr server admin I am going to guess is Windows 7 for this "dial core server"? Lekker man lekker.

You don't need a Windows Server OS for this kind of work. Seriously. Although pricing isn't bad for SBS Server 2008 R2 with 5 CALs.

Why not just get an HP micro server and some Sbs.

SBS 2008 on a Microserver wouldn't be a bad idea, in fact I like it. It may bog down sooner as Sage adds more bloat to Pastel and other services are hosted on the server, but it would work well. I prefer mATX or ATX solutions because the components are far easier to replace. The warranty on a Microserver is 12 months walk-in anyway. I know it can be extended up to a three-year 24/7 warranty on-site warranty.

No idea how much those would cost. More than likely, it'll be something on the scale of the price of a new, hard drive-less Microserver G7.

I might sound like a d@@s but honestly, OP is looking to improve his situation. Posts like the above might make things run better now but give it a year and see what happens.

Having a fourth computer dedicated to doing the things OP already does on a regular desktop that's proving to be unreliable improves his situation massively. We don't need to change his software or his networking procedures or how he best finds a workflow with Pastel.

All anyone needed to do here was answer whether a server would benefit them and what he should begin looking for. I'd urge you to provide something similar so we can see what your thoughts are on the arrangement.

 

[CataclysmZA]

First, where can I buy these servers and components online, which online store is up to date, and priced good?

There are quite a few suppliers like Rebeltech, Wootware and Takealot which offer pre-built systems which may have an operating system included. If you prefer avoiding a custom-built system (nothing wrong with it at all) then a pre-built solution is the way to go, particularly because they're typically built to last a decent amount of time.

Take note that all hardware dies at some point, so this isn't an investment. It may save you money elsewhere and improve productivity, but computers never hold value or depreciate well.

Then, I googled this hp microservers yesterday afternoon. If I buy, I will get the best possible unit, because I've seen so many places and suppliers, always complaining about their systems, and I suppose it is server setups. So the last thing I need, is a system which hangs all the time, or goes offline all the time, things like that.

HP tests the Microservers they sell to customers and they're a decent quality for work use, so there's a slim chance of getting a dud. If you spec up the server right and don't load it with a million things it can't do at the same time (which won't happen in your situation, I guarantee you) then you won't have to worry about it. And we can help you with that. In fact, many of the ideas in this thread are pretty good and would suit your purposes. If you have stable ADSL, that simplifies things nicely.

Now, my next question, this server, it is a "box", with the motherboard and hard drives inside. Do I access it through say, my computer, or wherever I need to access it?

Yep, it'll be a regular mATX tower or similar which you'll put in your back office somewhere, or near your network routers/switches. You can leave it headless and only access it through remote desktop/Teamviewer, although I prefer leaving a keyboard, mouse and monitor connected up in case you need physical access.

Then also, say I need to o work at home, do I then log into that server from home? And if I can, will speed be a problem then?

Yep, you can do that too with Teamviewer or remote desktop. Speed usually isn't an issue because if you're on ADSL you won't be seeing higher upload speeds than 512Kb/s anyway. All that you need is a reliable internet connection. As Ipwn 4 mentioned, the suggestions in this thread to remotely host the Pastel database are what makes that an unsafe idea, because interacting with the database directly over a poor internet connection could introduce file corruptions into the picture. Its best just to have the database backed up (not hosted) regularly online (how you do this is up to you) and sign into the server when you're out of the office and need to do some weekend work.

 

[Ipwn 4]

My sig should say it all about the ridiculousness of Nag's advice. Was one of those moments where 1 persons laughs loudly and the calls the reset of the call centre around for a laugh.