A Server for a small company....

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Citizen86

Supreme [H]ardness
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Well, we have an import company here in Mexico, lot's of work done online, and right now we have up to 5 computers and laptops connecting to the receptionists computer as sort of the main computer and server. We actually have that computer holding all our core files, listings, prices, logos, editable label files, etc etc. It's I believe an e6320 with 2x500 gig hard drives, but every night the files get saved onto an external hard drive.

It seems to work okay, but can get a little slow, everyone connects wirelessly through a modem into the server, so we're considering getting all the computers hard-wired. But we're also thinking of getting a dedicated server, one that obviously our secretary won't be using also. Now I know desktop and personal computers pretty well, built a few in my lifetime, and am regular here and have been keeping up with new hardware, but servers are still a foreign field for me.

If I were to build a server for a small company such as ourselves, it wouldn't be like an internet server, but there are still large file transfers that happen usually daily. What type of server should I be looking at? Do we need a quad-core? 4 gigs of ram? Raided raptor drives?? etc etc. We have funds to build a decent server because we want it to be fast and last a while, so I'm looking for suggestions on what I can build here. We're not looking at thousands upon thousands of dollars to put towards this, but probably anywhere between $1000-2000 would be fine, and I'm sure we can put together a really nice one for ~$1500.

Thoughts and ideas?
 
You can build a "real server" for $2000. I don't know your current setup, but you will have to set up a full network as well (user profiles, passwords, etc.) Memory for a server class motherboard has error correction and costs a bit more.

You should get a socket 771 dual board just in case you want to upgrade. At least 4-8gb of fb ddr2 memory. A decent quad core 771 chip. A good server case with redundant power supply. A UPS for power problems, a gigabit switch to make the file transfers faster maybe gigabit nics for your laptops and pc's. A few drives for a reliable raid array. windows server is at least $400. It may cost you more.

This way you will get fast guaranteed throughput. If you don't want to go all out you can always find a dell for a good price. I am pretty sure they have offerings in mexico and you get tech support.

Other than that you could always just get a fast regular system.

quad core
4-8gb ram
dual gigabit nics
raid
gigabit switch

will cost less and be easier to administer for 5 people.
 
if all you need is a file server than upgrading the network will help alot. If you are having a hard time moving big files than its probably because you are using wireless and 100Mbps router. If you switch to a gigabit wired network it will move way faster.
 
Yep we're planning on getting wired soon because the wireless isn't working out well. Had a guy in here today to check it out and is going to be getting that done soon. We already have all the account passwords and everything set up on it. We might have to re-do all that on the new server, but oh well.

As for our server, I've been looking at one of the computer shops in the area, and this what I threw together off the top of my head.... prices are definitely not as good as in the States:

Case: Coolermaster Cosmos 1000
Hard Drives: 4x 74gig Raptor drives for Raid0+1
Motherboard: Gigabyte 965P-DQ6 (This has 8 Sata ports so should do us okay, and it's $230, only thing after that is Asus X38 boards which go for ~$350).
CPU: Q6600
Ram: Kingston 2x1gig PC2-6400. There is also a 2 gig stick of DDR2-5300 speed ram I can get. I figured that ram wouldn't be a huge issue for a server though, since we have so few people on it though. Could even go all the way up to 8 gigs if need be.
PSU: Coolermaster Real Power Pro 650Watt. Not much selection in the way of power supplies, but they have the 550 and the 750 watt version. I figure it won't be using THAT much power, so the 750watt might be a little overkill, and the 550 might be going over 50% usage all the time.
Video Card: Radeon HD3450 512mb PCI-E Sapphire

Unfortunately for all that, the cost comes to about $1500 give or take, total is $15,795 pesos. We do get to claim back 15% of the tax, but it's still a little pricey, and I haven't been given a budget yet, just that the boss wants a GOOD server. I think that could probably pull it's weight though. Might have to get a dedicated gigabit card though?
 
q6600 cpu
entry level intel server board with on-board vid/6 sata raid/gig nic.
4x 500GB sata raid 1/0 off the motherboard. (2 drives raid 1 is as fast as long as it is mostly reads and few writes)
4GB ram
Quality 600+ W powersuppy in a case with a lot of airflow.
................
I have used this system on networks up too 20 users as a file server with no issues.

Can use smaller drives if you need too save some money just make sure they are parallel recording and not 1/2 height drives. 16MB buffers help.
 
Shmuckety said:
if all you need is a file server than upgrading the network will help alot. If you are having a hard time moving big files than its probably because you are using wireless and 100Mbps router. If you switch to a gigabit wired network it will move way faster.
Click to expand...

i would think the harddrive is a bottleneck more then the network when multiple people connecting
 
Get a real server and don't do a custom built box from parts.
Take a look at entry level or mid-range Dell servers.

Business servers should not be pieced together from random parts like that.

There have been long threads about this in the Networking forum.

Also, a quad core CPU is pointless on a server.
You need fast drives and RAM.
 
Spartacus said:
Get a real server and don't do a custom built box from parts.
Take a look at entry level or mid-range Dell servers.

Business servers should not be pieced together from random parts like that.

There have been long threads about this in the Networking forum.

Also, a quad core CPU is pointless on a server.
You need fast drives and RAM.
Click to expand...

interesting as I get a custom builder too put together exactly that system for clients and have had far fewer problems than with dell servers.
I have been that for over 9 years now and my clients have had less issues than the ones that went with name brand servers.
The quad is future proofing as more applications are going server side support processes an e6600 would work as well for most things.
The truth is that today's cpus are far beyond what most people need in a simple file server, a duel p2 500, 1GB ram, 2000 server, 10k scsi raid, server is plenty for most networks up too 50 users as a file server. 2003 and 2008 server need 2GB, 4GB with exchange or sql server.
 
Just backing up to an external hard drive is not a good backup plan. You need multiple external drives or a good tape drive. And you need to be sending backups to an off-site storage facility.
 
To resurrect this thread....

I think a server like this would be decent enough for under 10 people on it, don't you?

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=8861828

1 ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
1 CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply - Retail
2 Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PDC24G6400LLK - Retail (8 gigs)
2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (Raid 1)
1 SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM
1 Tuniq Tower 120 P4 & K8 CPU Cooler - Retail
1 ASUS EN7300GT SILENT/HTD/256M GeForce 7300GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16

I think that would be a decently fast computer. I could put a small overclock on the CPU with probably no problem.
 
And BTW, I posted in this thread I made about the hard drives and backup, but in regards to backup, we can't really be sending gigs of information out via internet because we're limited in our uploading ability, but what we could do is have 2 external hard drives being swapped between the server and a safe every day or two, so if there is a robbery or fire or whatever then we will have all our files in the safe ready to be loaded up again.
 
Why are you guys recommending Dell servers? HP is the worldwide leader in server sells and there is a reason for that. I recommend just getting an entry-level HP.
 
1 ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Click to expand...

you dont use desktop boards for servers, that is nothing but a desktop.. and NEVER overclock a server, EVER! sure it may seems stable, but then who will take the fall when some file wont open because it got corrupted or something.....


i really will push and say if your building a server, use server grade items, there are reasons why they cost more, because they can run longer and handle the abuse that servers often take.

if you want to buy a desktop board, at least buy an intel , supermicro board, that dont have all the added crap you wont need or use and could cause stability issues.



Dell sells good servers also, sure HP may be the leader, doesnt mean Dell servers suck, we have soley dells at our office, from cheap $400 ones to $10k systems hosting our sites software applications,,, have all been flawless in over 8 years i have worked for this company, we still have an old dual slot 1 1Ghz dell server running strong.
 
I have a question.... maybe some of you will know. If I bought a Dell, but skimped a bit, only got 512mb of RAM and maybe a smallest hard drive... but then bought some decent RAM and the WD 640gig hard drives for RAID and threw those in... that shouldn't be a problem with Dell if I ever wanted tech support, correct?

I'm looking at the PowerEdge T300 (Mexican Website). If I did something like this.

Quad Core Intel® Xeon® X3323, 2.5GHz, 2x3M Cache, 1333MHz FSB
512MB DDR2,667MHz, 1x512MB Single Ranked DIMM
Onboard SATA, 1-4 Drives connected to Onboard SATA Controller - No RAID
Chassis with Cabled Hard Drive and Non-Redundant Power Supply
160GB 7.2k RPM Serial ATA 3Gbps 3.5-in Cabled Hard Drive

etc etc. Then bought 4x2gigs of RAM, and my hard drives. Good idea?
 
No, you can replace parts, but i would keep those spare ones around that came with it, because first things dell may ask is "did you change anything" and if you say yes, they will blame it on that, if you order that , create a small business account instead of how user, far better support.

the good thing will dell is you also get some warranty with it and they will replace, fix things, i think the basic is 1 year support.
 
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