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Building a $1000-1200 server..

O

oli84

n00b
Joined
Jun 28, 2004
Messages
4
Can someone help me with this? This is for a file-sharing/print-sharing/all-around server, and it won't be heavy duty.

The only requirement I guess is that it be an Intel system, have RAID and a gigabit NIC. As for graphics card, it doesn't need anything really fancy.

Thanks in advance.
 
What is your budget? Since you won't be doing anything very processor intensive, a nice P4 system would do good, as would even a P3. Hardware or Software RAID, and what interface (IDE, SATA, SCSI)?
For a gigabit NIC, get an Intel Pro 1000 MT, hands down the best
 
So what's this for, a home server?

I'm thinking that a nice Intel mobo with CSA-linked GigE (D875PBZ comes to mind) would be more than adequate on the networking side. Throw in a 2.4C and some RegECC RAM (512MB or 1GB should be enough, doesn't sound like anything intensive going on) and you're set. Servers don't need to be real beefy on the CPU/RAM front, at least not the sort in question.

What sort of RAID are you talking about? Basic RAID1, or fancypants RAID5?
 
Thanks for the quick replies.

I'm not sure what exactly the RAID types are (sorry newbie to this), but its the one with redundant data storage. Would that be RAID1?

I have SATA interface planned, to serve up the data fast.

It's for a small business, with about 15 computers simultaneously using it. Using mainly peachtree accounting as the data being served.

What kind of a mobo would I need? Do I still need an Intel 875 chipset or would 865 do?

Budget is $1000-$1200, but if a lower specced, and lower priced machine can do it then it would be better.
 
Mirrored (redundant) is raid1. Mirrored & striped is raid 5. The server at a small business I work with runs raid1.

Is this server just going to do the file & print, or is it going to serve the database for peachtree as well?
 
Both raid 1 and raid 5 are redundant. Raid 1+0 is mirrored and striped. Raid 5 has a parity drive.

I built a cheap server here at work for that same budget. I used 2 160GB SATA drives with raid 1. I used an official Intel motherboard an 865PERLL i think. The motherboard came with an old bios that wouldn't let you install Win2000 on the raid. A quick bios flash fixed it right up. So far, the system's been running about a month without a single crash.
 
I have to affirm what DocSavage said - Darkstar is incorrect on the RAID5. ;)
RAID0 is striped - no redundancy little or no performance gain. RAID 1 is mirrored - you lose half of the storage in the array to failsafe, but it's VERY reliable. RAID 0+1 and RAID 10 are striped mirrors and mirrored stripes - and can make sense in applications with a need for data integrity and sustained throughput (High end video editing). RAID5 is the best all-round solution for 3+ disks in an enterprise setting because you get redundancy, good leveraging of storage, and expandability (You only ever lose one drive to parity info, and RAID5 arrays can be expanded by adding extra disks [depending ont eh controller]).

RAID1+RAID5 is the best for reliability (os on a RAID1 array, Data on a separate RAID5 array)- but would be hard to pull off on your budget. I really think you'll be happier with SCSI in the long term (again budget restricts this). your best bet is to get something with a 2Ghz or better Proc, 512-1GB of RAM - and spend the rest of the budget on a real hardware RAID5 controller (3ware makes a good SATA controller) and Disks. Make sure that all the disks in an array are the same kind. Redundancy, Space, Cost - pick any two.

For your server load (15 users) 7200 RPM SATA disks will be okay - but you don't get the Hot swap capabilty of SCSI. How much storage do you really need? A set of RAID1 74GB Raptors will probably suffice for your data needs, are pretty fast, and fairly cheap (in the grand scheme).


2 74GB Raptors ~$400
Real RAID Controller ~ $300
Mobo, proc, RAM ~ $400
Integrated video, sound, and NIC = 0

Reliability is your # one concern and for that a dedicated RAID controller is HUGE. We've got a server that used software RAID1 and getting it back from a failed Array state has been a bitch.
 
I'm thinking that simple RAID1 but hardware based will be enough for our needs.

This computer serves the peachtree database, and I failed to mention previously that security cameras in the office feed into this computer so it will have to handle continuous feed from these cameras. The only time that it actually stores footage into the hard disk though is when movement is detected on those cameras.
 
Do you have anything performing these functions currently, or is this a new setup? (or are there seperate servers for different functions?). Is this machine also going to be a DC (or is it going to be a workgroup setup)? 15 simultaneous users hitting a database may be alot at times for a single P4. Make sure you get plenty of RAM for sure.
 
Darkstar850 said:
Do you have anything performing these functions currently, or is this a new setup? (or are there seperate servers for different functions?). Is this machine also going to be a DC (or is it going to be a workgroup setup)? 15 simultaneous users hitting a database may be alot at times for a single P4. Make sure you get plenty of RAM for sure.
Click to expand...

Good point. Ram is key if you want to maintain a fluid system serving multiple tasks. Get 1GB minimum. I'd get a P4 2.8C or better processor as well.

Also, you need to get them to increase the budget to cover a backup system. Just because you have redundant drives doesn't mean that some other failure couldn't hose everything...
 
DocSavage said:
Good point. Ram is key if you want to maintain a fluid system serving multiple tasks. Get 1GB minimum. I'd get a P4 2.8C or better processor as well.

Also, you need to get them to increase the budget to cover a backup system. Just because you have redundant drives doesn't mean that some other failure couldn't hose everything...
Click to expand...

Yup, plenty of RAM. And I really recommend tape backup units. You may want to detail again exactly and everything you want this server to handle. It seems like it needs to be able to do many different things simultaneously. A business with at least 15 employees should be able to and want to spend a little more than 1K to get a good server.

I just put the following system in for a small business with 6 concurrent users. It may be slightly more than they need at the moment, but it gives them room to expand, and they have an extremely large inventory database to handle. The new system hasn't gone live yet, so I don't know how easily it handles the load.

2.8ghz Xeon (Dual capable motherboard for future expansion)
2x512 PC 2100 ECC Ram (Upgradable to 4 DIMMs)
2x36.7 GB 10k SCSI HD
Hardware Raid1
20/40 GB SCSI tape drive
1 gig-e NIC (LAN), 1 10/100 NIC (WAN)

Now granted this was well over the currently listed budget, but it was a prepackaged server. I am sure someone building on their own could go cheaper. I would recommend you look at what you want to do, and overbuy by like 25% or so. This gives you some margin for under-estimation, and some room to grow, so you don't need to start upgrading as soon as you get the server up.
 
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