Suggestions for a "server"?

[sasquatch]

A local business I've been doing tech stuff for has an older dell server that they're ready to chuck, and they've commissioned me to build them a replacement. It's a pretty small business and doesn't need most of the crap they currently have. What I'm looking for are suggestions for motherboard/processor/ram configurations I should look into, as well as hard drive recommendations. I want something that I won't have to go in and service every day.

I'll build it by hand. I've built computers before and don't think this one will be much different, but I wanted to know what you guys recommend. It'll be running microsoft small business server 2k3 and a small program on 5 already-built computers.

Also, once I've gotten this up and running, what's the most secure physical way to connect this network to the internet (such that nothing gets in without permission and no one gets out without a password or something).

Thanks for your input, folks!

 

[Laforge]

Too Little Info

How small is this office. [5 computers] doesn't tell much. 5 web surfers versus 5 cad stations? What do they do with the current server : is it their mail server/database server or are they all using @hotmail email accounts, and private word for windows installations.

What's "wrong" with their current server that it needs replacement. What is their configuration requirement.

Way too little info

But here's some basics.

Go all gigabit. - Do it now, it's better than having to re-do it later.
Get an actual SWITCH, not just a hub. - Put the server in an actual network closet.
For 90% of my clients, Intel Xeon is the way to go -- Seriously - Not as much of a heat issue. More "stable" than opteron, less "bleeding edge" -- based on proven technology.

 

[aug1516]

Depending on what they are doing with the server you may want to look at that great Dell deal in the Hot Deals forum regarding the SC420. It's a really good low-end server that would work well for simple AD, DNS, DHCP, and file serving for a small network such as this one.

 

[mikeblas]

More "stable" than opteron,

I'm curious about what that means.

.B ekiM

 

[Laforge]

I'm curious about what that means.

.B ekiM

Personal experience

Amd processors die on me more often than intel.

I've got 5 year old intels in service.
Can't say the same for amd.

 

[unhappy_mage]

Oh, I don't know about that... We have k6-2s at 450 mHz doing fairly heavy serving at the school I volunteer at, which have been running since we got going, versus the old intel boxen in the classrooms which we replace at an amazing rate. Otoh, we also had a batch of AMD boxes with bad PSUs, and we're down about 15 of 30 of them after 2 years now.

Moral: For cheap boxes, spend a third of your budget on power supply. I'm serious. This isn't a cheap box, though.

I'd go with a pentium-III box or some such. Maybe dual athlon? Especially if there's any expansion coming, get a dual box. If it's 5 users and no potential for expansion, and all they do is email and internet through it, get yourself a pentium-60 with FDIV bug and use that. Ipcop/m0n0wall/whatever. If they're running a sql database and exchange server and a set of jsp pages, then go for more box, but otherwise get something cheap that does the job.

 

[sasquatch]

Not much more to say, really. The office manager hates dell with a passion and doesn't want to deal with them anymore, so she wants me to build her a server since i build her otehr machines, which are basic amd units.

The office is a vet hospital, the server would just be hosting a single program and access to the internet. Not mail, nothing else at all really. I have been told to build a server, but really they don't need more than a regular medium-quality computer. I just figured it'd give me an opportunity to play with new things like serial ata and gigabit, things i haven't had a chance to play around with yet for bugeting reasons.

Basically, I'm gonna build a decent box and call it a server. Just wondering if there are any specific motherboards or processors I should go with for the long haul. Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[mikeblas]

Personal experience
Amd processors die on me more often than intel.

I see. Thank you for the clarification.

.B ekiM

 

[aug1516]

What kind of budget are we looking at here?

 

[bob]

...the server would just be hosting a single program and access to the internet. Not mail, nothing else at all really. I have been told to build a server, but really they don't need more than a regular medium-quality computer.

A 486DX2-66 with 32mb of ram and Freesco linux would do that job wondefully fast, using a 10Mb Ethernet card.

I had a PII-233 with 64mb of PC100 I gave away for free. I dont see why that company would need anything faster than a K6 or a Pentium 133.

 

[M1ster_R0gers]

A 486DX2-66 with 32mb of ram and Freesco linux would do that job wondefully fast, using a 10Mb Ethernet card.

I had a PII-233 with 64mb of PC100 I gave away for free. I dont see why that company would need anything faster than a K6 or a Pentium 133.

It all depends on what one "program" is running. If its an application then 5 computers very well might work the hell out of it. I dont like making server reccomnendations until I get more complete information on topography and applications.

As for AMD/Intel stability I have the same procs and motherboards since 1997 so I really dont think its a question of stability, sounds more like user error or poor part purchasing.

 

[Dyre]

You might want to look into a Tyan or Supermirco motherboard- Both have served me very well in the past. We had 4 Supermirco dual proc server boxen I put together about 4/5 years ago that are all still chugging away (although thier uses reclassed)- Only time we had to physically change anything was when we pulled them from the cage to upgrade/change the HD configuration ( going from file server, to log box, to number cruncher, etc...)

Get a nice server/workstation class board(probably means intel) and a quality PSU and you should be fine.