Choosing a used web server

[searcherrr]

A long time ago I used to keep up with each generation or wave of new tech CPU coming out. At some point it got to be too much trouble and I gave up on it thinking, if I buy new I'll always have the fastest. Enter USED and EBAY etc... Trying to save some money to start a new web business.

I see plenty of servers for sale and I'll just focus on a couple to start off with. HP DL380 G3's or G4's and Dell PowerEdge 2650 or 2850's.

I want RAID, etc.. but my biggest question is upgrading and is it possible. Why isn't upgrade documentation included in anything these days? I mean, what can I put in those servers as far as "the fastest CPU" goes or are they not upgradeable?

Is the DL380 G3 or G4 2 generations back? 3 gens back? 4 gens back?

Same question for the 2650 or 2850's. How far back?

I have established that these servers were fairly new in 2004-2005. I'm using a 2005 HP laptop right now that suffices just fine. It used to be that when newer faster computing power came out you could really tell a difference, but now it doesn't seem that way anymore. Seems the differences in speed/performance are fairly marginal to me.

I will be running say 10 web sites with a lot of static content and slowly over a great bit of time will incorporate database driven web sites. Would any of the aforementioned servers be good enough? Too slow? Need something more up to date?

If I slap a 1000gigabit network card in there will that keep me up to speed on the networks/internet? (as opposed to a 100 gigabit network card)?

If I only would've kept up with the generational changes in CPU's I wouldn't have to ask this stuff, but I'd appreciate any and all opinions.

Here are the links to said hardware:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11473_div/11473_div.HTML

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12028_div/12028_div.html

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/pedge/en/2650_specs.pdf

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/pedge/en/2850_specs.pdf

 

[blister911]

If I slap a 1000gigabit network card in there will that keep me up to speed on the networks/internet? (as opposed to a 100 gigabit network card)?

Um, yes. However, I think you're referring to 1 gigabit vs 100 megabit. Regardless, the slowest link in the chain will determine what you can do. What is your internet connection speed? I'm guessing it isn't anywhere close to 100mb; most likely closer to 10mb.

The lastest gen of the DL380 is 6. I think the biggest change from G3 into G6 is the number of cores per processor socket. I think the G6 can handle 6 cores.

If you look in the options sections of the DL380 quick specs (links you listed), you can see most of what you can use for upgrades; processors, memory, hard drives, etc..

We don't have any Dell servers, so I can't help you any there.

 

[searcherrr]

Well, yes.... lol.. I feel kinda goofy now... I didn't mean 1000 gigabit. lol - Definitely meant 1000mb or 1 gigabit.

Well, in any case, what do you think? Would a DL380 G3 or G4 hold up well with a slow starting computer business with 1 person adding sites as time goes on?

I'd be going with Comcast Business services for the data. I don't know how fast the are off hand. In any case I'm just looking to know about server load handling and performance for those.... if you don't know about the Dell's thats fine..... but how do the DL380's hold up and are the G3's and G4's still hefty enough for 10 static sites that'll have possibly some ads on'em etc.. Steps after that will be forums and a few other small ideas.

 

[Annihilannic]

Personally I think you'd be fine with a Pentium III vintage server for that purpose, so any of those servers should handle what you want comfortably.

Annihilannic.

 

[blister911]

I agree. Either of the DL380s (G3 or G4) would be able to handle the load. Both can handle a max of 6 SCSI hard drives (or 5 + internal tape drive), which can give you a fair amount of storage and still have redundancy. Dual Nics. If you put enough memory in it, you shouldn't have any performance issues.

Just a thought (in case it hasn't crossed your mind)
You may want to get a couple and cluster them. That way if one server has an issue the other could keep your customers happy. Also, you could do maintenance on one of them while the other is still keeping the web sites up. Then, when you switch to the updated one, your outage window will be only a couple of minutes.