Email Server Hardware & Software 2

[GTONE]

I need to setup an Email server for my work,with four computers connected (and the possibility of more being added down the line).Can anyone suggest ideal software/hardware to use for this setup,many thanks.

GTONE

 

[franklin97355]

Linux works well for this type of application and it's free. As to hardware most any P4 would work (a P3 would work but the price difference isn't worth the buying of older technology) Get a big hard drive and make sure you have a backup strategy. (no one likes to be told all their email is gone for good)

The answer is "42"

 

[LWComputingMVP]

Linux works well... but if you don't know linux, the learning curve can be steep and in turn, costly. If you know Linux, go with it as franklin97355 suggests. If you don't, I would suggest you consider getting Microsoft Small Business Server 2003. It comes with Microsoft Exchange (an e-mail, calendar, contact server) and licenses for Outlook 2003. For the base product, which includes 5 user licenses, it costs about $500-$600. And you get a copy of Windows Server as well for creating a file server out of. Just make sure you setup the server properly using the wizards. Small Business Server was designed to be managed through the wizards by people who were NOT computer savvy (well, who were not computer professionals, some amount of savvyness is good).

My list of Small Business Server links:

http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/sbs.asp

And since franklin97355 touched on, my article on Backup:

http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/backup.asp

 

[LWComputingMVP]

As for hardware, if you go with SBS, for 4-5 users, Any basic server should be fine. ALL SERVERS (with rare exception) should include RAID 1 or RAID 5 and all Windows Servers should be purchased with 1 GB of RAM at least. Beyond that, I wouldn't worry too much about the specs. I will throw out there that with today's available technology, the server should have the ability to use multi-core CPUs (you can start with single core, but be sure it supports multi-core later) or supports multiple processors (again, you can start with one, but having the room to grow to a second one if performance grows is very important in my opinion).

And any SERVER hardware you buy should be purchased with a 3 year AT LEAST Next Business Day parts warranty - that's if you KNOW how to build computers. If you don't, you should be getting a 3 year On-Site service contract. And depending on how important the server's work is to your business, you might want to get a 3 year 4 hour 5x10 or 7x24 response contract. The better the warranty and response, the more the money, but do you want to be sitting there scratching your butt in 18 months when the motherboard dies and your out of warranty? Or while you wait until tomorrow for someone to show up with a replacement motherboard because you didn't get a 7x24 4 hour response contract on an IMPORTANT server?