Key elements needed for file/email/internet server???

[bErEsTh]

I have been asked to implement a file/email/print/internet sharing server. The company I work for wants Dell because they have had good experience with it. I know for the most part what I need to do but would like help or suggestions.

-Router & Software
-Firebox (20 users)
-Switch
-Hub
-Tower or Rack Server preferably with Raid Array 5
-Raid Controller
-Tape Back Up & Software
-Internet service (yet to be detarmined)
-Power Surge Protection
-Operating system (Windows 2k, 2003 or XP Pro)with enough client licenses
-Plenty of CAT-5 cable

Am I missing anything? Any suggestions would be appreciated or products or vendors you would recommnend? Thaks

 

[NickFerrar]

As far as the server goes, personally I'd get 2 if you can, putting all that on one server will stress it and you increase the risks of conflicts between apps (as well as extending downtime with multiple separate apps to keep patched).

I'd do email on one server (Exchange 2000) and File/print on another server.

The Internet should be shared via a NATing firewall/router (Cisco would be the obvious choice).

For backups we use ARCserve v9/2000 and a mix of DLT and LTO drives. If you have more than 40GB of data I'd go LTO (although it costs twice as much as a DLT1 drive). Last thing you want though is backups going onto multiple tapes.

For RAID I'd just do RAID5 on the PERC controllers that are options in Dell servers. If you have a big budget then RAID1 the system volume and RAID5 the data but it's really not needed especially for your low numbers (we use just RAID5 here fine with about 150 people on-site).

A lot depends on your budget and whether your company is likely to grow significantly.

 

[bErEsTh]

I can already see that they are going to want to go cheap, even though I am stressing the importance of not doing so. There has been enough downtime to warrant change. The problem is always, the return on investment not being soon enough. Anyone rationally thinking knows this is a silly way of looking at your buisness when no one can do anything because your server is either down or is slow enough to crash client computers.