Need help on buying new server...

[klesck]

Hi all,

I need to buy a new server for the company here, it will be a small database/file server and the specs are not the most "state of the art" ones (the instructions were to save a bit of cash, if possible...). There they go:

- Need more than 1ghz processing (could be one processor or two, for a start could be one above 1ghz processor but, as we're thinking about growing the use of it fast I'm not sure if it would be better to have 2 below 1ghz processors instead. suggestions???)

- RAM, start point is 1ghz... any suggestions?? (It will be running a 'progress' database and a application with it..)

- Disk Space is not a mystery, I'm thinking about a 10gb for system and 40gb for database/application, both mirrored. Any suggestions on SCSI or IDE?? (SCSI Controllers, IDE disks, SCSI disks)

The rest is more or less standard 100 mbit ethernet, video as simple as possible (8mb), etc...

For a start this server will be hosting the production and testing enviroment, later just production.

Any progress users that could help would be good, and everybody else that has a suggestion on it also.

Thanks a lot

Klesck

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

To me for database automatically says dual CPU. (as much as it pains me to say this) Pentium 4 would be a good choice. RAM... go for DDR not the RDRAM. SCSI is more reliable and gives better system performance, but IDE is cheaper.

You can find motherboards with most everything built in. Especially for daul CPU boards. I would expect to spend around 4 grand for all of that.... if you built it yourself. Mike Wills
AS400 Programmer


Please, if you find my post useful, let me know.

 

[jrjuiliano]

Just to add to what Koldark was saying, make sure you plan your disk usage as much as possible, with room to grow.

If you're just looking to get file storage you might want to look at a dedicated appliance.

Another issue, what OS do you plan on using? IBM, Win, Linux with Samba? J.R. Juiliano
Information Systems Specialist
Tri-City Emergency Medical Group

 

[klesck]

Thanks for the posts guys...

Still thinking on OS... possibly Win2k, or NT4, not sure yet, I'm planning a migration to win2k during this year and have this server already 2k would be better.

Do you know any dual P4 motherboards?? I couldn't find a manufacturer for it, intel, asus, none of them have it yet (at least 'till yesterday).

On the SCSI x IDE do you think that the preformance of IDE is much lower?? because I'm in Brazil here, GOOD equipement is kind of hard to find and costs a lot!! But if it justifies the performance I will think about. does it??



Klesck

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

It isn't as much performance as it is in reliability. SCSI is much more reliable. There is a reason why IDE is cheap. IDE is reliable enough for home use, but for a businesses server, it just couldn't take the beating that SCSI can. Mike Wills
AS400 Programmer


Please, if you find my post useful, let me know.

 

[Ben23]

Hi all,

I need some advice as I am looking to buy a server to host a group of people and set up their different web sites on it. I am currently a budding web developer but I have about ten people interested in hosting and I am realising the potential extra few bob it could bring home. What would your advice be on buying a server and what kind. It would only be 'small time' for a small set of people and I am not looking to spend much at all.

I would appreciate any feedback or advice on my intentions.

Cheers,

Ben.

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

To start out for you I would just get a solid workstation PC. Solid as in stable. How many hits are you expecting? Mike Wills
AS400 Programmer

http://www.koldark.net

Please, if you find my post useful, let me know.

 

[Guest_imported]

Just a note Ben23. I live in Australia and have a cable connection. On this, I run a P200 with 128MB or RAM using W2K Server. At the moment, it only hosts a handful of websites but it is very happy just sitting under my desk never being touched.

The point being, start of small - Basic... Test out what you may or may not need to spend and then upgrade later on. No use spending 4000 when you can make it 2000 !

Hollywood

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

That is what I was trying to get at. Mike Wills
AS400 Programmer

http://www.koldark.net

Please, if you find my post useful, let me know.