what basics are needed for new server setup...

[elmurado]

Hi,
I've been put in charge of purchasing new server and OS etc to replace the current one. We have 30 current users but this will increase to 40/50 within two years.
At the moment we're running NT4 on a gateway server.
What are the major things I need to take into consideration when buying a new server--I was thinkiing of going with IBM(LESS LIKELY TO GO BUST UNLIKE GATEWAY).
We use the server as file/print/net connection. We don't run any apps on it but storage needs to be quite large.

 

[catorze]

IBM eServer xSeries servers are a great way to get started. IBM has a Configuration and Options Guide to help you size your server and find the correct options to make it work for you in your environment. The current version is available from:

http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=SCOD-3ZVQ5W

 

[dhauser]

It all depends on how long you want this server to last. If this is to be your server for the next 10 years you need to look at an upgradeable server. A good server for this is the eServer xSeries 345. You can get it with one CPU and then upgrade to four later on. Also it has 6 SCSI drive slots and 1000/100/10 ethernet to get that data to your end users faster.

If you are looking for a good priced server for the next few years take a look at xSeries 220. Lower end server but not bad for a smaller enviornment. Has three SCSI bays and option for two CPUs.

Note: Be sure and get Windows 2000 or 2003 these are much better than the NT Operating System.

Good Luck

Dan

 

[yert33]

Hey, you're on the right track, dude. I made the decision 4 years ago to go with IBM for all our server, desktop and notebook needs. I was fought long and hard in the board room - especially by those officers holding ComPaq and Dell stock!

But now my bosses know I made the right decision. Our uptime has been impeccable, no "is it HP or is it ComPaq?", etc, etc.

IBM has always been tops in my experience in terms of support, too.

We are also benefitting from having as few machine types as possible. In-house repair experience has grown more effective when all we have are 9 or 10 different models to support.

We also are taking advantage of getting replacement parts and extra servers and additional ThinkPads off the world's largest garage sale: eBay. We bought brand new from Big Blue for the first 2 years. Now I buy the same machine type off of ebay at about a 15th the price I was paying new.

Another factor I considered was that if our company got really huge we could move on up to the bigger servers IBM offers. Same vendor, same vendor relationship, blah, blah...

Did you know that IBM's founder, Hermann Hollerith, was the winner of a contest the U.S government held back in the 1880's? They were after a faster way of tabulating Census returns. His punched card method won the contract and the method lasted until the 1980's (as far as my personal experience can attest) for mainframe use.

I know, I know, way too much info, but you can't go wrong with IBM, in my opinion.