Buying a server or building one?

keogh

keogh

keogh

Soldato
Joined
22 Jun 2004
Posts
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Location
Bangkok, Thailand (formally London)
Howdy,

I currently have a old IBM xSeries server I bought many years ago to run as my local web server (I build websites, so I store them all on there).

This machine has a retail copy of Win2003 Standard edition, and its works fine but its a bit old hat now and I could do with getting a newer/faster model.

Anyway, I'm not so clued up on servers and their differences between desktops, but whats the difference between buying a Dell/IBM/HP etc server and building one using parts from ocuk?

All my server does is serve websites to me locally (its not used externally, its just me so doesn't have to be uber powerful) and has the following running on it daily (it never gets turned off... except when I go on holidays):

Win2003 Standard Edition
IIS 6
Apache
ColdFusion 8
MySQL
Oracle
Openfire server
plus a few other bits and bobs.

If I were to build the server using ocuk parts, would I need anything special for it? As mentioned, it will be running all day and will just serve websites and thats it? Could I just build it as if it where a normal desktop?

Any advice is appreciated.

ta
 
You can build one from parts just like a desktop if you wanted, the main difference between DIY and a built machine is the warranty and support that comes along with a prebuilt server. (There are different warranties available) If anything is wrong with your dell/hp/ibm server you can call tech support and they will help you with the issue. Now usually I have no need for their help, however you can get a replacement part in as quick as 4 hours, or better yet if you are busy like me have a tech onsite in 4 hours to replace the part for you.

But it looks like it is not all that important to you as its not a production machine... it would be cheaper to build it yourself unless of course you found a good deal on a no name brand.
 
Sorry for going bit off topic but how can you trust your home connection to hold your sites for you? unless it's not critical if it goes down once in a while...
 
Some of the servers on dell outlet are quite cheap, possibly cheaper then building your own. May be worth checking out if that would be suitable for your needs.
 
Shaye87 said:
Sorry for going bit off topic but how can you trust your home connection to hold your sites for you? unless it's not critical if it goes down once in a while...
Click to expand...

It's never gone down as its all local and I don't rely on any internet connection... so even if I lost the net I would still be able to work. The only reason it could go down I suppose is if the hardware failed, but thats the same with any computer.

Dist said:
Some of the servers on dell outlet are quite cheap, possibly cheaper then building your own. May be worth checking out if that would be suitable for your needs.
Click to expand...

Yeah I took a butchers at the Dell ones, they are pretty cheap actually... I might consider one of those instead. But I do enjoy building pcs, so thats another reason I would go for building myself.
 
For you use - home dev work, i'd advise buying a low power Core2 based system - it would be more than fast enough for your work (as essentially its a single user website) plus it won't kill your wallet in energy costs.

New modern off the shelf servers arn't too bad when it comes to power usage, but older stuff is terrible.
 
If you're stuck on a 'server',I recently put a small office domain controller together for the local Citizens Advice Bureau for around 15 PCs/Users, using an HP ML110 G5.
This was cheap as chips and has performed admirably so far. Serving a few websites should be a doddle. Dell's SC entry level series would be another candidate too.
 
I'd probably build myself something to do that.

Though they are much better these days, even the smaller servers can be noisy and be loud in a home environment. DIY means you can cherry pick some nice, quiet bits.
 
If its a local development box for yourself then unless you can get a system cheaper then you can build, I would just build one.

For an enterprise environment I would buy, but for what you have said then an actual server isn't necessary.
 
Ok cheers fellas, I think I will build a cheap server... as I mentioned above, I really enjoy building the machines, so it gives me another reason to build a new system :)

ta
 
As someone else mentioned, you can get an ML110 or ML115 for less than £200, stick in some extra ram, maybe a 2nd hard drive and you're good to go.
 
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