Buying a server or building one?

[keogh]

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

 

[keogh]

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...

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.

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.

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.

 

[keogh]

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