Do i really need a server?

markwombat · 6 Jan 2007 at 17:27

I am planning to centralise the data storage in my office, we have 15 users who are all going to connect to the "server" and work from a common-network share.

My question is do i really need to go out and buy a specially built server or will a normal computer with a nice amount of storage and a gigabit network card do the job?

I was thinking a core-duo cpu with 1-2GB of RAM would easily handle the demand, and coupled with either a single SATA2 HDD or a SATA2 Raid array, which ever would best suit this scenario.

Can you guys offer some assistance on this and reccomend what is the most suitable solution. Many thanks in advance.

markwombat · 6 Jan 2007 at 17:52

ok thanks for the replies so quickly. I don't want to have to go down the road of Exchange but the mail server comment does sound very attractive and calendar sharing and contact sharing would be incredibly useful, so wish to include something to support that in the spec.

Unde4d, do you have any reccomendations towards mailserver software other than exchange and also a good antivirus title that can be centrally managed?

thanks for your help so far

markwombat · 6 Jan 2007 at 18:31

Thanks a lot Unde4d

i'll look into exchange and price sbs up for my office.

markwombat · 6 Jan 2007 at 20:22

Pint said:
Your best bet is small business server for 2003.

With exchange you wouldn't need a seperate spam filter as the IMF is quite adequate and you can setup Real time blacklists. (IMF works better after installing SP2 for Exchange 2003)

All the neccessaries for data storage will come with a server, like backup drive (Should be looking at DLT2 minimum really for future proofing, at least the capacity to backup your current storage plus any foreseeable expansion of disk space), and a PERC4 raid controller for instance. A lot better than buying them all seperately.

You also need to consider the security requirements, which are much better implemented with a proper AD structure.

I've had absolutely nothing but problems with Sophos EM on client setups, it just doesn't work from my experiences and this is even after getting their own consultants out to fix it twice and ripping it off and reinstalling 4 times.
At the moment I'm finding that Symantec AV rollout just works. No tweaking, no failed installs, nothing like the problems with EPO. You can roll it out via GPO which is so handy.
Stay away from Trend!

With a server you'll also get benefits of WSUS (Now V2 w/SP1) to handle all the updates for your windows clients.

Something from the dell outlet would be considerably cheaper compared to shelling out loads of money for your first server.

It will change the way you work and you'll wonder how you got on before.

Make sure you get that UPS too

The gigabit network card will be a bit redundant if you don't have a gigabit switch and although it's nice in theory it's a bit excessive for now.

Thanks for your reply, already got a gigabit switch in the office and all clients are using gigabit nics so thats one area im already covered

markwombat · 8 Jan 2007 at 11:40

Ok thanks guys, I am definately going to opt for a SBS system now and will look into various AV solutions in the next week. Can you offer any light on backup solutions? I am using Acronis True Image on my desktop at home and am very pleased with it, can I use this in a server environment?

markwombat · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:24

triggerthat said:
You also might want to keep your mail server seperate from your main server.

Where I used to work, we had 3 servers. Mail / Main Server / Backup Main server.

Thanks for the suggestion the idea is much appreciated, however as quoted by ruffneck, cost is my primary constraint and therefore I wont be able to get multiple servers

markwombat · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:35

At the risk of sounding like a complete n00b can you guys please clarify something for me when using MS Exchange.

At the moment each computer is configured to connected to the ISP mail server in outlook and receives the emails upon connection.

With a mail server in the office the mail server will connect to the ISP's server and retrieve messages and store them until each user requests them from the local server?

Also will this allow emailing internally between colleagues without "going outside" the building?

Sorry for the n00b-level questions but I havent ever configured a mail server before and need to fully understand it before presenting the suggestion solution to the other directors.

markwombat · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:46

oddjob62 said:
I assume users currently download emails by POP3.

SBS has a POP3 connector that allows you to set up POP3 account on the server to automatically download to the exchange server.

USers then access the exchange mailbox with Outlook, using MAPI (recommended). They don't actually download the mail to their PC, although it can be set up to save a local copy (for laptops etc).

Internal email (as you say) does not travel outside, it just goes directly to the recipients mailbox on the exchange server.

Excellent, thanks for this reply

markwombat · 9 Jan 2007 at 23:56

Thanks so much you guys, its really great to receive this amount of help ona topic. You have all offered me invaluable advice no doubt from your collective years of experience. I will begin now collecting all the bits and pieces of info from this thread and draft out a full spec to present. I'll give you a shout and the thread a revival if i get stuck

Thanks once again for your help.