Hardware requirements for Windows Server

GoldCoast

GoldCoast

GoldCoast

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6 Jan 2010
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6
Hi All,

I'm new here and I'll like to commend you guys on a good and resourceful forum.

Now to my topic. I've been recommended these specsification by our software vendor for a server to install window server 2003 with sql server express.

Can anyone help with specific hardware to purchase based on the specs below. I'll prefer if its sub £400.

Processor:- Intel Xeon, Pentium or AMD equivalent. Dual core Xeon option best
RAM:- Minimum 1024 MB 2048 recommended for SQL
Hard Disk:- Minimum 36 GByte SAS or SCSI in RAID 1 configuration
Optical Storage:- CD, CDR/W or DVD
Network Connectivity:- Gigabit or Fast Ethernet
Serial Connections:- 1 per receiver
Parallel Port :- May be required for printer (most are USB or Ethernet)
USB Ports:- For Keyboard, Mouse, printer, possibly GSM Modem, telephony
Keyboard/Mouse:- Optical Mouse preferred
 
Well, the G5 generally comes with a 2.2 opteron 1354, 1gb ram ,160gb sata non raid and then upgrade the ram to 2gb and add another 160gb drive to setup in raid.

That lot could be had for approx £400 at various places.

You aren't going to find SAS for sub-£400 me thinks.
 
your not going to find a serial port on the back of a ml115 either if thats really needed from the spec

but as spoon says it is going to come in on budget so usb to serial might work. forget sas at the £400 range
 
GoldCoast said:
its for an in-house monitoring station software

http://www.patriotsystems.com/Index.aspx

with windows server i want to set it up as a domain/file server.
Click to expand...

So it's monitoring alarms and you want it to be as cheap as possible?

ML115 seems to be the default answer to any server spec-me thread around here, anything from multi-terabyte storage networks, to someone who wants somewhere to store MP3s at home. In reality, its a well priced basic server for basic purposes.

Realistically, you want something with multiple PSUs at the very least - if the PSU in a basic tower server goes pop, can (or your clients) wait a day for a new one to turn up?

If its running SQL, App server, File server and DC I'd probably look at virtualising it - a DC with DNS/DHCP as one VM, file server as another and the alarm software on a third. This will give you much more control and flexibility - you're not forcing everyone to close files and stop working when the alarm software wants a reboot for example.

Something like a Dell PowerEdge T300 would be much more suitable - redundant PSUs, ECC RAM, decent SAS/SATA raid controller. All features designed around resilience, all things the basic servers are missing - that, IMO is what makes a server a server, not the word "server" on the box :)

Also think about how critical the system is and get a support contract appropriately - most companies will offer next day or 4 hour responses but some will offer quicker. You'll normally get a choice between 8x5 or 24x7 too, depending on business need.

You're probably looking at around £1k for a decent specced box with the right redundancy features, but will give you a much more resilient and flexible setup. I'd be looking at a single Nehalem Xeon (with room for a second preferably), 4gb RAM and 2 x SATA drives (or 4 in RAID10).

That's a pretty basic spec but will scale up nicely to a bit of a brute - 2 high end Xeons, 24gb RAM and 6 x 15k SAS drives. If your business if likely to grow in the life of the server then take that into account - it's much better to upgrade what you've got than ditch it to replace it!

Consider a UPS too if you dont already have one, to protect the server and data when the mains does silly things.
 
iaind said:
So it's monitoring alarms and you want it to be as cheap as possible?

ML115 seems to be the default answer to any server spec-me thread around here, anything from multi-terabyte storage networks, to someone who wants somewhere to store MP3s at home. In reality, its a well priced basic server for basic purposes.

Realistically, you want something with multiple PSUs at the very least - if the PSU in a basic tower server goes pop, can (or your clients) wait a day for a new one to turn up?

If its running SQL, App server, File server and DC I'd probably look at virtualising it - a DC with DNS/DHCP as one VM, file server as another and the alarm software on a third. This will give you much more control and flexibility - you're not forcing everyone to close files and stop working when the alarm software wants a reboot for example.

Something like a Dell PowerEdge T300 would be much more suitable - redundant PSUs, ECC RAM, decent SAS/SATA raid controller. All features designed around resilience, all things the basic servers are missing - that, IMO is what makes a server a server, not the word "server" on the box :)

Also think about how critical the system is and get a support contract appropriately - most companies will offer next day or 4 hour responses but some will offer quicker. You'll normally get a choice between 8x5 or 24x7 too, depending on business need.

You're probably looking at around £1k for a decent specced box with the right redundancy features, but will give you a much more resilient and flexible setup. I'd be looking at a single Nehalem Xeon (with room for a second preferably), 4gb RAM and 2 x SATA drives (or 4 in RAID10).

That's a pretty basic spec but will scale up nicely to a bit of a brute - 2 high end Xeons, 24gb RAM and 6 x 15k SAS drives. If your business if likely to grow in the life of the server then take that into account - it's much better to upgrade what you've got than ditch it to replace it!

Consider a UPS too if you dont already have one, to protect the server and data when the mains does silly things.
Click to expand...

Agree entirely - but as you say thats not going to come in anywhere near the £400 or less budget. If you can't stand the down time then the budget needs to be adjusted upwards. Spookily all the vendors have similar sized boxes for similar prices - weird huh? ;)

Being an IBM business partner I couldn't recommend Dell though :p
 
Get an enterprise sata drive over sas to save some, sas is still regarded as the best you can get but also pretty pricey.
 
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