Server Advice please!

Stuff · 15 Jul 2011 at 21:25

Hey guys,

Currently running a WD ReadyNAS 4TB, but would like to upgrade, and I think I can do fairly cheaply too.

I've got the chance to buy a Compaq CQ5222 [PDF] for around £80, brand new, and wondered how suitable it'd be for use as a server. What components make a good server?

I really have no knowledge or experience around servers personally, and just wondered if you guys could provide me with some basic knowledge of where to get started, what else I'll need other than the tower, etc. Some links would be awesome too!

Cheers

paradigm · 16 Jul 2011 at 10:10

What do you want to do with it? A fully blown (cheap and nasty to boot) desktop PC isn't exactly the perfect starting point for a "server", but this depends ultimately on what your description of a "server" is.

This sub-forum is mainly for business/enterprise solutions, so our use of a "server" will be rather different to a home user.

Skidilliplop · 16 Jul 2011 at 13:39

Good server components would be low power consumption and have a high duty cycle. Stuff that's designed to be on 24/7.
The specifics would depend entirely on what you want to do with it.

DIABLO · 17 Jul 2011 at 00:29

As said it depends on what you want to do with the server any pc can be a basic fileserver. The computer you linked would make a good server accept for the case as it only has placefor 1 harddrive. I personally would spend the extra £40 on a microserver which has space for 4 harddrives and 6 with a bit of fiddling.

Stuff · 17 Jul 2011 at 10:44

Apologies guys, I should have explained more. It would simply be a home system, used a a file server for two, possibly three, computers. It won't be on 24/7... Maybe 12/7.

Regarding the HDDs, I'm sure I can sort something out in terms of a cage inside... I've had a look in the PC and there's plenty of room to do something! And I had a quick Google and I can't see any Microservers for anywhere near £120, am I being dense?

TheBiznes · 17 Jul 2011 at 10:48

Look on the bay £149 with cashback already taken. There are some cheaper ones around, but you have to wait like 30 days for the money to be credited back in the form of a cheque from HP.

Has to be purchased at the moment until the 31st of July although the offer keeps being extended all the time. There is a couple of secondhand ones too around.

Stuff · 17 Jul 2011 at 12:06

TheBiznes said:
Look on the bay £149 with cashback already taken. There are some cheaper ones around, but you have to wait like 30 days for the money to be credited back in the form of a cheque from HP.

Has to be purchased at the moment until the 31st of July although the offer keeps being extended all the time. There is a couple of secondhand ones too around.

Aha, thank you. I shall look into it