Server purchase questions.

[cavemanoc]

Hi. I've been asked to have a look at pricing for a network set up at work. We are looking to put in a self contained 'intra-net' that essentially runs an access database (or a more modern equivalent if they ever find a more modern version of the software

I'm looking at a single server with 14 workstations and 2 laptops, with the ideal solution including wifi access for other members of staff to use when they like. (never expecting the total user numbers to be any more than 25 at any one time.)

Just browsing the Dell site, I have spec'ed the workstations as follows:

Inspiron 530
Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core E2200 Processor (2.20GHz,800MHz,1MB cache), 2Gb RAM, Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium with Service Pack 1, 32-bit - English - £399 each (doubt we'll have to pay VAT - but included just in case!)

With the Laptops will be 2 basic Inspiron 13s @ £370ish

(I'm sure I could get a reasonable bulk discount!)

It's the server that goes above my head a little (and the pricing really scares me!) I'm sure I'm massively overspecced so hopefully you can offer some pointers. At the moment I'm looking at:

PowerEdge T100
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® X3220; 2.40GHz, 2x4M Cache, 1066MHz FSB, 4Gb RAM (can't get more for some reason?) SAS 6iR Internal RAID Controller Card, 2x146GB SAS 3.5-inch 15K RPM (Raid 1) 95W TDP

Network wise I've added: Intel® PRO 1000PT Dual Port Server Adapter, Gigabit NIC,
PC 2724 Web-managed Switch, 24 Port GE, 2 GE/SFP Combo Ports
APC Smart-UPS 1500i, 980Watt, tower mount

That will be running on Windows Server 2008 with at least 17 CALs - more depending on how many want the wifi.

The Server (with WS2008 and 5 CALs) costs £2391 (Ex VAT) The CALs are £100 for 5 so I'll add another £400 to bring the total to:
£2791

Seems a little steep for what will be an access server - but hey-ho!
Grand Total: £9523.65

Couple of Questions:
1. Am I looking at the right kind of rig for the server?
2. Is it suitably robust to deal with up to 25 users on a fairly simple access database?
3. If I were to add wifi - can anyone suggest a suitable wireless router to plug into the switch to add the extra 10ish users (or would any do the trick?)
4. Is the SAS really needed for such a small user base?
5. What would the best live backup solution be?
6. Do I need such an expensive network solution for such a simple database with relatively low usage - is it worth over-buying to avoid bottleneck?
7. On the licensing - it says device/user of combo thereof - would the wireless router count as a device requiring 1 license for all wireless users - or (more likely) - would every wireless user require their own Client Access License? (not exorbitant at £20 each I guess.)
^. More to come as I think of them...

 

[cavemanoc]

Thanks for all the replies - I've been doing a lot more research and chatting to some friends who work with servers and it seems I have massively over-specced and have been looking at this from slightly the wrong angle.

Because the database is so small (single access database limit is 2Gb by default) I needed to seriously rethink my strategy.

We were looking at having a Direct Attached Storage solution for live and incremental backups - but at a starting price of £5000 we soon realised that this was massive overkill for our needs.

So...

Bearing in mind the tiny size of the database and the small number of users we have come up with the following. (Base units remain unchanged - excellent value and more than suitable - with the amendment to the Flavour of Vista noted - depending on the timing I may even try for Windows 7 as it is kinder to smaller machines...)

Quad Core AMD Opteron™ 1352, 2.1GHz, 4X512K Cache, 2x2Gb Ram, 75W ACP - £479 (inc Vat&Postage)

That includes just a single 160Gb sata hdd which would be replaced with a 30Gb Vertex drive which should server our I/O requirements nicely!

That's the basic server @ about £500.

Next comes the tricky part - redundancy and reliability. The simplest solution is simply to have a redundant server - identical to the first - that comes on line in the event of a failure - updates from the backup - and carries on with next to no down time.

I am tempted to have the whole thing backed up (shadow copy for up to the minute, as well as incremental at say 1,2,4,8 hourly and daily/weekly/monthly.) straight onto a NAS (with perhaps a second one mirroring it in case of failure).

So... if that all sounds sensible the only sticky issue left is the OS. I'm loathe to move away from MS but have a few issues with the various products/pricing/licensing etc...

I was looking at Windows Server 2008 simply because it's the same price as 2003 and the CALs work out at £20each (much cheaper than WBS) That still means I'll be shelling out £905 for the Server + a total of 25 licenses which seems a little steep - shame WHS is limited to 10

Now - If the second server is a backup of the 1st - and only online when it is down - do I need a seperate copy of WS2008 for it - don't see why I would - certainly wouldn't need the CALs twice?

Given how small the database is couldn't I just run a QNAP turbo station as a file server - what sort of limitations do they have on user numbers? 2 of those backing each other up would be nice and cheap