Spec Check for a Server

Avathar77

Avathar77

Avathar77

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Hi
Going to get a new server which will be mainly used as a file server for an office with 20 users & /or devices.
Email and calender tasks are handled by Outlook and Google Sync(so exchange is not hosted)

I don't think I can name the brand and model as they would be competitors :eek:
Anyway here is the config

Intel Xeon E5-2420 1.90GHz(2.4GHz Turbo) 6 Core HT, 15M Cache
3.5" Chassis with up to 8 Hot Plug Hard Drives
32GB RDIMM, 1600 MHz, Standard Volt, Dual Rank (8 x 4)
4x 600GB, SAS 6Gbps, 3.5-in, 15K RPM Hard Drive (Hot-plug)(RAID 1/1)
PERC H710 Adapter RAID Controller, 512MB NV Cache
PERC Cable for 3.5in 8HD Hot Plug Chassis
Dual, Hot-plug, Redundant Power Supply (1+1), 750W
iDRAC7 Express
DVD+/-RW, SATA, INTERNAL
On Board Broadcom 5720 Network Adapter(Dual Gigabit Port)

Running Server 2012 Essentials

Comes to little over 3K with support.
Expecting to use for over 3 years.

How does it look?
 
Not sure Dell would be considered a competitor? As they are a manufacturer ;)

You know that server essentials only supports up to 25 people? So will they not be looking to get more than 5 more employees over the next 3 years?
 
You can post the make and model, so which Dell PowerEdge is it?

Get the full license for the iDRAC so you have KVM over IP for emergency use.
 
francky said:
You know that server essentials only supports up to 25 people? So will they not be looking to get more than 5 more employees over the next 3 years?
Click to expand...

You can transition from Essentials to Standard without re-installing (TechNet)

Windows Server® 2012 Essentials supports up to 25 users and 50 devices. When your business needs exceed the limit, you can perform an in-place license transition from Windows Server 2012 Essentials to Windows Server® 2012 Standard, in order to remain license compliant.

After you transition to Windows Server 2012 Standard, the user account and devices limits are removed, but the features that are unique to Windows Server 2012 Essentials (such as the Dashboard, Remote Web Access, and client computer backup), still remain available. However, technical limitations for these features support a maximum of 75 user accounts and 75 devices. If it becomes necessary to add more than 75 user accounts or devices, you should turn off the Windows Server 2012 Essentials features and use the Windows Server 2012 Standard native tools to manage user accounts and devices.
Click to expand...
 
Looks fine. If it's only a file server do you need a 6 core CPU? A quad would be more than adequate.

I'd probably put an Intel network card in it, but that's just force of habit - I don't know what the onboard Broadcom stuff is like.

How are you going to back it up?
 
#Chri5# said:
You can post the make and model, so which Dell PowerEdge is it?

Get the full license for the iDRAC so you have KVM over IP for emergency use.
Click to expand...

It is a Dell PowerEdge T320

blueboy2001 said:
Looks fine. If it's only a file server do you need a 6 core CPU? A quad would be more than adequate.

I'd probably put an Intel network card in it, but that's just force of habit - I don't know what the onboard Broadcom stuff is like.

How are you going to back it up?
Click to expand...

It is going to run IRIS Payroll, IRIS Practice Management & Sage.
So I thought 6 core and HT would help.
We have a 2TB NAS at the moment which is running the every day and monthly backups.
 
francky said:
Not sure Dell would be considered a competitor? As they are a manufacturer ;)

You know that server essentials only supports up to 25 people? So will they not be looking to get more than 5 more employees over the next 3 years?
Click to expand...

We only have 13 Users at the moment but going to get 4 more in this year.

EDIT: also have 2 x Scanner/copiers that uses a user account for sending scans to folders
 
If the budget is there, I'd go with the 6C. The last IRIS install I was involved with used SQL Express (though that's obviously limited to 1 CPU / 1GB RAM) but there's no harm in having extra horsepower.
 
Just placed an order for the config in the op but with Server 2012 Standard with 30 User CALs(new requirement) for a tad over £3.5k
 
I guess given the other applications that makes sense, although I would have looked to see if you could migrate the NAS to be an AIO device with the server since the 710 will handle many drives.
 
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