Spec me a Server
- Thread starter Avathar77
- Start date
To be able to offer you a decent build we'd need to know a few things. A bit more background information regarding clients os's etc would be nice. Do you use mac's or pcs?. do you have a preference etc.
Windows wise you'd be using sbs 2011 standard for your corporation(more than likely).
is it the only server?. will it have to run exchange aswell as the other applications etc.
Windows wise you'd be using sbs 2011 standard for your corporation(more than likely).
is it the only server?. will it have to run exchange aswell as the other applications etc.
Their current setup is bit old!
Using a mix of Windows 7 pro and windows XP pro on PCs(No Macs)
Server is running SBS 2003 R2
So first step is to upgrade the server and then at least half of the client PCs.
And then proposing to use windows 7 for all PCs.
Not using exchange at the moment - using outlook for email and calender tasks.
They have a VOIP system that is connected to another PC.
Current setup is an odd job patch work by many people
Edit :
Most important is to run the "Iris" software and going to be using "Sage" soon, so there will be a SQL Server running as well.
Edit2:
There are plans to implement a CRM system to their web site.
Last edited:
haha time for an upgrade then. My company has a lot of similar situations where the previous firm has a old/poorly managed setup.
sbs 03 r2 isn't that old. Logged onto a 2000 box earlier on, god i'm glad things have moved on a bit.
Well the migration process is relatively simple and automated so I guess your just looking for hardware advice.
Unfortunately I'm not able to reliably advise you on server hardware as I only have limited experience (new job). Coupling things to note is that sage is a complete resource hog and requires quite a good machine to run well.
Our base servers for small business's are generally HP ML G6 range. I'm having a chat with hp rep. They said that range is a good start but you could speak to them regarding what would be best if your unsure.
sbs 03 r2 isn't that old. Logged onto a 2000 box earlier on, god i'm glad things have moved on a bit.
Well the migration process is relatively simple and automated so I guess your just looking for hardware advice.
Unfortunately I'm not able to reliably advise you on server hardware as I only have limited experience (new job). Coupling things to note is that sage is a complete resource hog and requires quite a good machine to run well.
Our base servers for small business's are generally HP ML G6 range. I'm having a chat with hp rep. They said that range is a good start but you could speak to them regarding what would be best if your unsure.
Soldato
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- 30 Sep 2006
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- Midlands, UK
Well if you're running Iris, are you using the Exchequer system?
It obviously all depends on budget, but for future proofing purposes?
HP servers are good, i've virtualised 2 x ML370 G6's, but that is way above your requirements as they cost best part of 10k each.
Don't be upsold, but i'd go for a server with 2 cpu's, 16gb of ram and a decent raid5 array with enough storage for your future growth.
SBS 2008 would do you, but Server 2008 R2 would be better.
If you're going to run a CRM; Sage Act?, Iris bolt-on, then depending on your knowledge you may want to think about virtualising as some CRM system do not play nice with certain server roles that are required by other things.
I had this headache a couple of months ago.
I'm afraid you'll need to do your homework and ask as many questions as you can regarding the company's needs in the future (1 years time), otherwise you could come unstuck and have to shell out again later.
Are you fully rolling out a domain environment? with Exchange? So, currently you're using pop?
Oooohhh....so many questions, sorry.
It obviously all depends on budget, but for future proofing purposes?
HP servers are good, i've virtualised 2 x ML370 G6's, but that is way above your requirements as they cost best part of 10k each.
Don't be upsold, but i'd go for a server with 2 cpu's, 16gb of ram and a decent raid5 array with enough storage for your future growth.
SBS 2008 would do you, but Server 2008 R2 would be better.
If you're going to run a CRM; Sage Act?, Iris bolt-on, then depending on your knowledge you may want to think about virtualising as some CRM system do not play nice with certain server roles that are required by other things.
I had this headache a couple of months ago.
I'm afraid you'll need to do your homework and ask as many questions as you can regarding the company's needs in the future (1 years time), otherwise you could come unstuck and have to shell out again later.
Are you fully rolling out a domain environment? with Exchange? So, currently you're using pop?
Oooohhh....so many questions, sorry.
would it not be beneficial to have more RAM if they intend to virtualise the crm system. I'm aware virtualisation generally require less overheads.
But overall Banzai Joe suggestion seems pretty good and similar to some we deal with.
If you intend to be supporting this company for a while you'll need to consider heavily where the company is going e.g. expanding etc. Otherwise as banzai said this may only last you a year or two.
But overall Banzai Joe suggestion seems pretty good and similar to some we deal with.
If you intend to be supporting this company for a while you'll need to consider heavily where the company is going e.g. expanding etc. Otherwise as banzai said this may only last you a year or two.
Soldato
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- 30 Sep 2006
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- 5,280
- Location
- Midlands, UK
Thanks for the backup Ethan. I've learned from my bosses mistakes. Having to scrimp and make do, then buynig emergency stuff that only lasts 6 months. Then when a full implementation is required a whole new expenditure is on the cards. Painful to say the least.
For info purposes, i have moved most of our stuff from physical to virtual, with 2 x ML370 G6's, one has 4 VM's on (68Gb ram), the other just one at the mo (32gb ram), both with 2 x cpu's.
Our DMS required a separate server (vm) as it didn't like stuff like IIS, Print server or other roles on it. So virtualisation is a very handy thing to have.
That said, i also have one of the HP NL-36 Microserver's with 8gb of ram and running 3 x vm's (DC, WSUS, Print server). As they are dirt cheap, it may be a good idea to get one, get it all up and running. If it proves not powerful enough, use it as a backup. Mine cost less than £500 and thats with 4 x 250gb sata drives, 8gb of ram (the max), dvdrw, 2nd nic.
For info purposes, i have moved most of our stuff from physical to virtual, with 2 x ML370 G6's, one has 4 VM's on (68Gb ram), the other just one at the mo (32gb ram), both with 2 x cpu's.
Our DMS required a separate server (vm) as it didn't like stuff like IIS, Print server or other roles on it. So virtualisation is a very handy thing to have.
That said, i also have one of the HP NL-36 Microserver's with 8gb of ram and running 3 x vm's (DC, WSUS, Print server). As they are dirt cheap, it may be a good idea to get one, get it all up and running. If it proves not powerful enough, use it as a backup. Mine cost less than £500 and thats with 4 x 250gb sata drives, 8gb of ram (the max), dvdrw, 2nd nic.
hmmm lot of things to think about!
I may have to have a long hard talk with them about the future plans!
Thank you very much for the input guys, this may require a lot more research.
I will ask many more questions later so keep an eye out for this thread please!
I may have to have a long hard talk with them about the future plans!
Thank you very much for the input guys, this may require a lot more research.
I will ask many more questions later
so keep an eye out for this thread please!We use the microservers aswell there actually really good for the price. You have some pretty high end gear their, overkill for this particular case but the none the less interesting to know.
Unfortunately not a lot of companies have a plan for their IT systems. This leads to companies stalling due to budget restrictions. Plan ahead and avoid the additional improvised solution.
Only thing I will add is that make sure you get a good raid configuration set-up this will heavily effect sage and similar programs.
(two final points, make sure you have a server backup procedure prepared and finally sever migrations are easy when things go right, but again be prepared for something to go wrong. It's happened to me and you can easily spend far more time and money than you intended.)
Unfortunately not a lot of companies have a plan for their IT systems. This leads to companies stalling due to budget restrictions. Plan ahead and avoid the additional improvised solution.
Only thing I will add is that make sure you get a good raid configuration set-up this will heavily effect sage and similar programs.
(two final points, make sure you have a server backup procedure prepared and finally sever migrations are easy when things go right, but again be prepared for something to go wrong. It's happened to me and you can easily spend far more time and money than you intended.)