TS & SQL Server - Hardware Opinion

madman045 · 14 Jun 2008 at 19:34

Currently trying to sort out a new TS and SQL server, this is the current spec which hosts internally 50 users

Dual Xeon (Server is about 6yrs old), 4GB, 2x 74GB SCSI (7200rpm) Raid 1 running Windows 2000 Server and SQL 2000

It also runs TS for about 50 users

Now it's very slow, falls over and the main business app running on it falls over on a regular basis, now this is the spec they have been recommend for the upgrade and also to grow another 50 users over the next five years.

TS Box - Xeon 5320, 3GB, 2x146GB 10k SAS Raid 1 on 128mb controller, redundant PSU, 3YRs hardware support, Windows 2003 Standard R2

SQL Box - Dual Xeon 5320, 8GB, 7x 146GB SAS 10k, 2xRaid1, 5xRaid5, Redundant PSU, Windows 2003 Server X64 R2 STD, Single SQL 2005 Standard X64 CPU License

Would this be enough for 50-100 users for the next five years? I had spec'd something quite different, but they want the cheapest option

Thanks

madman045 · 14 Jun 2008 at 20:07

Well this is what I thought, but hey the customer is always right (or not as the case may be)

Here is what I spec'd

TS: Dual Quad Core E5340, 8GB, 4x73GB 15k SAS, Raid 10 with 1x73GB Hotspare on 256mb raid controller with BBU, SAS Controller with external ports, with LTO-4 Backup for both TS and SQL box (and future Exchange 2007 Box), Windows 2003 Server Standard X64, Redundant PSUs etc..

SQL: Quad Core X5450, 8GB, 2x 146GB 15k SAS Raid 1, 6x 146GB Raid 10, 1x146GB SAS Global HS, Redundant PSUs, Windows 2003 Standars X64 and SQL 2005 Standard X64 (Single CPU Licence)

How does that sound?

The 5320 CPU they spec'd is a Quad 1.86Ghz, 1066 with 2x4mb where as the one's im looking to use are 2.66Ghz with 1333 and 2x6mb and the SQL is a 3Ghz, 1333 2x6mb

Edit: They have also suggested, that as they dont want to pay for TS licensing, they want to use their old box for TS instead of the new server so they didnt have to spend more lol

madman045 · 15 Jun 2008 at 21:35

As it's not my DB, I cant answer that, however it has 5/6yrs worth of data, the DB itself is about 5GB and the tempdb is only 8mb at the moment, but it's not being used being a sunday. The application itself is made up of multiple programs (mainly vb written) and obviously it runs one app per user as they go into different parts of the software. it did fall over last week when someone ran a report on stock levels.

At the end of the day, as like everything they buy, they always look to the cheapest option and expect it to last years, they do the same with desktops and laptops of which generally the laptops last 6-12 months tops and they just buy another £350 laptop

madman045 · 16 Jun 2008 at 09:31

While the DB itself isnt huge, I dont know how much of a mess it's in due to all the application development changes over the years, new stuff added randomly

The idea around the backup is Backup Exec on the TS box and the SQL Agent on the SQL box and backup across the lan and next year they are looking to get an email server, but I'm not looking forward to seeing what they dont want to spend there.