Reccomendations For a File Server

[disinfo]

Hi All,

I wonder if you can help me, the ICT Coordinator here has a meeting with the head tonight to discuss budgeting for hardware for the curriculum network. She has asked me to provide details for her to take to him.

I've managed to find some decent workstations and all of the switches I will need but its a long time since I’ve had to buy server hardware.

Basically I am looking for a new fileserver, preferably rack mounted to run 2003 R2 to start with. I’m looking for something with decent fast disks.

The fileserver is going to need to have at least 600GB for storing files and could be accessed by up to 700 workstations.

Bad news is, I’m looking at £3000 for the server..

Also, I’ve never installed a rack server before, do they just go into standard cabinets? (Space permitting)

Thanks for any help in advance.


Matt

[plexer]

£3K might buy you a backup solution for a 600GB server.

Have you quantified the amount of data that users are going to store? are you going to give them quotas? thereby being able to require less storage space.

Don't forget a ups for the server either.

Have a look at the dell offerings and get in touch with a dell account manager or a reseller that has a good relationship with one.

Ben

[simongrahamuk]

Never tried them, but NEC may be able to help you. I've had very few problems with their desktops.

I got a quote from them for a server recently though and it came in at just over £2000, and that was with 4 x 250Gb drives.

[Norphy]

If you're going to go Windows, I'd get something using Windows Storage Server personally. No CALs to worry about then. Check out the Dell Poweredge 2900 range, we have one and it is fantastic.

Rack mounted servers do just go into standard 19" racks, yes. You need to make sure you get one designed for the job (we use APC AR2100BLKs, very nice and not too badly priced). You do need to make sure that you have rails for the server, the ears on either side won't hold a servers weight by themselves

[disinfo]

Thanks Guys, i've spec'd up a pretty decent poweredge 2900 for just sort of £3000, half the desirable capacity but its still well enough.

With regards to NEC, i have an NEC Express 5800/120Eg which they told us had a hardware RAID. Its actually got a promise "hardware assisted" RAID controller on board.

Matt

[john]

I use HPs and they are very good servers as well

[tosca925]

Check out the Dell Poweredge 2900 range, we have one and it is fantastic.

We had one of these last year and we are really pleased with it.

[tarquel]

Also, I’ve never installed a rack server before, do they just go into standard cabinets? (Space permitting)

Make sure your cabinet is deep enough

U may need to buy a free-standing cabinet or not, depending on whether your existing one is deep enough.

Its the partially the reason why i have tower servers instead of rack mountable ones - a) cabinet not deep enough b) in most cases they are cheaper c) no money or room to buy a freestanding cabinet

Oh, and i ditto to john, I've used HP servers since about 1999 here so yup, I'm pretty happy with HP and their servers heh

Regards
Nath

[disinfo]

I think the cab should be a deep enough but i'll check, had a brand new free standing cab installed during the new-build.

Anyway the ICT coordinator has informed my today that our spending has been approved, looks like there's a new poweredge 2900 coming my way~!!

[western]

The cabinet needs to 1000mm deep. There is rack mount servers availabe from fujitsu-siemens for around £1000 AMD with free second proccesor. As for the backup / storage why not go for a NAS terastation - 1000gb HDD for aroung £525? for your £3000 2x duel proccesing servers and 2000gb hdd capacity.