New Server ?

[rlculver]

Hi All,

 

I am looking to support a small / medium business who have grown in the past few years.

 

Total number of users is 40.

 

Total number of devices 40 (inc 20 iPads)

 

Which server would you recommend to provide AD to this type of environment. What are you thoughts on the HPE MicroServer Gen10 Plus series?

 

As it is a new network (No AD Currently ) would you recommend a local server or move more to the cloud ?

 

Your thoughts and recommendations please.

 

Thanks

Edited April 2, 2020 by rlculver

[Norphy]

What problem are you looking to solve by putting in a server and installing a local AD?

[mavhc]

If you're wanting to configure ipads too, then an MDM that also configures your windows computers might be better.

 

Physical server wise anything really, not going to need dual PSUs and 6 HDDs, just put 2 intel datacenter ssds in, mirrored, 64GB ram because why not, and some random cpu.

[rlculver]

Thanks

 

Currently they are all stand-alone devices ( I have over specced the 40 currently, but looking at potentially number of devices in a few years time).

 

Is AD the way forward to have a better managed system ?

[3s-gtech]

Beauty of AD is its compatibility and flexibility - you can start there and migrate out to Azure, G Suite, whatever. It’s obviously costly to license for a business though.

 

Personally, I’d set up with AD and go from there. I have an old Microserver as one of my DCs and it’s grand. Doesn’t need much oomph to run those services, though good backups are essential as ever and I like having two or more DCs just in case (that is harder to justify in a small business).

[Norphy]

Beauty of AD is its compatibility and flexibility - you can start there and migrate out to Azure, G Suite, whatever. It’s obviously costly to license for a business though.

 

Personally, I’d set up with AD and go from there. I have an old Microserver as one of my DCs and it’s grand. Doesn’t need much oomph to run those services, though good backups are essential as ever and I like having two or more DCs just in case (that is harder to justify in a small business).

 

I disagree. For a business that size, I'd look closer at a Microsoft 365 subscription which includes Intune. That way, you'd be able to join all of your Windows, iOS and Android devices to that and manage them from there. You'd have access to services like OneDrive and Office 365 groups to store and share stuff plus MS Office licenses would be included as well.

[djm968]

Yes I agree with @northy and if you already have Office licensing, I would go with Office 365 Business Essentials (£3.80 per user/per month)

 

https://products.office.com/en-gb/compare-all-microsoft-office-products-b?&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwmpb0BRCBARIsAG7y4zb--3hGDLmysMrVC-aXDB-_sUwSJI2Bg-StP50hWwfOiReNy4wdUC8aAs57EALw_wcB%3aG%3as&OCID=AID2000748_SEM_4tAw0cCo&MarinID=s4tAw0cCo%7c250577506758%7coffice+365+small+business+plans%7ce%7cc%7c%7c54465832951%7ckwd-296121691122&lnkd=Google_O365SMB_Brand&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmpb0BRCBARIsAG7y4zb--3hGDLmysMrVC-aXDB-_sUwSJI2Bg-StP50hWwfOiReNy4wdUC8aAs57EALw_wcB&activetab=tab%3aprimaryr2

[rlculver]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

How does intune compare to AD ? Do you still Ctrl + Alt + Delete to login to the device ?

 

Thanks

 

Any more info would be great

[djm968]

Depends how much control/management you want over the devices. Intune provides management for Mobile devices.

Have a look at this article.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory-domain-services/overview

[Jcx500]

Definitely would look to be cloud based if the user level is low , ms office 365 would be the way to go

[mavhc]

You can have a cloud AD, called Azure AD, which you connect your Win10 computers to, and then configure them via Azure as well. InTune also lets you configure ipads, how well is another question.

 

You're paying per computer/user per year though, rather than a one off cost, so factor that into your business plan.

 

Also obviously relies on having good internet, and small files, no point if you're a photography or video company. Do you have any shared storage currently?

[southhamster]

Look at their internet connection too. If it's slow/unreliable you may want something local. I've done something similar for a local heating engineers firm. They use a NAS with cloud sync as all of them opening complex AutoCAD drawings over their broadband is hopeless. The better NAS can host a server VM if needed

[mavhc]

Yeah, all a NAS is is a linux computer, so depending on the cpu and software in it, can buy one that does everything