Spec a basic server for small install?

[gshaw]

We're looking at taking on an outcentre that will be kitted out with 16 PCs, SmartBoard, printer etc that will prob need it's own domain set up etc. Just looking at a fairly simple server to hold the AD, DNS, file shares, print server and maaaaybe Exchange (not sure about that yet).

 

Would prefer HP as I rate their kit and will also be going with a ProCurve switch as well. Had a quick Google and seen something like this...

 

HP - 416892-031 (HP ProLiant ML350 G5 Entry - Dual-Core Xeon 5120 1.87 GHz) from hardware.com

 

Prefer SCSI \ SAS to SATA (too slow imo), RAID1 for OS and RAID5 for data probably. Looked at Intel CPUs, are AMD even worth considering for servers now as the game has moved from when we got our servers 2yrs ago and Opterons were best value for £££.

 

Dual core \ dual CPU could be overkill yet with the prices these days makes sense to get decent kit, money isn't too much of an issue but need to be thinking about where the kit is gonna go \ noise levels as well.

 

Anyone bought something similar recently?

[bizzel]

Dual core is never overkill for a sever, imho.

[gshaw]

Oh yeah definitely dual core, I'm thinking dual CPU and dual core - that's the minimum spec we have here so 4 cores overall

[Midget]

Quad Core is the only thing worth even considering now.

 

With oodles of RAM

[gshaw]

Thought as much Gotta love how much hardware prices have come down now

[superfletch]

Seen that server operating in a similar kind of Environment (a small primary) and it seems pretty robust. I'd agree with other posts that you'll probably want:

 

Quad Core CPU,

Oodles of RAM (2/4Gb Minimum),

Gb Network Card,

Gb Switch(es),

Space - You'd be surprised how quick they'll fill it up with junk,

 

Also not sure which (if any) tape drive the Proliant comes with. The one I saw had a DAT40 in it but this wasn't enough for backing all their data up and I had to change it to a DAT72.

 

Hope this is some help!!