Number of Servers

[Pottsey]

We have a great ratio of computers 1.3 ish students per computer if I include laptops. The oldest 4 years old computers should being phased out this year for some new dual core desktops. But only half are networked. Well excluding the wireless laptops I would say 1 third of the desktops are networked. No IT suite as its not needed here according to management and due to the kids (our students have moderate learning difficulty’s and/or behaviour difficulty’s) everyone in managements decided no more then 1 computer with internet access per room as the general rule.

 

 

 

 

“and possibly have them communicating with each other?”

We are still in the Dark Age’s with a peer to peer network. Virus checker updates are fun before I started someone went around and did it all manually via CD. As soon as I started I automated the half that are networked.

 

I did try and talk to management about getting a server but I couldn’t justify the cost or come up with any good reasons to get one. Time saving was the only reason but they prefer to pay me for extra hours over getting a server. There really isn’t any benefit for us. Bit of a unique situation we are in I guess after reading everyone else’s posts.

 

 

 

“Are you a High School? You can get away with it at Primary Level (depending on the size)”

Special needs secondly school with 60 ish computers + laptops and 70ish pupils.

[russdev]

no not unqiue some of us working in high schools forget there whole another world...

 

point is if dont need server then dont as long as it works for school you are at..

 

On another note maybe contact local college maybe able to get an old server that can upgrade for your needs

 

 

russ

[Geoff]

At the Primary schools I usually have 2 servers.

 

1x W2k3 Server doing the usual AD stuff/WSUS/File and Print.

1x Linux server doing DNS/DHCP/Web Proxy.

 

At the High School

 

2x Admin servers for SIMS.Net

 

1x Linux Terminal Server

1x Linux Mail Server

2x Linux Web Servers

1x Linux Development server

 

1x Exchange Server

1x File & Print

2x DCs

7x Random Windows Servers that I can't remeber what they do.

[NetworkGeezer]

@Geoff: Excuse me for being nosey but why two SIMS servers? Do you have the DMS and SQL separate?

[Geoff]

I should clarify that.

 

No 1 is a DC with File and Print etc.

No 2 runs sims.net

 

At least I think that's how it's setup. They run a seperate 'admin' domain on a seeprate VLAN to everything else.

[Gatt]

2 x DC's

2 x File Server (1 is administered by the LEA

1 x SIMS Server (LEA's)

1 x Intranet Server

1 x ISA Server

[sahmeepee]

14(+2) physical servers, 530 clients, ~1900 humans or similar

 

2 x DC's (+DHCP+DNS)

1 x Exchange

1 x ISA+Websense+WSUS

1 x SIMS

1 x FMS

1 x NAS

2 x Fileservers (i.e. normal WS2003 instead of storage edition)

1 x Applications/shared storage/SQL Server/print/cruft

1 x Sharepoint/classserver

1 x Terminal server (gradually on its way out) (not rackmount)

1 x Cashless catering database server (not rackmount)

1 x MOM2000 (not rackmount)

+(2 x IP Camera servers (not rackmount))

 

=14(+2)

 

The camera servers are servers, but we don't really manage them as such: they're more like appliances. I can't really get any more servers because I struggled to do that list from memory as it is!

[free4440273]

5 domain servers (ibm and dell). 3 nas kits. 6 mimo wireless (linksys). 600 desktops (hp). 250 laptops (ibm). 25 b/w printers. 12 colour printers (hp).

[john]

20 servers for me, and you can never have enough, spread every role out , don't put too much load on one machine

[GrumbleDook]

Off the top of my head ...

 

1x DC (master)

1x DC (SMS/MOM/DHCP/RIS)

1x File Server / Veritas BE

1x Package Server (to be decommisioned)

1x Web Server / Sleuth / shared storage

1x mail relay / SWS (SWS to be removed soon) / firewall logging

1x Applications / Print server

1x Sims.NET / admin file server

1x FirstClass (being removed and changed to a file server / Terminal Server)

1x Smoothwall (just in, not yet in full use)

1x Library server

1x QCA

1x Apple

1x Development (presently LNM)

 

To arrive in the next few weeks

1x Exchange

1x DC (the SMS / MOM box will be demoted and RIS moved)

1x Terminal Server

 

I make that 17.

 

Most machines are running some form of SQL (MSSQL, MSDE, SQL Anywhere, MySQL) because different applications that are networked require a database. It tends to be this that means we can't stick anything else on and that we need a new box.

 

After I have finished playing with LNM before Spot starts on the new domain we will be looking at Virtual Server again to put a number of applications onto the same box that would not have been possible. If that works then we may spend time looking at VMWare and so on to do the same.

[openhgs]

What I find interesting is that most sites have 2 or more DCs (and someone said that you must have at least two). Once again, we swim against the tide - we only have one. I know that MickeySoft say that you should have more than one, to handle machine failures and load balancing. Machine failures (both hardware and software) are far less frequent now than even 5 years ago, so do we REALLY need more that one DC? Also, I've never seen a DC stressed by excessive numbers of logins, but perhaps that is because I'be never worked at a really huge M$ site.

[john]

I think that two is usefull, as its a really quick way of keeping it alive if you have problems, just think, you can live without a printserver for a day or so whilst you repair it, but your whole world dies without Active Directory now a days, so in my mind its good practice to have two.

[DMcCoy]

What I find interesting is that most sites have 2 or more DCs (and someone said that you must have at least two). Once again, we swim against the tide - we only have one. I know that MickeySoft say that you should have more than one, to handle machine failures and load balancing. Machine failures (both hardware and software) are far less frequent now than even 5 years ago, so do we REALLY need more that one DC? Also, I've never seen a DC stressed by excessive numbers of logins, but perhaps that is because I'be never worked at a really huge M$ site.

 

I can't say I've ever tried to get a domain going again that only had once DC that is now dead. I'm quite sure I don't want to find out! I have both dcs running dhcp (50/50 split), dns, gc, wins, ad. If one fails every other settings for the servers and clients means they can continue to function with no loss of service. Also means I can patch and do a quick reboot one at a time with no real issues for the clients.

[tosca925]

2 x DC's

1 x Printer Server

1 x Application Server

1 x Sims

1 x CMiS

1 x ePortal

1 x Exchange

1 x Proxy

1 x NAS

2 x Storage/Back Up

 

 

1500 Kids, 170 Staff, 750 Clients.

[Norphy]

Hmm. Lets see now...

 

Root domain DC and BDC (2 Servers)

Student domain DC and BDC (2 servers)

Staff domain DC and BDC (2 servers)

Primary file server

Application and printer server

SIMS server

Bromcom server

Ghost/AV/General Crap repository server

Terminal Server

2 Proxy Servers

 

That makes 14 I think. The SIMS server is due to be replaced within the next two months and we'll be adding a server for the learning platform, whichever one we decide to go for.

 

Fun fun fun

[unixman]

I'm with @openhgs on this. One DC is all we have too and it works fine. If that box dies, we have no CMIS either, but in the last two years the box has only been down twice as a consequence of hardware. Both times were when I resited it. We get CMIS issues but these are application problems and so no amount of DCs will resolve them.

 

your whole world dies without Active Directory now a days, so in my mind its good practice to have two.

 

We don't use Active Directory either. Microsoft say you have too, but don't believe em! W2K works fine without using it. It *might* be called "Active Directory Users & Computers" but it is the same as existed on NT4.

[DMcCoy]

I'm with @openhgs on this. One DC is all we have too and it works fine. If that box dies, we have no CMIS either, but in the last two years the box has only been down twice as a consequence of hardware. Both times were when I resited it. We get CMIS issues but these are application problems and so no amount of DCs will resolve them.

 

your whole world dies without Active Directory now a days, so in my mind its good practice to have two.

 

We don't use Active Directory either. Microsoft say you have too, but don't believe em! W2K works fine without using it. It *might* be called "Active Directory Users & Computers" but it is the same as existed on NT4.

 

Its not about one DC working well, its about when it doesn't! I'm not sure I see the point of using Windows 2000 server or above without active directory, you lose all of advantages over nt4. You may as well save some money and use samba.

[Richie1972]

We're currently running 13, but this is likely to grow as we develop more services and improve disaster recovery and content provision.

 

1. SIMS (and soon PARS)

2. Domain controller and 3 years of students data

3. Domain controller, 2 years of students data, public files and QCA testing

4. domain controller, staff data and staff public files

5. Backup server

6. school database server

7. Succesmaker and Eclipse server

8. Print server

9. IT apps, drivers and IT database system (something I'm implementing across school for management of desktops and resources, etc)

10. Second IT server that currently just handles RIS installations

11. ISA server - provides web access through LEA and ADSL, plus VPN access for tech staff. Also has Websense filtering - makes our life so much easier for blocking/unblocking websites

12. Frogserver - the school VLE

13. Reporting server. Primarily used for Websense web filtering reporting, but also has 3Com network supervisor running on it

 

All are running Windows 2003... except frogserver, which has LiSUX on it.

 

I reckon by end of year we could be at around 16 servers... looking at adding a media server, second backup server for improved disaster recovery and possibly a development server.

[W32Jbot]

Ok here goes, the contents of the countries biggest schools server room And there are only 14 servers;).

 

Armadillo - FMS And Alice (library)

Aardvark - ISA

Alewife - MIS

Antelope - ILS (Succesmaker enterprise) Was Sophos server but couldnt cope

AyeAye - Print

Axlotl - Backup + DC

Appgate - VPN

Contentcache - Caches content

Cougar - DC, DNS, Staff data, Ranger, QCA

Cheetah - DC, DHCP, Student data

Caracal - VLE, Sophos enterprise

Emu - Exchange and intranet

TLMSData - Access control

 

This lot cater for 3000 students (3400 from Sept) about 500-600 staff, A leisure center, and a theatre. It is supported by a team of 6 which includes 3 techs whom are leased out to feeder schools for a couple of hours each day, And a dedicated MIS support person. Structured like this, IS Manager, Network manager, Senior tech and then 3 techs

 

We have Approx 400 laptops and 500 desktops.

 

Dont laugh but we have not VLAN'd yet, and are looking to consolidate all our sql servers.

 

Other than our VPN running Sun Solaris we are M$ all the way.

 

@ DanIT, dont you think you could thin that lot out a bit?

[Teth]

Quake 3 server?

 

Do you let them play at lunch time or something?

[browolf]

2000 users, 700 workstations, 150 laptops

 

3 domain controllers win2k

1 standalone server

1 exchange 5.5 server

1 isa 2004 server

1 backup

1 ghost server

2 (identical) print servers

1 linux proxy

1 mac server

1 linux gateway (mac network > academic network)

 

 

next week we're getting

 

3 new rack servers (to replace 2 dc + 1 exchange 2003)

2 nas boxes

[mrforgetful]

1 Exchange 2003

1 ISA 2004

1 Print

1 DHCP etc

1 Backup

1 Applications

1 NAS

[kestrel1]

We are running 10 servers, as follows:

1) PDC/ file server

2) Print server

3) Web/Proxy server (Unix)

4) 4 x Citrix Application servers (Thin Client network)

5) Key Skills Trainer server

6) Admin/SIMS server

7) Backup server for Admin/SIMS

I know this looks like seven, but check out number 4. Might setup a BDC at some stage & add more Application servers as the network grows.

[ANiceEnglishman]

Curriculum Network

About 280 clients

6 standalone PC's (in Music)

1 FR

2 DC's

1 CMIS server

1 web proxy server

 

Admin Network

1 DC / SIMS server

25 clients

 

Admin network and SIMS are being decom'd and users migrated to CMIS and the curriculum network.

 

Staff

Me

Part of a part-time administrator

[SteveD]

1 Admin

2 DNS/WINS/DC's

1 WWW

2 File

1 NAS

1 Print

1 VoIP

1 Voip voicemail

1 Exchange 2003

1 Avantis CD server (waste of time)

1 WUS/SUS

1 IDS

1 SchoolGuardian

 

1250 students, 150 staff, about 250 parents, 600 workstations, 150 laptops, no electricity