How much to build a new server?

[TechSupp]

Just looking in to getting a new server and been quoted by our usual supplier but need a few ideas if its reasonable. The hardware costs are usually not bad so not too concerned about those at the moment (as its only in the ideas stage at the moment) but been quoted as 4 days to build the new one with 2008 and transfer all data and shares/users etc accross and test/commission it for £1300 ex vat. Cant do it myself for reasons of lack of experience (getting experience on this project is not suitable) and time available (as I work across 4 schools in the week). Doe this seem a reasonable time/cost?

[pete]

Assuming the £1,300 doesn't include any software or hardware costs....

 

Is this "build server from components", or an off-the-shelf HP/Dell/whatever? Is the hardware cost subsidised because you're paying them to install it?

 

Ask for a cost breakdown. It doesn't take 32hrs (assuming 8hr days) to swap out a single server at the "school who can't afford/don't need to employee a full time tech level", no matter how manky or undocumented it is.

[TechSupp]

Its an off the shelf HP Proliant ML350 server with extra disks and memory added (3yr warranty, 3GB Mem, 2x120Gb HD and 3x500Gb HD). That £1300 does not include any hardware/software that has been priced separately. without going in to deatils too much its approx £2000 for the hardware. Seemed alot for the install/migration etc but as not done any before didnt know how much time was involved....but knew someone on here would :-)

[jamesreedersmith]

Thats only 325 per day which is about the industry standard for this sort of work - as for 4 days to build, transfer, install and test, that seems perfectly reasonable.

 

Day 1 build server, install drivers, service packs and updates as needed.

Day 2 Join to domain, transfer fsmo roles, start data and printer transfer

Day 3 reconfigure GPO's, finish data and printer migration, demote and remove old server.

Day 4 Testing, tweaking, finalising and sign off.

 

Totally reasonable price to pay.

 

James

[TechSupp]

Thanks, just what I wanted as I needed to see if it was realistic as I have never done one before.

[bodminman]

Christ on a bike, £325 is a bargain!

 

The last time I asked a company to supply and install/config a new server they wanted £700 a day!

[steveg]

I think the rate per day is fair enough, but 4 days seems a bit excessive to me? Guess it depends just how much stuff you've got on there. We normally charge for 2 days when we do this, quickest we've completed it start to finish was 7 hours, longest took around 3 weeks! (Discovered there were major problems with the domain that meant it wouldnt replicate to another server, only discovered it when we installed the second server!

 

What you've been quoted certainly isnt excessive, but equally isnt the cheapest ever. Make sure u get a very clear list of what they are going to do, and any support you will get if things arent quite right afterwards. With servers that have been doing thier job for 4 or 5 years its very easy to overlook something it does that no one has touched in years!

 

Steve

[TechSupp]

May ask if they are willing to quote a per day rate up to a max of their original quote of 4 days then if its an easy job its cheaper. They are usually quite flexible and there is alot more at stake, not just the server. Anyway thanks for the replies, all been helpfull as usual. At least mine is the easy job getting prices, the harder job will be the heads in actually getting the funding :-)

[Gibbo]

I'd agree that 4 days seems excessive. We did something similar, had three days pencilled in but was done in two, with no rushing.

[maark]

Per day rate is reasonable - a lot of firms charging £600 a day a while ago.