Entry-level server hardware advice

[Rat]

I'm trying to help set up a proper server and domain at a small business. The only servers I'm familiar with are fairly expensive rack servers, so trying to pick something useful at the other end of the spectrum is new to me. I was kind of shocked when I saw that the one the chap was looking at was £150; I didn't even know you could get servers that cheaply. The other thing is that I only have experience with HP/Compaq servers, so I don't know which other companies are reputable in that market.

Realistically, it's going to be less than a grand all-in. I was looking at the HP ML150, as I've worked with the ML350 before, but that's going to be pushing it for a grand once the OS and HDDs are added. Something like that but cheaper would be ideal.

It's got to serve around 5 (no more than 10) users as a file server and mail server. Needs to be a tower, as there is no rack to put it in. And it needs to run SBS; I'm sure there would be a great case for using Linux or similar, but it's not going to happen in this case. The only other thing I'd like is decent support and service.

Anybody with experience at this end of the market got any advice?

 

[GreNME]

New SBS

One generation old SBS

 

[Zep]

Depends how reliable you want it. You can get cheap filestore systems for very little money that will hold quite some terabytes at fair access speeds. But they have a shortish MTBF, and very little flexibility.

pay more and you can get more reliability and more features. But you may have to give up some of the disk space capability and speed. You want both - pay lots.

The ML530 was reliable and hardware RAIDed, with the ability to add tape-drives, etc. But it was also, frankly, quite slow, hot and noisy - a rack server in a thin box with small wheels on. Think of it as a bulldozer - slow, hot, heavy, noisy but unstoppably strong.

Thought about a 1RU server sitting on a tabletop? Plenty of options there. Some pretty current HP DL360 servers go for under $1000 (e.g. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HP-ProLiant-DL360-G3-Dual-Xeon-3-2Ghz-Rack-Mount-Server_W0QQitemZ250369670656QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Servers?hash=item250369670656&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318) They would do more than pull the skin off a rice pudding!

 

[Rat]

Some good ideas. I hadn't even considered Dell because, while I like some of their laptops, their desktop machines have always been horrendous.

Is it safe to just sit a rack mount unit on a desk, then? I've never examined how they're normally vented. Reliability is indeed a factor, because it'll be me they call if it fails.

 

[GreNME]

Dell's servers aren't bad, but I definitely suggest the three year NBD warranty at the least (gold 4-hour at best). I tend to suggest that for most servers, though, because it's bad enough doing the OS and software support, and hardware always takes way more time if you don't have at least some warranty to get replacements fast.

 

[Zep]

Rack servers sit fine on a desktop. They vent front-to-back. The downside to the horsepower they provide is they are noisy and hot, being designed expecting to be housed in a datacentre environment.

Dell make right fair servers at a competitive price, but the support is pretty much "parts replacement", i.e. don't expect too much in the way of configuration or operating instruction. HP do very good gear and have good service, but they are aiming at the big boys so their support options make more sense after you buy your 100th machine.

Keep an eye on retired servers. Rat, working where I am, I'll drop you a PM with more details.

 

[GreNME]

Yeah, that's a good distinction to make between Dell and HP, Zep. I've had positive experience with Dell, but only because 99% of my experiences with them had to do with hardware replacement and not software or configuration (I handle the latter myself). HP are really the sweet machines, but the savings come in volume. If I could find a recently-used HP server I would love to have it over a new lower-end Dell server due to the slick engineering. Remanufactured servers definitely can be had very low-cost and come with good performance.

 

[Rat]

That's cool. I still can't make up my mind, but the noisier ones may not be an option, since it's going to be sitting about six feet away from the desk of the business owner, either on or under a desk. I'd love to get a proper rack, even just an air-conditioned cupboard, but it's not going to happen. In that respect, I'm probably best looking at something under-powered. Serving around 5 users, it's not going to be hard-worked after set up.

I think at this stage, I really want an HP, and second-hand may be an option (especially "in this economic climate") that's worth looking at, although that would mean buying a separate care pack. Since I have to come to a decision in the next couple of days, I'll let you know what I come up with.