Building a server for a small business

[Amitojc]

I am trying to build a server for a small business! Here is what I need from the server.

• Internal (to the company) file storage with user name/password login.
• ability to track, limit access for various levels of users
• file/system backup
• External access for users
• External access for clients
• Administrate document control approvals (electronic signatures included)

My current ISP provider for web hosting is www.1and1.com, and I have the “Home” package. I have contemplated moving up to the Small Business package, though not sure if I need the additional services. This is what I want to do, and I was wondering how it is was possible with my current train of thought.

I am thinking of running 2007 Windows SBS or 2011 Windows SBS. Does anyone know the differences because I have 3 licenses for 2007 and would rather use that. Thanks.

 

[heymrdj]

Start with a nice barebones, like a Supermicro bundle. A basic dual core Xeon will be enough unless you need the server to actually run apps for external users. Basic quads are getting pretty cheap now if you need the threading. Finally, at least 8GB of ram for SBS, I recommend a minimum of 12GB from what I've seen. Some people hit 16GB as a base if they are running lots of terminal services. The last one I built I did SBS, it ate 4GB (3.95), as they were on a budget, got them to go 8GB. That worked alright for awhile, but soon with what they were wanting they moved to 12GB. Ended up with 3x4GB DDR3 1333 ECC Unregistered ram with a basic X3450 Xeon processor.

 

[Mogadon]

Have you looked at other options, such as buying a basic server from the Dell Outlet?

I know it's cool to build your own but these days with servers being so cheap as soon as you add the available support from major manufacturers I find it changes the dynamic.

I certainly build my own personal boxes but for servers and workstations I would tend towards a manufacturer and in small business cases I would take advantage of things like Dell's outlet options.

 

[Amitojc]

What kind of barebone are you talking about. They are actaully really expensive. Are you talking about something like this:
http://www.blujay.com/item/X5DAL-G-SUPERMICRO-ATX-Motherboard-CPU-bundle-9020314-3644302
or like this:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...073&CatId=1182

and lots of ram. Okay sounds easy enough. How about the harddrive space. Should I just get a couple of tbs and raid them together. Maybe 3 should be sufficient for all the documentation so we can have a back up system as well. What do you think. I never used SBS windows and is it easy to use. Thanks for your help

 

[Nothinman]

Do not build your own server, get something from HP or Dell. When something like a hard disk dies you'll be glad you have that support contract.

If you already have licenses for SBS 2008 you should probably just use that, I doubt any of the new features in SBS 2011 warrant buying it over 2008 right now.

 

[heymrdj]

I would also recommend at that rate hitting the Dell outlet, but if you wanan go self built, then yes, you *need* a good barebone, it still saves you over individual parts. Servers are very purpose built, having a chassis built around the board affords optimal power, cooling, and space optimization. For a 1U build I recommend this bare bone http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816101275 Put in a nice Xeon (dual core L or quad X), 3 sticks of ram (one tri channel), and 4 1 or 2TB WD RE4 or Seagate Constellation SAS drives in RAID 6 and you have a mean SBS server.

Don't go putting any desktop parts together as a server. For some reason I can run my desktops 24-7 number crunching hard core and they take the abuse, but put them in with groups of idiots and watch them run and they die, while true servers keep churning. I'll never understand the karma around that.

 

[drebo]

I'd go with an HP ProLiant ML110. They have good warranties and are made with good parts.

For OS, go with Windows Server 2008 Foundations. It does everything you need and is very cheap.

My recommendation, regardless of what server hardware you get, would be to use a hardware RAID controller. Something with a battery-backed cache and a dedicated processor. A SmartArray P212 will cost a couple hundred bucks, but the speed increase and the security and reliability over some POS onboard thing is well, well worth the money.

 

[Emulex]

there's a web service that comcast uses docusign? it does cloud based document management so when i want to change my bandwidth to 100/10 i just digitally sign it. i'd check that out. i think windows is not good at all for document management on its own. you need an information lifecycle manager and i know of no good ones that are cheap, and plenty of cheap ones which are no good.

 

[drebo]

Sharepoint can do document management and it's available for free.

 

[Emulex]

document management with business process workflow?

 

[drebo]

Of course. You have to write the workflows yourself, but you can pretty much make it do almost anything you want.

 

[Mogadon]

document management with business process workflow?

Yes certainly. SharePoint Foundation (the free version of SharePoint) provides document management and the ability to create any workflows using SharePoint Designer 2010 or Visual Studio 2010 if you need something more customized. It includes a few out of the box workflows such as document approval by default. Of course there's a lot of other cool stuff SharePoint can do as well.

 

[Emulex]

dang maybe you should consult me a document ticketing system based on pdf's with some xml metadata ,pm me

 

[Amitojc]

Haha, Thanks for your help Emulex. What do you guys mean by workflow. All I want to have is the ability to be able to manage documents for clients. I want them to be able to access documents for now, and have internal back up, and have internal employees at work, to have access to programs. I want premission controls for who can access what, internally. Does that make sense. I am thinking of building a new server, and using SBS 2007. It seems to have everything I really need. This is a small business and not something complicated. We are trying to go for something simple for now and then later expand on it, if our needs open up and it becomes necessary. Thanks!

 

[drebo]

Haha, Thanks for your help Emulex. What do you guys mean by workflow. All I want to have is the ability to be able to manage documents for clients. I want them to be able to access documents for now, and have internal back up, and have internal employees at work, to have access to programs. I want premission controls for who can access what, internally. Does that make sense. I am thinking of building a new server, and using SBS 2007. It seems to have everything I really need. This is a small business and not something complicated. We are trying to go for something simple for now and then later expand on it, if our needs open up and it becomes necessary. Thanks!

Unless you want Exchange, don't go with SBS. And even then, unless you have someone with some serious know-how, I'd recommend using a Hosted Exchange provider. SBS brings a lot of headaches for no real benefit and it's expensive. Server 2008 Foundation will do everything you need at a fraction of the cost.

Sharepoint will give you your extranet site as well, though I don't know if it's compatible with Foundation. You might need Server 2008 Standard to properly use Sharepoint. Even then, it'll till be cheaper than SBS.

 

[spikespiegal]

I'll never understand the karma around that.

Only time I've ever built or advocated building business servers was the time frame between the AMD64 and Intel admitting that multicore P4 Xeons were a piece of sh_t. Maybe you guys don't remember, but it took quite a awhile for Intel 'Core' based servers to hit the market because of all the P4 based crap still in the channel.

Meanwhile, a home brew AMD64 server cost 1/3 to build, required 1/3 the power, and ran SQL queries at 1/3 the time. Made a helluva difference in the data farm, and the only real choice was to toss the boxes together yourself. As it is, I'm still dealing with too many power sucking P4 Xeon based servers that have less horsepower than a WYSE Thinclient, but just won't die. However, some moron thinks that because they are '3ghz' they must be faster than Core based servers running at lower clocks.

Otherwise, stick with Dell or HP orientated small business servers because everything is over-kill right now.

Ditto on Server 2008 Foundation over SBS.