Building a server

[pstylesss]

I'm building what is essentially a fileserver/ms sql server for the police departments' car cameras. The problems I am running into is deciding on the CPU. I have ~6,500 (including OS and MS SQL (standard 5 cal) to spend. I want at least 5 TB of storage to start out with (with a separate RAID for the OS).

Cost is of course a factor, same with power consumption, and performance. I am willing to take a performance hit for a significant price difference. With that in mind I was thinking an AMD cpu would be best.

With whatever I go with, I want to be able to drop in a new CPU when needed. It seems like AMD will be staying with socket F and intel with socket 771 for awhile so I don't believe that will be an issue.

Anyone, suggestions?


UPDATE 11/27/07

Here is the response to the email I sent our rep.

The SQL database contains all of the DVMS information (users, car configs, etc.) and video file data (file name, meta data, etc.) The video files themselves are storage in the internal hard disk storage array contained in the server quoted. SQL queries the storage array based on the search criteria entered by the officer and contained in the SQL data base. The server is a ?file? server to a point, however, it is only for the in car video solution. No other applications will be running on this server.

The server does not do any encoding, decoding or encryption. The encoding and decoding of the videos are handled by the in car unit. The MD5 Digital signature is created for the video at the time of recording by the in car system.

The upload workstation is used to upload video, check out hard drives or allow the officers to search for and export needed videos. No encoding, decoding or encryption is performed at this level.

The SQL database is typically loaded to the same drive as the OS or another partition on that drive. The SQL server IS on the same server that the internal storage resides in.

I would recommend between 60G ~ 80G for the C partition drive. Because we will load the DVMS (Digital Video Management System) software which will have administrator system logs. The logs may be expended in future depending on the number of officers which your department may add in future. So, we would highly suggest having at least 60G preferably but of course is up to your department.

How large would one, twelve hour video be?
It depends on the Mpeg formats.

Mpeg 1 (VCD quality) = .6G per hour
Mpeg 2 (DVD quality) = 1.2G per hour

If we base on the highest resolution which is Mpeg 2 it will be about 10G for 12 hours of video.

 

[sonoma1993]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
I'm building what is essentially a fileserver/ms sql server for the police departments' car cameras. The problems I am running into is deciding on the CPU. I have ~6,500 (including OS and MS SQL (standard 5 cal) to spend. I want at least 5 TB of storage to start out with (with a separate RAID for the OS).

Cost is of course a factor, same with power consumption, and performance. I am willing to take a performance hit for a significant price difference. With that in mind I was thinking an AMD cpu would be best.

With whatever I go with, I want to be able to drop in a new CPU when needed. It seems like AMD will be staying with socket F and intel with socket 771 for awhile so I don't believe that will be an issue.

Anyone, suggestions?

is $6500 your budget?


newegg has a amd quadcore barcelona(socket f) starting at $240 and for intel they have an intel quad core xeon (socket 771) starting out at around $240 as well.

What are some the specs are you looking at to have in your system? RAM, Dual Proccessors? HDD (like SCSi, SATA, serail attach SCSI),

 

[Arkaign]

This is an area where you'll see a genuine benefit of buying something like a PowerEdge. Everything is matched perfectly, you can get an excellent warranty on everything, and they're very easy to work on. Look at the PowerEdge 2900 Rack-Mount. You can configure it all over the place, and the peace of mind vs. building a server from individual parts is worth it. You get 8 hard drive slots on the 2900 by default, of course you could add to that via an external SAS or SCSI array, but that should be plenty really.

To get an equivalent Mobo/Case/PSU to the 2900 from parts distributors, you'd have to spend a lot more, and then you'd have no warranty beyond what each part has from the mfg.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
I'm building what is essentially a fileserver/ms sql server for the police departments' car cameras. The problems I am running into is deciding on the CPU. I have ~6,500 (including OS and MS SQL (standard 5 cal) to spend. I want at least 5 TB of storage to start out with (with a separate RAID for the OS).

Cost is of course a factor, same with power consumption, and performance. I am willing to take a performance hit for a significant price difference. With that in mind I was thinking an AMD cpu would be best.

With whatever I go with, I want to be able to drop in a new CPU when needed. It seems like AMD will be staying with socket F and intel with socket 771 for awhile so I don't believe that will be an issue.

Anyone, suggestions?

okey mission critical systems need to be on a server platform. Dont get any gaming platform, or cheap end motherboard.

Server/industrial platforms, are much more solid when it comes to stress. Intel LGA771 platform with a supermicro i5300 chipset.

For the start, You should be mirror raiding your DATA not the OS. You can always rebuild the OS, but the DATA is whats vital. Also if this is for a pure DATA, i would suggest you get a form of high capacity archive. Tape Backup or DVD-R drive for backup storage of old archives.

Originally posted by: Arkaign
This is an area where you'll see a genuine benefit of buying something like a PowerEdge. Everything is matched perfectly, you can get an excellent warranty on everything, and they're very easy to work on. Look at the PowerEdge 2900 Rack-Mount. You can configure it all over the place, and the peace of mind vs. building a server from individual parts is worth it. You get 8 hard drive slots on the 2900 by default, of course you could add to that via an external SAS or SCSI array, but that should be plenty really.

To get an equivalent Mobo/Case/PSU to the 2900 from parts distributors, you'd have to spend a lot more, and then you'd have no warranty beyond what each part has from the mfg.

I am actually agreeing with you on this comment, because building an industrial standard server is kinda hard and expensive. Dell might be a wise solution for the OP.

 

[Arkaign]

Just configged a 2900 at Dell's site : check it out

2 Quad-Core Xeon 5335 Cpus (8 Cores total)
16GB Memory
2 250GB Hard Drives (the raid for the OS)
6 Additional 750GB Hard Drives (4500GB Space)
Dual GBIT Lan
Redundant PSU (if one fails, the unit doesn't even miss a beat, it keeps going from the secondary PSU)
RackMount Case
etc
etc

$4888, no software, with 3-Year Full HW + Onsite Warranty included.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Just configged a 2900 at Dell's site : check it out

2 Quad-Core Xeon 5335 Cpus (8 Cores total)
16GB Memory
2 250GB Hard Drives (the raid for the OS)
6 Additional 750GB Hard Drives (4500GB Space)
Dual GBIT Lan
Redundant PSU (if one fails, the unit doesn't even miss a beat, it keeps going from the secondary PSU)
RackMount Case
etc
etc

$4888, no software, with 3-Year Full HW + Onsite Warranty included.

yeah definitely a route i would recomend the op

 

[pstylesss]

Let me clear a couple things up:

I was going to RAID both the data and os separately.

I tried configuring a couple Dell servers as that would be my preference, but I couldn't get one anywhere close. I can only choose Dell servers from Local Government >> Washington. I've been checking Dell a lot hoping to find something. Believe me, I don't want to have to deal with the crap that comes along with building one.

The reason I was going to build my own is it was coming out cheaper. I got it down to ~7500 but they need it less. The case I chose had a triple redundant PSU, and enough slots for 12 hot swap-able drives.

I am perfectly fine with a NAS or something of that sort, but my co-worker won't go for it (hence the reason we have a data server we just purchased last year that will be out of space in two years)...

As far as CPU and chipset, if I went with an Intel CPU, it would be an intel mobo for stability, but i wouldnt know what to choose for amd.

 

[bryanW1995]

if you have a 6500 budget, why can't you just spend the 6500 to get the right system, whether it's dell, hp, supermicro, tyan, or whatever?

 

[aigomorla]

my board of choice:
http://www.supermicro.com/prod...n1333/5400/X7DWA-N.cfm


I think you can pick out the rest from there. Its a pretty heafty board tho. Seaburg chipset.

 

[pstylesss]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
if you have a 6500 budget, why can't you just spend the 6500 to get the right system, whether it's dell, hp, supermicro, tyan, or whatever?

Thanks buddy. I don't know what I would do without that bit of advice.

 

[NXIL]

Dear ZIQ,

looks like you are buying the MS Sql Workgroup edition:

<$679 with five Workgroup CALs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...=582&SpeTabStoreType=6

OS: Win2K3 Server with 5 CAL? About $880?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/..._-Microsoft-_-32116304

~ $1600 for software, if that is correct....sorry, I don't know exactly what packages you need....

As for hardware:

This is an area where you'll see a genuine benefit of buying something like a PowerEdge. Everything is matched perfectly, you can get an excellent warranty on everything, and they're very easy to work on.

I 110% agree with the Ark here:

1. You have some serious legal responsibilities here: police car videos = convictions = safety for the officers = big time stuff. If your home made server goes tits up, there is going to be an angry mob with torches looking for your scalp.

2. $6500 buys some good hardware, high end--but it also going to be more unusual hardware, and put to an unusual use: a video database where data integrity is paramount--don't be a guinea pig: Dell, HP, Sun have all built high end stuff like this before, you and I haven't, and you don't want to be out there testing hardware configurations in a production environment.

Your department could get flour, sugar, butter, eggs, oil, and make donuts, but, you know, it's better to get them at Krispy Kreme.

OK, the cop/donut analogy was supposed to be humorous and illustrative....hope it comes across that way....

Sun: they make reliable server hardware, they use standard X86 CPUs now, both AMD and Intel, and, they are really hungry for business, since they have gotten their asses kicked of late.

Here is a database server, pre-customized with the extra storage you need, $3,000:

http://www.sun.com/servers/ind...isk3&gr3=cat&fl3=cat13

Specifications

Looking for a compact way to boost speed throughout the datacenter and across a wide range of applications? You can't find a better 1RU, two-socket server than this one. It gives you the widest range of options to support dual-core or quad-core processing with more expandability across memory, storage, and I/O. And that helps you optimize the throughput and power consumption of each rack unit specifically for the need, but keep your growth options wide open.

Then, use a separate storage array to get up to the 5 TB of storage you need. 1 TB disks appear to be running about $340 or so now, 6 x $340 = $2040--that will give you 1 TB RAID 5--the minimum RAID array you would want I think....

~ 1600 + 3000 + 2000 = ~ $6600, reasonably close to your budget, not counting taxes, shipping, and, most importantly: backup gear and supplies? For legal purposes, got to have daily complete good to go backups....

I also put together a PowerEdge that adds up to about $4K, before the 5TB of storage....

http://configure.us.dell.com/d...dwtgr&s=bsd&vw=classic

ANd, one more with with multiple 1 TB hard drives, OS, but no SQL server:

http://configure.us.dell.com/d...&l=en&oc=bvcwdw1&s=bsd

About $8K.

I think your budget may not be big enough.

But: there are other businesses who cycle through a lot of video: rather than try to reinvent the wheel and roll down on hill on it without a helmet, time to check with someone who specializes in putting together this sort of system. Again, with the core hardware, software that you need and storage, you are definitely pushing it at $6500: you also need a rock solid reliable and effective backup system, an uninterupptible power system if you don't already have it, and, on site service: maybe you can do that yourself, but, say your video server does go tits up--will you be able to drop everything else you do to troubleshoot, and, do you have the tools/resources to do that troubleshooting?

So, I recommend you let either Sun, Dell, HP, or IBM try to earn your business....tell them what you need, and see what they come back with in terms of quotes.

If your budget isn't big enough, tell your admin people: put the ball in their court, becuase, if the video server smokes, and there are cops in court/DAs/attorneys who need the data and it is not available, they will look for a human sacrifice....you.

HTH,

NXIL

PS: about a year or two ago, there was a photographer trying to put together a very high end dual CPU workstation: highly recommended he go commercial. He didn't. He put it together himself, and had trouble with the memory he chose, the power supply, I think there were subtle video card problems, etc.....I think he was running some sort of photoshop transform that took a lot of time and a lot of power, and, it kept crapping out on him, even though he bought decent parts....I think what you do is too important to go alone on....too many variables that you can eliminate with a commercial system.

GL

 

[AlabamaCajun]

Harperstown will be the last 771 when Intel switches to Nehalam platform late next year. They have the fastest chips at this point and are slightly less power draw in some of the lower range. You may also look at the MP systems supporting more than two chips. Ram is shared amongst both processor and has to be bought in batch and always matched. You will also need to have one Active CPU and the other(s) is/are passive. Matched sets.

Barcelona to be followed by Shanghai will be on socket F. Current versions are in the low clock range with higher speeds coming in the next few months. You can buy Dual, Quad and add a daughter board to the Quad system for 8 cpus. Cpus are all singles meaning you don't have to buy matched sets. You can get a quad board drop in two CPUs and later add one are two more as needed. You can later add the daughter board for 4 more. Ram only has to match per CPU meaning you can have different speeds and brands for each CPU.

 

[pstylesss]

Backups: We have daily, weekly, and monthly backups, and we offsite the tapes. The retention policy for these car videos is 90 days before they are deleted off the server.

Attached storage: Not really an option. NOT because I wouldn't mind it or want it, but because my co-worker is dead set against it. If we both don't agree or one of us has reservations, my boss holds back and will take the safe route since he isn't IT at all.

Software: 5 CALs are fine, there will only be 1 station attached to this server.

As far as a manufacturers goes (Dell, HP, Sun, etc) Dell is the only option for us (again, not my call...). I will give my rep a call tomorrow and see what he says after I tell him what I need. I highly doubt he will come within the budget given the fact I will need all the HDDs in the server :/.... stupid, i know. Mainly because well... right now only 3 cars are getting the new cams as a test run, but later there will be 30 cars+ that will get it, we need expandability... argh, my co-worker does not/refuses to see that. Whats really stupid about this is our PD is a hub for many other smaller surrounding cities (we dispatch for them along with other hosted services for name/plate lookups etc). We will probably end up selling this service out, meaning we will need TONS of space... NAS is the only option I see for this. We'll see how well I can swing this argument.

AlabamaCajun: If I get a dual socket mobo, I don't have to populate both sockets?


Thank you all for your help. Believe me, I know the wisdom in purchasing from Dell, I would love to. However, if I can't get this in budget they lose a $30K grant for this stuff...

 

[NXIL]

If I get a dual socket mobo, I don't have to populate both sockets?

Depends on the individual motherboard, but almost always one CPU is OK.

Attached storage: Not really an option. NOT because I wouldn't mind it or want it, but because my co-worker is dead set against it.

?? !! ??

Your co-worker: still using 5 1/4 inch floppies?

What if this coworker dictated only 512K of RAM: "no need for more than that!" Or a single core P3 processor: "They just work! They have been on the market for years, and have been thoroughly tested!"

Breaking this project's needs down:

Moderate computing power, for data throughput from the police cars to storage, and from storage to access, and from storage to backup. I am pretty sure you will not be processing/changing the video, so, it's just moving all that data around.

A tankerload of storage. Video takes up a lot of room, as you know.

99.99 reliable; rock solid backup (which you already have).

OK, no NAS? How about DAS, but call it something else:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Attached_Storage

DAS systems typically offer fault tolerance at every level with controller redundancy, cooling redundancy, and storage fault tolerance patterns known as RAID. Entry level DAS systems most often are made of an enclosure without active components such as controllers, thus access logic and fault tolerance patterns are provided by the server HBA.

Dell's offerings:

http://www.dell.com/content/pr...c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz

Darn: seven grand.

http://configure.us.dell.com/d...&l=en&oc=MLB1684&s=biz

Hmm, as I said before: I don't think your budget is big enough.....

Here is the Dell storage quote form:

http://www.dell.com/content/to...c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz

HTH

NXIL

EDIT: PS: not to pry, but where is the rest of that $30K grant going?

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: NXIL

If I get a dual socket mobo, I don't have to populate both sockets?

Depends on the individual motherboard, but almost always one CPU is OK.

Attached storage: Not really an option. NOT because I wouldn't mind it or want it, but because my co-worker is dead set against it.

?? !! ??

Your co-worker: still using 5 1/4 inch floppies?

What if this coworker dictated only 512K of RAM: "no need for more than that!" Or a single core P3 processor: "They just work! They have been on the market for years, and have been thoroughly tested!"

Breaking this project's needs down:

Moderate computing power, for data throughput from the police cars to storage, and from storage to access, and from storage to backup. I am pretty sure you will not be processing/changing the video, so, it's just moving all that data around.

A tankerload of storage. Video takes up a lot of room, as you know.

99.99 reliable; rock solid backup (which you already have).

OK, no NAS? How about DAS, but call it something else:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Attached_Storage

DAS systems typically offer fault tolerance at every level with controller redundancy, cooling redundancy, and storage fault tolerance patterns known as RAID. Entry level DAS systems most often are made of an enclosure without active components such as controllers, thus access logic and fault tolerance patterns are provided by the server HBA.

Dell's offerings:

http://www.dell.com/content/pr...c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz

Darn: seven grand.

http://configure.us.dell.com/d...&l=en&oc=MLB1684&s=biz

Hmm, as I said before: I don't think your budget is big enough.....

Here is the Dell storage quote form:

http://www.dell.com/content/to...c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz

HTH

NXIL

EDIT: PS: not to pry, but where is the rest of that $30K grant going?

NXIL is right. This co-worker is a serious detriment to this project. Go over his head. Write a clear and concise report on what the project needs to be done right and within budget, and take it to the top. Make an appointment, sit down and explain things clearly and honestly, and you're likely to see some positive change.

From what I can see, you're fighting this battle with one arm behind your back and one leg stuck in a bucket.

 

[Gabornski]

For our video surveillance system we use a HP/Compaq system with DAS for the data. You may be able get the price you need if you went with used but then again I am biased on used as we are a dealer that refurbishes and sells used HP gear. You would still get the HP warranty if you go with HP factory refurbished.

 

[robmurphy]

"From what I can see, you're fighting this battle with one arm behind your back and one leg stuck in a bucket. "

In some of the big companies I've worked in that's pretty much how things are. Often a company/organisation will choose a particular brand and any new PCs/Laptops/Servers have to bought from that supplier, and often there is no way round that. Usualy the bigger company the worse the position you are put in.

The only suggestion I can come up with is to find a firm who sells all the parts for the server and will build it. They could then offer a support contract and load the price of the support contract by the charge to build it. In this way the server is supplied as an assembled item, but billed as a set of parts and a support contract. There may be a query about the support contract price but you can point out is higher because all the items are suppplied in bits so the company is charging more for support as its higher risk.

Just my 2p worth

Rob.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Still trying to figure out why you can't order from outside the Local Government version of Dell... That said, on the storage side, you are starting to get into numbers where you need a real storage solution and not a bunch of disks in a server. Your needs are starting to the the SAN level, but you are not going to be able to do that on the $6500 budget, especially with the requirement for MS SQL...

The best you are going to do is something like an Apple Xserv RAID array, but for 5TB of usable space, you are going to need a min of 6.666TB of real disk space to offset the RAID5 costs, and in reality, I wouldn't even do that without a hot spare if this needs the reliability that it needs to have, which puts you over 7-8TB of actual needed disk space. You are not going to get that with your budget. You don't want to use commodity parts for this (i.e. buy 7x 1TB SATA hard drives for ~$3000), they aren't designed for this usage and will fail too quickly. You need real server/datacenter quality drives, which means serial-attached-scsi, scsi, or fiber-channel. The best performance for the $ that the IT department I work in has found is the Apple Xserv RAID arrays that I mentioned earlier, but that will still cost in the realm of $16k just for the drives and other parts you will need (fibre-channel controller cards, cables, host bus adaptors (HBAs)) that you will need to get and that is just for direct attaching the storage onto a single server. The real benefits are when you have a full blown SAN. But even just direct attaching is much better then any other solution out there. Your data is what is important. If the server it is connected to fails for some reason, you can easily move attached data to another server and still maintain operating.

Remember, again, if you need 5TB of usable space, you need upwards of 7TB minimum to get that in a RAID environment.

 

[VirtualLarry]

OP, ask this question over on the StorageReview.com forums too. (Hope I'm not breaking any AT rules by saying that.)

There are people there with a LOT of experience with high-end storage.

 

[classy]

Truthfully everyone is giving advice, some good and some bad. But, the op still hasn't give much of clue as to what he wants to accomplish? Typically a file server/sql server don't go together. What is the main function of this server? 2nd how is this data being stored? Is it being stored in sql or as just video files? Is there an application that you will be using to store the video into sql with? How is the data being access? Can you maybe use some type of compression for the data? Does the data need to kept active for a certain amount of time, then moved to tape so you can reuse the disk space? These are just a few of the questions I think need some clarification before in all honesty, you can get clear advice. One thing I will say if there is even a hint of any possibility of this data being important from a legal stand point which I would have to think it would be, I would not be building it myself. You want a warranty and above all some support if need be. I have no doubt you have the skills, but sometimes covering your buns, especially in a possible legal scenario is more important.

 

[pstylesss]

Originally posted by: classy
Truthfully everyone is giving advice, some good and some bad. But, the op still hasn't give much of clue as to what he wants to accomplish? Typically a file server/sql server don't go together. What is the main function of this server? 2nd how is this data being stored? Is it being stored in sql or as just video files? Is there an application that you will be using to store the video into sql with? How is the data being access? Can you maybe use some type of compression for the data? Does the data need to kept active for a certain amount of time, then moved to tape so you can reuse the disk space? These are just a few of the questions I think need some clarification before in all honesty, you can get clear advice. One thing I will say if there is even a hint of any possibility of this data being important from a legal stand point which I would have to think it would be, I would not be building it myself. You want a warranty and above all some support if need be. I have no doubt you have the skills, but sometimes covering your buns, especially in a possible legal scenario is more important.

The reason I haven't been given much info is because I don't have much. They seem to think that telling me they need a server is all the info I need.

Here i what I know, I will find out more Monday.

They need SQL Server - I am assuming all video files are stored in the SQL DB (and it will not be a file server)
I assume that this server will not be doing any encoding/decoding
There will be one "upload station" attached to this servers for the Officers to pull out the HDD from the car and upload the videos to it.
The videos will be of 12 hour shifts
We are starting with 3 cars
Will be expanding to 30 cars (no time frame)
We could possible be a host for other smaller departments
Videos will be retained for 90 days and deleted after that. I am told there is no legal reason to keep these after 90 days. (Holy shit tape backups are going to be a nightmare... I'll be coming up with another backup solution for that server)
When they need a video for court they will burn the video to a DVD from the "upload station"


I will see if they can come up with more money for next year and we can just have a temporary solution for a couple months.

Thank you everyone for your advice, I do appreciate it. I would love to go with Dell for the server, but once you hit their high-end stuff it gets very expensive. Their base models are typically good deals though.

EDIT:

NXIL: The rest of the money is going to the actual car cameras.

 

[NXIL]

Dear Z,

good then that you are ahead of the curve, and doing some footwork now so you are familiar with what is available.

Here are some companies that deal with in car digital recording:

http://policechiefmagazine.org..._id=358&issue_id=82004

Great, 112 pages of light reading:

http://theiacp.org/research/Cu...ificationsDRAFTv12.pdf

July 2003 server info: I would assume they have upgraded. Note that they spec out 5TB of storage even back then:

http://www.policetechnologies....onHawk_serverspecs.pdf

And

http://www.policetechnologies.com/digital/server.html

Wears ball cap backwards: he is guilty:

http://www.policetechnologies....reenshot-viewer-d1.jpg

Using colo service: $1000 a terabyte: that fits your budget:

http://www.coraid.com/pdfs/articles/OlatheCaseStudy.pdf

Note: I can think of two reasons not to use the Reiser file system....

Again, sounds like you are doing your homework, getting ready to take on a complicated project: think data integrity, physical security, chain of custody matters, etc--

Could be a chance for you to shine in your organization, by being way ahead with info on options, other department's experience, risks/benefits of various ways of doing things.

The outfit that is selling the digital cameras should have info on the whole system, from recording to archiving--they should be able to help.

And, HTH,

NXIL

 

[pstylesss]

I just got the info for the Rep from Coban (the company that does the cameras) and will be calling him on Monday.

I was thinking about doing a DAS like someone suggested, I was wondering what you guys thought of something like this: Text and attach it to a cheap Dell server? I would fill the array with 1TB drives this ok?

7 HDD * 350 = 2450
1 Array * 600 = 600
1 Dell 2950 = 3,350

Total 6,400

I will probably get two hot spares and charge it to my budget, then bill the PD next year... god I hate the politics involved.

That Dell comes from Small Business section, everything is the government section on base model blows my budget. I will just tell them that or nothing and see what happens.

 

[classy]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ

Originally posted by: classy
Truthfully everyone is giving advice, some good and some bad. But, the op still hasn't give much of clue as to what he wants to accomplish? Typically a file server/sql server don't go together. What is the main function of this server? 2nd how is this data being stored? Is it being stored in sql or as just video files? Is there an application that you will be using to store the video into sql with? How is the data being access? Can you maybe use some type of compression for the data? Does the data need to kept active for a certain amount of time, then moved to tape so you can reuse the disk space? These are just a few of the questions I think need some clarification before in all honesty, you can get clear advice. One thing I will say if there is even a hint of any possibility of this data being important from a legal stand point which I would have to think it would be, I would not be building it myself. You want a warranty and above all some support if need be. I have no doubt you have the skills, but sometimes covering your buns, especially in a possible legal scenario is more important.

The reason I haven't been given much info is because I don't have much. They seem to think that telling me they need a server is all the info I need.

Here i what I know, I will find out more Monday.

They need SQL Server - I am assuming all video files are stored in the SQL DB (and it will not be a file server)
I assume that this server will not be doing any encoding/decoding
There will be one "upload station" attached to this servers for the Officers to pull out the HDD from the car and upload the videos to it.
The videos will be of 12 hour shifts
We are starting with 3 cars
Will be expanding to 30 cars (no time frame)
We could possible be a host for other smaller departments
Videos will be retained for 90 days and deleted after that. I am told there is no legal reason to keep these after 90 days. (Holy shit tape backups are going to be a nightmare... I'll be coming up with another backup solution for that server)
When they need a video for court they will burn the video to a DVD from the "upload station"


I will see if they can come up with more money for next year and we can just have a temporary solution for a couple months.

Thank you everyone for your advice, I do appreciate it. I would love to go with Dell for the server, but once you hit their high-end stuff it gets very expensive. Their base models are typically good deals though.

EDIT:

NXIL: The rest of the money is going to the actual car cameras.

Ok thats what I thought, the video data is being stored into sql. Here's a question that if you can get the answer that will probably tell you pretty much what you need now and in the future. How big of a file is the 12 hour shift? Wow only 90 days to keep the videos? Is this a program that you will use that stores stuff in sql? Sounds kinda like a cool project, but a pain in the neck at the same time. Even though sql loves memory, for this type of application, 4 gigs is plenty. Hell 2 might even do, if the server is not going to be used for anything else.

 

[pstylesss]

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