Building a small network from scratch and needed some comments / suggestions.

[AncientPC]

Well first of all, here's the setup.

Server machine:

I meant Tyan Tiger MP S2460, not S24600.

The 3 IBM's will be set up in a RAID 5 array, and just to clarify if one of the drive fails, the information is backed up on the other 2 and I can just swap the hdd with another one, right?

Do you think they need another backup method besides this security? Tape backup seems rather expensive.

Is there a better, cheap, soundcard besides the SB Live! v5.1? I'm thinking about the Hercules Fortismo II as well. Would that be a better alternative?

The Enermax EG465P-VE is enough to support a dual AMD proc mobo right?

Client machine:

Is there a cheaper fan that's good enough to cool the AMD 1.2ghz well? Perhaps something cheaper than the Swiftech MCX370-0A because these machines are not going to be overclock'ed.

The Matrox Millenium G450's are nice video cards for crisp text right? This is a business environment so I could care less about 3d performance.

Same thing applies to the sound card as above.

Does anybody know any cheaper, decent sounding, flat-panel speakers?

Network:

Mwave's terminology is confusing (or I'm just dumb). "4 pair UTP patch cable w/ snagless boot" means cat5 ethernet cord, right?

Software:

For setting up this network, would you recommend WinXP Pro or Win2k Pro? I am going to be running Win2k Server (BTW, what's the difference between Win2k Server and Win2k Advanced Server) on the server machine, and was wondering what I should run on the client machines.

I've decided to run Win2k Pro, but is there any reason why I should use WinXP over Win2k?

How many licenses do you get with the MSDN OS subscription? 10? 1? Buying licensing seems overpriced . . .

Are there cheaper alternatives to get multiple-copies (about 3) of Win2k Pro, Win2k Server, and 4 copies of Office 2000? Keep this legit, I don't need recommendations to use IRC or newsgroups.

 

[AMDPwred]

I can already hear the flames from using AMD in a server. Watch out, here they come!

 

[BreakApart]

Could you please clarify what this network setup will be used for?


Is this just personal use?
-or-

Business Data?
-if so-
Number of employees?
Approx value of the data?
Example:
How much could it cost the company if they went down for more than 1 day?


I ask this as the setup you describ is WAYYYYY over-kill for any home personal setup...

 

[AncientPC]

Small business use (commercial real estate).

As in about 5 or so employees.

Business data is important (lots of bank account #'s and of the such, property holdings, etc.).

I wouldn't know what would happen if the server went down because I don't know how much they'll actually going to depend on it.

They're converting from a massive paper environment to as paperless as possible. The place is a huge mess with papers everywhere. There's so many papers coming in and going out of the office that they can't keep track of them all.

On a side note, what would be the best option to convert papers to electronic form? Massive scanning?

 

[Chipset]

<< Do you think they need another backup method besides this security? Tape backup seems rather expensive. >>



Yes! What happens if there is a fire/flood/earthquake and the whole building is trashed? Make backups and keep them offsite.

 

[BreakApart]

Business use....don't build the server, you'll be doing that company a disservice if you do.-(unless it's your company)

Buy them an OEM server setup, or modified OEM PC and turn it into a server.
Example: Compaq Prosignia -(plain-jane nothing PC, then add what you need)

Server:
Must have a tape drive! Don't risk the companies data just to save money...long term it pays for itself.
Hard Drives: minimum either Raid-1, or Raid-5


What your doing is building redundancy, RAID-5 is best for long term/HIGH dollar value data/high performance.-(but if the budget doesn't allow it, then go mirror and tape drive) If you can fit RAID-5 into the budget, let me know i have some great info about that...

Sound: skip it, sound not needed in a server. If they plan to use it as a workstation they are asking for trouble...

Memory: at today's prices 512mb min...

5-10 users? Single CPU server will be fine...
As far as servers go a 500mhz single CPU SCSI system can handle 35 users easy...20 if they plan to use SQL alot. So 800-1.0G will be more than enough for 5-10 users.

Network Card: Use 3com cards in the server. Workstations use whatever you can find-netgear, linksys, d-link.



<< "4 pair UTP patch cable w/ snagless boot" means cat5 ethernet cord, right? >>


Yes-cat5, the boot describes a cover over the lever so you could pull it between other wires and it won't get all tangled.

OS for the server...w2k, though NT4.0 makes for an excellent file server OS.

If they plan to use Exchange or SQL and share internet access also perhaps...

...another option is SBS2000 (limited to 50 client PC's max)
Components of Small Business Server:

-Microsoft Windows 2000 Server.
-Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server.
-Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000
-SQL Server 2000.
-Microsoft Shared Fax Service.
-Microsoft Shared Modem Service.
Microsoft Health Monitor 2.1.
Microsoft FrontPage 2000.
Microsoft Outlook 2000.


Well, this reply has enough info to keep you busy for awhile...