Building a small network from scratch, comments are appreciated.

[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.

 

[xerich]

you're correct about RAID 5

a cheaper sound solution would be a PCI 128 sound card

matrox vid card looks good

i'd go with Win2k on the client machines, just a personal preference, XP boots up faster than 2k...sort of but other than that i couldnt tell the difference between the 2 until it came to games, XP also eats up disk space (just a question, did you consider linux for an OS?)

that 4 pair blah blah blah does mean CAT5...i dont see why people call it different names, it just confuses people. just make sure the ends are wired the same (white-orange, orange, white-green, blue, white-blue, green, white-brown, brown is what i learned in cisco)
snagless boot means the ends dont have a clip to keep them in place i think

 

[WarCon]

For the SERVER question.
Your mobo choice is good and your power supply is fine. Is anyone going to be gaming or listening to music on this server? If not then you might not include a sound card at all. Save yourself the cost and the hassle.

The RAID choice is acceptable and does provide security against a single drive failure, but not against catastrophic failures like lightning or fire, etc. If it were me, depending on the mission critical nature of this server (how long can it be down), I might choose a slightly different means of backing up. Something like a CDRW solution where only data (or files modified since X date) were backed up. If you have a smaller single hard drive that you can ghost (or backup of any kind) your initial installation to and then file it (preferably in a fireproof safe) and then auto backup data to your CDRW (which you would regulary file copies into the same safe) then you have a relatively fast recovery with daily security.

An alternate form of data backup is pretty essential no matter what RAID solution you pick, simply because a virus doesn't care what form of RAID you use, it doesn't discriminate. Neither does your system admin, if he "accidentally" erases files trying to make new software run. Etc, etc, etc. All I know is that the "boss" doesn't care about how you saved him money when he can't get the files he needs because they aren't accessable or have been erased. It simply means someone's ass is going to get chewed on.

The extra hard drive doesn't have to be a super high quality one since it is used very seldom, but can be handy if your system admin is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. (This drive if big enough can hold many systems initial installs (typically less than a couple gigs each) and make for easy restores.

On the CLIENT machines.
Why such expensive video cards for a 2D only environment? The ATI XPERT's usually provide really good 2D and are a 1/4 the cost. I would save the money on the video cards and buy a little better monitors. Get a monitor that is really clear (Sony's or Viewsonic's are always a good choice) and the people that use them will be really happy with them. As far as the sound card issue goes, if its only a work environment then even the no hassle solution of a card like the the soundblaster 16 pci may be the way to go. I mean your probably not going to be supplying four speaker units for your client machines are you? You shouldn't run into any kind of compatibility problems with it, but the 5.1's (can't advise you on the hercules, don't know enough about it) are probably ok now that the chipset issues with those cards has seemed to decrease. (My opinion of client machines is the standard formular , KISS - keep it simple stupid.......)

Now this is just me, but I think I would want a no hassle heatsink for all your machines. Your machines will generally be happier with a good heatsink that can take sometimes a large amount of dust and still cool well, so this is an area I would invest in and not count the cost, since failure of this component can cost YOU the most.

I am not a speaker person. I have my soundworks and its enough for me. The only flat panel speakers I know of are the monsoons and they run over a hundred dollars for a pair and a subwoofer, so I wouldn't think they make sense for your application.

NETWORK question.
Sounds like CAT5 with the better tabs (having broken off numerous tabs rearranging cables the snagless boot is a great option).

SOFTWARE question.
All the basic Microsoft Server software packages usually come with a 5 socket (seat) license and tend to be pretty dang expensive. Then each workstation will need a copy of the client software(win9x,ME,2000,XP). You might find someone offering a price break for quantity.

(My future server choices will always be linux solutions because you can expand your network without the added license cost. Only problem for me is I am not business level familiar with it (I don't know what burner/backup software it can run or how RAID compatible, etc.) I can't recommend it, but everything I have read and seen about it tends to make me think it is the way to go, so I am learning it now.)

..........edit.............
I finally looked at your pdf file and seen you are going with flat panel solutions so ignore the monitor advice. I really recommend the Plextor CDRW if your planning on burning at high speed. It is the only one I have seen that isn't having serious issues when high speed copying. It is a little more though. Why a DVD on a server? Is this going to double as a "fun" machine after hours? And your server setup doesn't jive with your shopping list. The video cards for your server are different.

Other than that, it looks ok.