building a small server for our family business

[Leros]

My parents business has server for their customer, inventory, etc. Basically, the database holding 20 years of records is 4 text files with a total size of 500mb. The server got a major upgrade to a P3 1000mhz, 256mb ram, 8Gb hdd. We had 7 simultaneous connections.

I doubt you need anything much more powerful than that.

 

[tiap]

Originally posted by: ValuedCustomer

Originally posted by: rod
you will want a dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM...
Also, do you know much about RAID arrays? Depending on your exact situation, you may want to consider using a RAID1 or RAID1+0
RoD

PFFT! holy crap, folks! did any of you read the thread title?? "building a small server for our family business" hello!

OP, go down to your local Goodwill and get yourself an old Dell w/ a decent sized P3 and 256mg of RAM and a 15' monitor for $60. That and an OS is ALL you need. - take the family on a nice weekend vacation w/ the remaining $1940.. And don?t listen to half the people in this place.. their idea of real world experience is reading Tom?s Hardware and creating fantasy-carts on NewEgg.

Originally posted by: JToxic
My parents business has server for their customer, inventory, etc. Basically, the database holding 20 years of records is 4 text files with a total size of 500mb. The server got a major upgrade to a P3 1000mhz, 256mb ram, 8Gb hdd. We had 7 simultaneous connections.

I doubt you need anything much more powerful than that.

That is by far the best advice, so you have a lot of headroom in choosing.
Raid1 is always a good idea too, but it can also be added by a card.
Sometimes family businesses just don't backup enough

 

[rasczak]

hrmm, i'll look into that.

 

[imported_rod]

Originally posted by: jpbelauskas

Originally posted by: rod
Regardless of wheter you get a dell or build it yourself, you will want a dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Components such as video cards are basically irrelevant in a server.

Also, do you know much about RAID arrays? Depending on your exact situation, you may want to consider using a RAID1 or RAID1+0

RoD

yea i know some about raid arrays, i think we're gonna stick with raid 1 for the redundancy.

From what you've said about your situation, a RAID 1 should be good. I'm fairly sure Dell will set-up their computers with RAID arrays if you want.

Also, consider getting an external HDD or tape backup (or maybe just a DVD Burner - depending on your needs) so you can back-up everything once a week/fortnight/month. Make sure you take it home, just incase a fire was to burn down your offices or anything like that.

RoD

 

[rasczak]

RoD, thanks for your advice and your patience, i appreciate it.