For Exchange Intel rig! UPDATE: Final config and working!

[Hardware]

what is the most performance with ex2k ?

I count only on exchange!

 

[Czar]

I would guess the one that has more cache since Exchange is mostly a database program.

 

[Adul]

prob dual amd then.

 

[sharkeeper]

Processor type doesn't matter as much as having enough RAM and disk space. Most important of all, ensure that the backup software you deploy is MS Exchange compatible! NEVER try to backup the M:\ volume on its own! You'll be sorry if you do!

At least 1024 MB of RAM.

MP ok but not required.

Plenty of redundant disk space. RAID 5 highly recommended with at least one drive in a global hot spare pool. RAID 10 is better if the server will also be performing a lot of writes to disk.

How many users in your institution? This can really affect performance as well.

Cheers!

 

[vetteguy]

I agree with both statements...but disk space and ram are the primary concerns. But it depends on how many users you have. Also, if you're running a lot of sessions of Outlook Web Access, that's another performance hit. Basically, get the most powerful server you can afford.

 

[Hardware]

i am thinking over

P4 2G
1G PC266
IDE 2*120G 7200 8MB RAID0 (lowpoint or OS)

chipset i845e + AGP or i845G

 

[ai42]

chipset i845e + AGP or i845G

I would go with i845G I doubt you will be fragging on Quake with this machine.

IDE 2*120G 7200 8MB RAID0 (lowpoint or OS)

ICK! Umm RAID5 is almost a must, RAID0 you have no data backups, and if one drive fails then all the data is lost. Honestly though I think you could run just 2 independent disks (no RAID) and and pull enough performance of those WD120JB to do fine.

 

[Hardware]

typo I mean raid1 mirror
the onboard vga kills my memory performance or?

 

[vetteguy]

I hope this is for a VERY small, SOHO organization, because Exchange is an intense product and resource hog. SCSI is almost a requirement, and dualie processors are also very nice.

Just as a point of order, the information store service on our Exchange server is currently taking up 1GB of RAM. FYI.

 

[Markfw]

Ditto everyones input. Here is my recommendation:
Motherboard : Tyan Thunder with the optional SCSI
2xMP1800+ or better (whatever your budget allows for after everything else)
2 gig registered DDR memory (4x512)
4x15000 rpm 36 gig Seagate cheatah (I think that is the model description) in Raid 0+1 (stipe and mirror)

The motherboard has everything else you really need except backup. DDS2 dat or better recommended.

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Ditto everyones input. Here is my recommendation:
Motherboard : Tyan Thunder with the optional SCSI
2xMP1800+ or better (whatever your budget allows for after everything else)
2 gig registered DDR memory (4x512)
4x15000 rpm 36 gig Seagate cheatah (I think that is the model description) in Raid 0+1 (stipe and mirror)

The motherboard has everything else you really need except backup. DDS2 dat or better recommended.

Wow, that would be a beast of a machine :Q

But I guess if you can afford Exchange 2k, you should be able to afford that machine. I would go with RAID 5 though personally.

Spac3d

 

[Hardware]

Here is my final configuaration

MB: ABit BD7-II raid
CPU P4.2.2

RAM: 2*512MB PC2100 ECC (3 sticks dont work because the mb has only 4 address lines)
HDD: 4*120G 7200 8MB RAID10 (kick ass)
HDD: 2*120G 5400 2MB Backup
NET: Realtek! 10/100 (kick ass)
GFX: Radeon 9000 (could not use an old card becuase of chipset limitation)
Power: 300W ATX (my 400W was klilled after the 2nd day when i put a 512 DDR ECC stick in the wrong way)
CD: 52x
FDD : dunno

 

[Adul]

So how does it run?

 

[DaFinn]

>cough< "you but the stick in the wrong way" >cough<

Killed your PSU? *CONFIRMED* What about the poor stick??? Not to mention the memory slot??????


-DaFinn

 

[Sunner]

Uhh, exactly how did you manage to put the stick in the wrong way?

I mean sure, if you really force it in, but it's not like they just slip in there the wrong way with ease?

 

[Hardware]

Hmm i dont know how it happened but it was dark so I couldnt not see 100% the direction of the ram
i added 2 sticks of 512 mb and when i switched on everything was quiet

the nightmage of each admin !!! (was the new mainserver of us)
anyway the psu was killed and is replaced by a oem 300w psu which works great right now

the startuptime of the server is awesome
free ram is 0 (exchange takes all)
right now i am doing a 100g copy to it

 

[Hardware]

Killed your PSU? *CONFIRMED* DEAD!
What about the poor stick??? hmm one stick is left now but i think all sticks are still ok
Not to mention the memory slot?????? same
dono why the psu was killed and nothing else but that was at monday morning at 8.00 am and everybody was witing for me !

bypass server was online after 15 minutes

 

[mcveigh]

I'd spend the extra 30 bucks to put an intel NIC in there. a flakey network card is my definition of hell.

I think it sounds pretty good though.

 

[vetteguy]

RAM: 2*512MB PC2100 ECC (3 sticks dont work because the mb has only 4 address lines)

Huh?

 

[Hardware]

i will use a giganet card when we get a gigaswitch

 

[DaFinn]

RAM: 2*512MB PC2100 ECC (3 sticks dont work because the mb has only 4 address lines)

You meant that the MCH can address 4 banks of memory= you can use 3 single sided DIMMs, 1 dual sided+2 single sided or 2 dual sided DIMMs.
3 sticks will work, but only in above cases. If your 2 memory modules are dual sided, thats it then...


-DaFinn

 

[Hardware]

its "hard" to find one sided 512 mb ddr ecc memory

 

[Hardware]

Small performance test

Backup the EX2K server via systembackup is 1100 mb/min
1G Ram seems to be enough


cpu usage 10% each day (20-30% worktime)