How much would you charge to setup a win2k server?

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CoolTech

Platinum Member
Jul 10, 2000
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How much would you charge to setup a win2k server?

I am setting up a win2k server with 16 clients which will be used as a Domain Controller, possibly proxy server and Exchange Server.
Also, some sort of software called Traverse (an Access based accounting software) is going to be served from it.

The clients on the network will be Windows 98 SE, 2K and a few XP
The machine is a dell server, im not sure the specifications of it yet?

How much would you charge to set this all this up ? making user accounts, etc.

Ive never done this for money before.
 
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Saulbadguy

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2003
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$125-175 an hour. Negotiable. Expenses paid. I had to re-think this..the main reason you should charge more is because of that Traverse software.
 
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AbsolutDealage

Platinum Member
Dec 20, 2002
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Server work?

at least $50/hr, assuming you know what you are doing. This may vary depending upon prior experience and location.
 
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DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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Definitely an hourly rate, if it's a fixed price they'll expect endless free maintenance work.

Once it's set up be sure to Ghost it for when they trash it through a worm or other boneheaded mistake.
 
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AbsolutDealage

Platinum Member
Dec 20, 2002
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Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
$125-175 an hour. Negotiable. Expenses paid. I had to re-think this..the main reason you should charge more is because of that Traverse software.
Click to expand...

Bah, he shouldn't charge more just for setting up software... that is part of normal setup work. I'ts going to take at least ~1hr to do that setup anyways, so he will make enough. It's going to take a while... you're talkin a few hours at least. More if this is the first DC... you have to create your active directory structure, setup the domain, etc. Plus he wants a proxy, which is more time. $75/hr tops.
 
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AbsolutDealage

Platinum Member
Dec 20, 2002
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Originally posted by: CoolTech
I told the guy 600-900, and he said ok
Click to expand...

Good for you... as long as you know what you are doing, you should make out very well on the deal. Just make sure to calculate your hours afterwards, and then invoice him specifically for that amount of hours x (some hourly rate) which adds up to somewhere in that range. Never charge a flat fee for computer servicing.
 
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CoolTech

Platinum Member
Jul 10, 2000
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ive worked with win2k server a bit, Ill be learning a lot more in the next two days, I mean how much experience do you need to setup a server of this type and deploy effectively?
 
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AbsolutDealage

Platinum Member
Dec 20, 2002
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I would definately take a look into the proxy setup, and the exchange setup. The initial OS setup is no problem... same as a 2k pro install. Just make sure you are only installing things that you need (DHCP, DNS, etc.).

I would definately take a look into the proxy setup, and the exchange setup. There is a wizard for the DC/AD stuff, IIRC. The "Traverse" thing probably will be no biggie, considering it was probably written as a server app.

Overall, This should not be such a big deal. If its possible, I would probably take the server "off-site" (read: to your house) to do the setup. People get kinda nervous when they see you are doing something for the first time, and its better if you take it away. Then just bring it back and plug it in and make sure it works.

Good luck.
 
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Ulfwald

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
May 27, 2000
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I charge 95 an hour minimum 4 hour charge. Once you set this up, you will also need to set up the DHCP, DNS, you will also need to install the AD client on the 98 se machines. Setting up AD alone is a PITA, plus, you will have to set up shares, map user shares, remap My Documents to a user share so that they can be backed up to tape/cd/disk.

DNS tips.

W2K installation tips/tricks

Other stuff you may be interested in.
 
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tranceport

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2000
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www.thesystemsengineer.com
I hope you don't run into problems and end up being there longer than you expected. Your 600 to 900 dollars / hours there will soon turn out to not be worth the trouble per hour. I agree with 125+ an hour plus expense such as traveling. 5 years experience in consultant work as well as major datacenter management. Currently on 1100+ node site.
 
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EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
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Heh, have fun making those 98SE machines play nice!

Get them to upgrade to 2k if at all possible.
 
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Ulfwald

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
May 27, 2000
8,646
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Yeah, Ghosting the server is a must.

You can also charge a small monthly retainer to come in and perform maintenance on the systems;

Monthly cleaning, (blow dust out of systems, monitors, ets)
Install service packs as they are released,
add users to the domain
establish a simple back up schedule through NT back up

If you are going to provide support for this network, make sure you have established business hours, as well as emergency and on call hours. both should have set rates, unless you are on retainer, then, only the emergency and on call hours would be at an hourly rate with a minimum of X number of hours for travel and onsite.

Try to set up a remote link, this way, you can log on remotely and do most of the stuff on the server behind the scenes.
 
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Soybomb

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
9,506
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When I go out they are billed $125 first hour, and $75 every additional hour. We're in a pretty economically depressed area so stuffs cheaper here too.
 
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gordy

Senior member
Jan 26, 2003
306
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Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Definitely an hourly rate, if it's a fixed price they'll expect endless free maintenance work.

Once it's set up be sure to Ghost it for when they trash it through a worm or other boneheaded mistake.
Click to expand...

you'd put yourself out of biz...

hmm..

5 min. reinstall ghost
2 hour re-setup...
 
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