I'd like some input into my network design :)

[mcveigh]

This is for a friend/ client who gives me free office space, so I treat him nice.
current hardware/software:

file server/exchange server: dell 1500SC server P3 1.13Ghz, 512MB ram, 3x 10K/U160 18 GB scsi drives (raid 5)
win2k server, exchange 2000
currently has 9 users, the exchange function is only for internal use (this server isn't directly connected to the net)

PBX server: P3 650, 512MB ram 20 Gb hd, win2k server this runs software/hardware for our phone system

100Mb network with 3com superstack3 unmanged switch 12 ports, also a 12port 100Mb hub for my little network within the network. ( I have a windows box and a linux box, plus occasional others)

the firewall is a snapgear, it runs an embedded version of linux and has great vpn support. the internet access is cable modem, about 1.5 down and 350 up with a static IP address.
client PC's are all year old dell's with XP pro.



The problem:
we are running out of space for file storage. 3 new 18 GB hard drives from dell would max out our server space and cost $700.

I want to put in a new fileserver running samba on debian or redhat linux. I would put 2x120-160 GB harddrives in a raid1 array. part of this space would be used for file storage, part would be used for network backups.

I want to get the 3 servers on Gig-E. I was thinking of just getting a small 4-8 port linksys or netgear 1000Mb switch. any problems with this?

I want to eventually get rid of the exchange server, but am not there yet. The linux box will also do some security stuff for the network like run port scans, be an ssh server for external access etc. it might even become a web server to access stored files someday.

can anyone identify some problems with this setup? anything to be aware of or avoid?


EDIT: I almost forgot about backups!! currently I backup to a second hard drive in the PBX server and I inheirited an old POS ide 30GB tape drive. it really sucks.
I was thinking of putting an external removable hard drive (x2) and have someone swap them out each AM, but I don't think i'd get any descent throughput on USB2.0 or firewire. I really need to keep the costs down so I was thinking a VXA2 drive attached to the exchange server via external SCSI cable.

can anyone think of some thing cheaper to backup about 100GB in under 6 hours.?

 

[Kremlar]

Just curious - why not add a 3rd drive to the Linux server and go with RAID5? Are you planning on sofware or hardware RAID?


Don't have a good solution for your backup problem, but I have to say I far prefer tape for serious backups. I see people having to go back several days very often - and if you're doing single backups to removeable hard drives and overwriting the backup each day, that could be a problem. If you buy multiple hard drives of that capacity, you get closer to the cost of a decent tape backup.

Also, with tape you can inexpensively store month-end backups, year-end backups, etc. - indefinitely.

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: Kremlar
Just curious - why not add a 3rd drive to the Linux server and go with RAID5? Are you planning on sofware or hardware RAID?


Don't have a good solution for your backup problem, but I have to say I far prefer tape for serious backups. I see people having to go back several days very often - and if you're doing single backups to removeable hard drives and overwriting the backup each day, that could be a problem. If you buy multiple hard drives of that capacity, you get closer to the cost of a decent tape backup.

Also, with tape you can inexpensively store month-end backups, year-end backups, etc. - indefinitely.

well I might go raid 5, I was going to do a 3ware raid card, 2gig celeron, 512mb ram, but anothe 150-200 for a hard drive and things are tight as they are.

as for backups, I'm not going to be super accomidating. if you lost something a week ago and just realized tought sh!t.
I really just want the backups for "bad things" like drive failure/corruption, fire, etc.

 

[mboy]

Backups to a server onsite is not a good backup solution. Tape and offsite is the way to go.

Why not get 3-160gb ide drives and raid 5 them(they arent that expensive now)? That will give u PLENTY of storage.

I would get a DLT drive to back it all up.