Need a good cheap server for about 10 users...

[alkemyst]

They don't have a rack, but they want to have some consolidated printing/files/etc.

currently 5 users, will be 10 soon....that will be their limit.

Also a good box for a secretary (Word/Excel and Print Shop/Publisher). Definitely light duty...

Anyone know of deals? Not sure what the right forum is for a request like this. I deal with rack servers (DL360's or better).

I was thinking a basic Dell workhorse (gigabit, P4 3GHz+, large RAID mirror) would be the target...but I haven't had experience running 10 users off a desktop except back in the 90's when 10baseT was fine .

 

[Cloud Strife]

Try Dell's Server Advisor

I bet you could get by with the cheapest Poweredge model.

 

[skyking]

what do you want it to serve?

 

[RebateMonger]

For most clients that size, I'd generally recommend the current Dell PE 830. Dual Core 3GHz with RAID 1 SATA (or, possibly RAID 1 SCSI if the mission is disk-intensive).

Frankly, even a Dell SC430 might do...but there's no room to add any additional drives and Dell doesn't support any RAID solution for the SC430.

 

[kevnich2]

I personally wouldn't recommend allowing some one to actively use a server for everyday task such as word processing and web usage. It's not designed for that for one thing and the chance of a virus or the system crashing goes dramatically up. But for basic serving use for a church, any of Dell's servers will do, I'd recommend a dual core xeon with a RAID 1 (SATA) and possibly 2 300gb SATA drives

 

[RebateMonger]

I didn't think the OP meant that somebody would be using the new Server as a workstation. Hopefully not. It's a REALLY bad idea.

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
They don't have a rack, but they want to have some consolidated printing/files/etc.

currently 5 users, will be 10 soon....that will be their limit.

Also a good box for a secretary (Word/Excel and Print Shop/Publisher). Definitely light duty...

Anyone know of deals? Not sure what the right forum is for a request like this. I deal with rack servers (DL360's or better).

I was thinking a basic Dell workhorse (gigabit, P4 3GHz+, large RAID mirror) would be the target...but I haven't had experience running 10 users off a desktop except back in the 90's when 10baseT was fine .

That statement tells me he's looking to use the server also as a workstation for the secretary, but maybe I'm misinterpreting it.

 

[cmetz]

alkemyst, for the secretary's PC, watch Hot Deals for a low-end HP desktop. You can find them for $200-$250 AR if you watch. Get a 17" or 19" LCD on a deal to go with it.

For the server, I would suggest an HP AMD64 based server, tower box (rack is much better, but $$). If you ask HP, they may be able to hook you up with some discounts because of who the customer is. Lately, I've been pretty disappointed with Dell's servers and pretty impressed by HP's servers. Put the two side by side and pop the covers, and I think you'll agree with me.

Do not, do *not* use the server as the secretary's desktop PC. It's 2006, not 1986.