Server Suggestions for a Small Company?

[CKTurbo128]

A small archtectural firm that I work for is looking for a server. However, we are unsure on what kind of server to get to suit our needs.

We are looking for a server that can that can serve 30-40 computers and can handle things like general networking tasks (i.e. Internet, e-mail, file-sharing), serve as a file server, handle AutoCAD/Revit network licensing for network installations of AutoCAD/Revit, and eventually, a VoIP system.

Would something like this rackmount (http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/...c=6W300&l=en&oc=pe1950-min&s=bsd&fb=1) workout for these tasks? If anyone has any suggestions, it would be great.

EDIT: The link doesn't seem to be working correctly, but it is a rackmount PowerEdge 1950 with these components:

PowerEdge 1950:
Processor: Dual Core Intel® Xeon® 5050, 2x2MB Cache, 3.00GHz, 667MHz FSB
Additional Processors: Dual Core Intel® Xeon® 5050, 2x2MB Cache, 3.00GHz, 667MHz FSB
Memory: 4GB 533MHz (4x1GB), Dual Ranked DIMMs
Operating System: Windows Server® 2003 R2, Standard Edition, Includes 5 CALs WSR2S
Backplane: 1x2 Backplane for 3.5-inch Hard Drives
Primary Controller: SAS 5/i Integrated, No RAID
Hard Drive Configuration: Integrated SAS/SATA No RAID, SAS 5/i Integrated
Primary Hard Drive: 160GB, SATA, 3.5-inch, 7.2K RPM Hard Drive
2nd Hard Drive: 160GB, SATA, 3.5-inch, 7.2K RPM Hard Drive
PCI Riser: Riser with 2 PCIe Slots
Chassis Configuration: No Rack Rails Included
Power Supply: Non-Redundant Power Supply
Bezel: Rack Bezel
Network Adapter: Dual Embedded Broadcom® NetXtreme II 5708 Gigabit Ethernet NIC TCP/IP Offload Engine Enablement: Broadcom Dual Port TCP/IP Offload Engine Key Not Enabled
Hardware Support Services: 3Yr BASIC SUPPORT: 5x10 HW-Only, 5x10 NBD Onsite
Installation Support Services: No Installation Assessment
Documentation: Electronic Documentation and OpenManage CD Kit
CD/DVD Drive: 24X IDE CD-RW/DVD ROM Drive for PowerEdge Servers, All OS CDRWDVD
Keyboard: No Keyboard Option
Monitor: No Monitor Option
Mouse: USB 2-button Logitec Mouse with Wheel

 

[InlineFour]

it looks overkill to me. is this your first server or an additional?

are you planning to use it as an email server? it's best to have seperate servers for each role, in case one server fails, your entire network isn't compromised.

rather than blindly picking a server (looks like that's what you're doing), try the dell server advisor. it should give you a pretty accurate decision on which server is most suitable in your situation.

 

[spikespiegal]

Sorry, your link doesn't work. Just give us the rough specs.

Windows Server, right?

I've had fantastic luck with small/midsize Dell servers for small businesses. Matter of fact, I've never had a single one of them go down. Make sure you get hefty UPS to go with the server because I'm tired of walking into small businesses and seeing their main server directly plugged into the wall. Somebody needs to be slapped if you know what I mean. Dual core is also mandatory.

Next thing I'm tired of seeing is rackmount servers when the company doesn't need one, because unless you have a severe space limitation, rackmounts are among the dumbest things ever invented.

You see, a few years ago server techs started this contest to see how much computing power they could cram into the smallest space, much like gamers seeing who can put the most LEDs into their rigs. Of course when you have an environmentally controlled room that never gets above 70F and you never stay at the job long enough to be forced to upgrade the 2U from hell, what does it matter.

Sorry for the rant, but give me a midsize tower, or a couple of them on breadracks unless you are trying to optimize every square inch of a data center at AT&T. First, towers are far easier to work on in terms of adding I/O cards or anything else. Next, they don't sound like a commuter jet 24/7 due to restrictive ventilation. Last, they don't have to be 'mounted' .

Personally I'm getting the best bang for the buck building my own servers around dual core Opterons and X2s with RAID 1 SATAs. Any penalty the SATA drives take over SCSI is more than made up by the drastic price saving and better processor compared to the SCSI/Intel based server. Dell is my next option.

Edit: now that I see your specs, I think some money is being wasted here. I'd drop down to an SC class Dell with 2-gig RAM and Dual Core P4's. Much cheaper, and will have about the same performance.

 

[RebateMonger]

CKTurbo128,

Your basic server specs seem fine for a general business server for 30-40 computers.

However, I'm not seeing where you have RAID. You'll want to use either RAID 1 or RAID 5 (depending on your goals). I'd start with a 320GB RAID 1 array and add a second RAID 1 array when necessary. You can also use RAID 5. Just use SOME sort of RAID.

For ease of configuration and maintainability, I highly recommend you look at Windows Small Business Server 2003. It comes pre-configured with Exchange Server (for email), full Remote Access to all PCs, and automated Server health monitoring and reporting. It'll greatly cut down your maintainance cost and the initial cost is roughly the same as Server 2003 plus Exchange Server for 30-40 Users.

 

[GrammatonJP]

i would get a 29xx series and run things in VM mode.. you can replicate vm.. double take has new vm technology coming out.. where you replicate the VM files itself, on the fly, therefore if 1 server goes down, you can bring up the VM in a backup server

vm are expensive but very nice...

 

[oynaz]

I find that twin dual core processors are a bit overkill. On the other hand, twin 160 GB hard discs seems small. Why not go for 300 Gb drives?