Server vs. NAS, which one do I need?

[Fallen Kell]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
A good place to start would be Microsoft Windows Home Server.

It can be set up easily and the drives can easily be set up for redundancy. The automated ongoing backups of all the Windows PCs in the office is great. It'll work for up to ten client PCs.

Its biggest weakness is how to back ITSELF up. WHS Power Pack 1 (to be released soon) will add an internal option for backing up the Server itself.

Except the fact that Home Server has the "small" problem of CORRUPTING any/all data that is stored on it.... Microsoft keeps expanding the list of applications that corrupt data every day, and it is starting to look like everything is corruptible on it. A patch was supposet to be out 5 months ago when it was first discovered as they thought it was a small problem, but the patch still has not been released since they have yet to find the problem....

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell
Except the fact that Home Server has the "small" problem of CORRUPTING any/all data that is stored on it..

Yeah, that bug fix is proving elusive.

A "safe" way to use WHS today is to install a single hard drive (1 TB drives are $240). (The "bug" doesn't occur if WHS only has a single hard drive). Run the automated client backups onto the Server and also share your company's data files. Keep ongoing backups of the Server on one or more external hard drives.

Backups of the Server need to be done anyway. You can't trust important data to ANY single hard drive or redundant array, anyway.

 

[Madhattan]

OK. Assume that I go with a Dell server for the moment and put XP on it...

1. What specs on the server make the most sense? I assume that XP wont take advantage of dual quadcores or
a super amount of RAM etc..., am I right?
2. Are there servers filled with proprietary sized parts that will be difficult to upgrade later?
3. Is file sharing from XP Pro to Mac going to be a huge pain? It has given me nightmares in the past as I recall.

I will definitely take your advice on taking AV seriously. Also backing up the files on removable HDs and keeping one
off site.

 

[Slowlearner]

1. SC 440 with Xeon 3040, 2GB, 2x250 HDs for 600$, cheaper if you will accept a coreTwo duo processor
you will need to add a DVD burner (35$) from Newegg

http://configure.us.dell.com/d...&l=en&oc=bsdwd1f&s=bsd

There are similar offerings from HP

At a branch office, I am running a 8 user network (job quote, track and Peachtree) off an HP ML series server with an older Pentium and 1 gb of memory on XP pro- with no problems

2. No, most take standard parts -except power supply<< and I may be wrong on that too

3. No experience with Macs on a windows network - but I am going to guess not all that difficult.

Mind you, I am not suggesting that going with Dell or HP will make it any easier. You will still have to customize these machines, and set up the network, install software on the server and workstations, set up back up software and routines, as well as establish procedures so that things are done right.

 

[Madhattan]

Well, I think that this thread has served its purpose. I asked which one would be right for me, and now know
that a server is the right choice.

Thanks everyone for all of the help, and it is good to know that I can make a thread about Servers if I need to.

THANKS!

 

[mmc4587]

I agree with slow Learner.
No need to buy a dedicated server though.

Here is what you do:

Network the existing PCs.
Choose one of them to be the "server." (it can still serve as a workstation).
Install 2 new HDs in Raid,1 and voila you now have a backup solution that is as fast as your workstations. As far as what your mom is doing, anything else would be overkill.

-Oh yeah, make sure there is plenty of RAM.

--woops, this thread was finished...