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Xubuntu as a Small Business Server?

M

Madhattan

Member
Hey All,

In THIS thread, I stated that my Mother is a bookkeeper moving business out of the
house and into an office. She uses around 10 workstations that are mixed between
Windows and Mac Operating Systems.
I asked if she would need a NAS or a Server to house the quickbooks and document files.
The conclusion was that a server is probably the best way to go.
I also stated that I love building computers, but have no experience with Server Hardware
or OSs.

I found THIS article about building a server using Xubuntu. I figure that if I need to learn
a new server OS anyway, might as well learn Linux. I have been wanting to learn how to
use it for a while and this seems like a good opportunity.

I guess my question is: will Xubuntu and this article help me make my Mom proud?

---Thanks
 
If I buy one from Dell or HP etc... Should I put Xubuntu on it or another OS?
I heard that the Microsoft Home Server is corrupting files, so I don't think that OS is for me.
I'm still going to have to set up the raid, daily back up, AV, etc...
 
google for "samba quickbooks" I believe I remember hearing that there were some issues specifically with Quickbooks and some weird issue it has with Samba.

Personally, I would strongly encourage you to use Ubuntu Server LTS. Maybe even wait for the next LTS release coming up in April. Reasons being:

1) The LTS releases get security updates longer and can be upgraded from one LTS release to the next. This means you won't have to take the risk and spend the time of doing a dist-upgrade to the next release every six months. You can just wait for the next LTS release (2 years apart this time).

2) The Server version gets security and bugfix updates even longer than the desktop versions do, so you could go even longer without having to mess with the server and risking downtime for your mother's business.
 
It does look like there are some issues with Samba and Quickbooks 2006. There are workarounds, but I don't want to
turn into Tech Support just like SoundTheSurrender said.

Should I just buy a server with a warranty from Dell or HP and have them put Windows on it?

If I do that, which version should I pick? Here are some of the options from the Dell Server Configuration:

Microsoft® Small Business Server 2003 R2 with SP2, Standard Edition [add $349]
Microsoft® Small Business Server 2003 R2 with SP2, Premium Edition [add $909]
Windows Server® 2003 R2, Standard Edition with SP2, Includes 5 CALs [add $559]
Windows Server® 2003 R2, Standard x64 Edition with SP2,Includes 5 CALs [add $559]

 
There are workarounds, but I don't want to turn into Tech Support just like SoundTheSurrender said.
Click to expand...

If you install it for them you'll be the first person they contact no matter what.
 
That is true and I am OK with that, but I want to try to limit that as much as possible.
If she has some tech support besides me, If I'm not around, then she isn't totally screwed.
 
Originally posted by: Madhattan
That is true and I am OK with that, but I want to try to limit that as much as possible.
If she has some tech support besides me, If I'm not around, then she isn't totally screwed.
Click to expand...

Once you get a Samba server set up though, if you keep it secured (it is by default, much unlike Windows) and don't mess with anything (only access it through the file share) then she won't ever NEED tech support unless the hardware goes bad.

Also, you should be able to get RedHat on a Dell server, or you could even get a Dell workstation with Ubuntu on it. I would also get a rackmount server. Even if she doesn't have a rack now to put it in, I think they are much easier to stash away anyway, and it can be put in a rack if that time comes.
 
I will not have to use LDAP. They all use gmail and have their own sets of contacts.

A rack and two mounted switches were left behind from the previous company in the office, so rack mounted will work.

I thought Linux was free, but the Red Hat from dell ain't even close(also not sure what the 1 year thing has do with it either):

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AP, x32&x64, 1yr, FI x64, Auto-Entitle [add $734]

Should I just go with one of their windows offerings?

 
The main thing you get by purchasing Red Hat is support (the kind of support you would call, not that your mom would be able to call 😉). It might also have driver support for some (very?) specific enterprise hardware that other distributions wouldn't (based mainly on the fact that we bought some weird EMC device that "only worked on windows and RHEL").

Anyway, I'd either use Ubuntu LTS as Brazen suggested or go with some flavor of Windows Server. I don't know much about Windows server licensing and CALs and all that, so I'm not sure what the final price would be. I'm a big Linux fan on the server side, don't get me wrong, but keep in mind that the upfront cost of a Windows license might end up seeming like small potatoes if it means less hassle for you and less downtime for the business. I wouldn't normally assume Linux to be higher maintenance, but if there really are issues with "samba and quickbooks" 🙂confused🙂 who knows I guess.
 
Yeah. Ive been looking for ways to fiddle with Linux on certain projects for years, but this may not be the right one.
I will probably go with a Windows Server OS and buy a rack mountable server from HP or Dell.
Removable drives may be a factor in picking a unit because someone in that other thread I posted said that The files should
also be backed up onto a drive that is taken off site every night.
For this reason, I will probably go with some flavor of These HP ProLiant Servers with a flavor of Windows Server OS.
 
Originally posted by: Madhattan
That is true and I am OK with that, but I want to try to limit that as much as possible.
If she has some tech support besides me, If I'm not around, then she isn't totally screwed.
Click to expand...
Tell your mom to add you to the payroll as the IT guy! lol Are you going to go Terminal Server-Thin clients route?
 
Originally posted by: Madhattan
That is true and I am OK with that, but I want to try to limit that as much as possible.
If she has some tech support besides me, If I'm not around, then she isn't totally screwed.
Click to expand...
Tell your mom to add you to the payroll as the IT guy! lol Are you going to go Terminal Server-Thin clients route?
 
Originally posted by: Madhattan
That is true and I am OK with that, but I want to try to limit that as much as possible.
If she has some tech support besides me, If I'm not around, then she isn't totally screwed.
Click to expand...
Tell your mom to add you to the payroll as the IT guy! lol Are you going to go Terminal Server-Thin clients route?
 
My parents have a small business, about 8 computers running windows. We've been using CentOs on the file server to serve documents and Quickbook files (can't remember what version of quickbooks he has) without any issues. In the 3 years since setting up CentOs for him, he has only had to call me once for support (thankfully, since I live across the country, about a 4 hour plane ride)

I was worried about corruptions issues with quickbooks, however, I thought Intuit released a patch, "fixing" the problems.

Going with Linux, saved thousands of dollars for my parents, and so far, things have been running absolutely smoothly.

 
Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
The main thing you get by purchasing Red Hat is support (the kind of support you would call, not that your mom would be able to call )
Click to expand...

Why wouldn't his mom be able to call?

We have Dell's Enterprise Gold Support on all our servers and from the few times I had to use it, I would say it would be much easier than most tech supports for his mom to call. For one thing, I've always gotten someone who sounds like a native English speaker. Second of all, they are VERY patient; they really want to impress their Gold Support customers with their service. So I would say, it is probably the best sort of support you could leave your mom with.
 
Originally posted by: Brazen
Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
The main thing you get by purchasing Red Hat is support (the kind of support you would call, not that your mom would be able to call )
Click to expand...

Why wouldn't his mom be able to call?

We have Dell's Enterprise Gold Support on all our servers and from the few times I had to use it, I would say it would be much easier than most tech supports for his mom to call. For one thing, I've always gotten someone who sounds like a native English speaker. Second of all, they are VERY patient; they really want to impress their Gold Support customers with their service. So I would say, it is probably the best sort of support you could leave your mom with.
Click to expand...

You may be right. I was under the impression that Red Hat support was geared more toward the... tech savvy. But I've never called them myself.
 
Originally posted by: Brazen
We have Dell's Enterprise Gold Support on all our servers and from the few times I had to use it, I would say it would be much easier than most tech supports for his mom to call. For one thing, I've always gotten someone who sounds like a native English speaker.
Click to expand...
As far as I know, Dell's Server support is all U.S.-based. My recollection is that they tried moving it offshore and got too many complaints.
 
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