Web - Network Server
I read through alot of posts on here about setting up a server, everyone seemed to be worrying about the cost more than the stability. While I'm vice-versa cause it is not my money .
So basically here is the scheme: We currently have an old dual 733mhz dell running novell. I'm afraid this thing is going to die on us very soon, so its time to upgrade. We have a website that we host elsewhere, but I'm going to upgrade our line to a dedicated T1 so I plan on hosting our site here. Definitely wanna run linux of some sort (whichever version is best for our application) I'm not a dedicated *nix user, but I've been there and learn fast, so a book or two + a friend or two will put me right on track.
There are a couple things that I definitely require of it. One, to be able to host a few websites, none have to much traffic. Two, would like the ability to dial into the computer from other locations. We have users who leave the office with laptops and if they could just dial-up to receive internet access that would be great. Has to be able to host files for our network software, mostly word and ACT! databases. Not to mention external backups. Something I can change out, we use tape backups now, but it fails alot. Think it is because it is a POS.
So since money is not really an object (up to about $5,000). I was definitely thinking dual Xeon 2.0+ is the way to go, and a gig+ of ram is definite. We could definitely be content with about 100gigs of harddrive space, definitely scsi. Don't know if we need a raid array or not.. might be helpful. If you think so, tell me why. What about webserver software? Is this something linux is already for? Probably.
So basically I am looking for suggestions for specs, and software that will accomplish this stuff for us. I'm sure I can figure out how to configure our current machines, if not I'll be back . If someone can point me to places to recieve more information that would be great as well. Appreciate any and all help I can get on this. Have to give a speech on what and why we need this new server. Just saying "because at any moment we can lose all our data" is enough to get a new one, but explaining the specs will go a long way.
Thanks
Ken Elliott
Pimpin like a pimp with an electrofied pimpin machine!
mairving posted this at 20:29 — 4th March 2004.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
Well, the main thing that you don't won't to do is to put everything on one server. I would probably go with 2-3 depending on the OS that you are using. Do you plan on upgrading Netware, or going with Windows 2000/3 server for the internal network side of things?
I would definitely have the webserver on a separate machine. Really if you don't have a lot of traffic, you could even put the webserver on the old Netware server, add RAM and SCSI if necessary and go from there. I use FreeBSD for my webserver. It is a little more robust than Linux and updating via ports is quite easy. I don't know if I would go with RAID, since it is probably a little overkill. I would go with a good tape backup instead.
So the questions are:
How many users on the internal side?
What operating system are they running?
Do you plan on staying with Novell or going with another OS as your server?
At my work, I have about 80 users. Here is how mine is setup:
Webserver - Dual Zeon 2.4 Ghz with 1.5GB of RAM, 2 36GB SCSI drives (non-raid) FreeBSD.
Backup Webserver - P3-500 Mhz with 512M or RAM 1 -72GB
Mail Server - Dual Zeon 2.4Ghz with 1.5GB RAM, 2 36-GB SCSI drives running Windows 2000 server and Exchange (can't get rid of Exchange since it was preexisting but I would like to). Also has a Sony AIT-3 drive with Veritas Backup Exec.
Domain Controller - Athlon 2000+ with 1GB RAM and 2 30GB IDE Drives running Windows 2000.
SQL Server - Dual Zeon 2.4Ghz with 1.5GB RAM, 2 36-GB SCSI drives running Windows 2000 server and SQL Server 2000 for a proprietary app.
Proxy Server - P3-800Mhz with 512Mb of RAM, 30 GB hard drive and running Slackware Linux.
File Server - Athlon 2000+ with 1GB RAM and 3-36GB SCSI Drive running Slackware Linux
Full T1 line
I am a big believer in spreading out the load among servers and building redundancy into the network.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
Ken Elliott posted this at 20:09 — 5th March 2004.
They have: 358 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
Thank you that really helps. I was under the impression that one server would be enough, though i should have known better. Used to work at a ISP and they had 3 servers setup. Mail, Web, and incoming connections. Chances are I'm just going to keep the web and mail servers offsite. That way if something goes awry I can blame it on them
.
As for staying with Novell or going with a new OS. I would think staying with Novell is the way to go. We have about 20 users at the most and they all run XP, I run OS X. Because I'm special
. Your file server seems like exactly what I am looking for. How would a server like that apply to my situation, though I would prefer the specs to be more like your Mail Server.
Thanks Mark.
Ken
Pimpin like a pimp with an electrofied pimpin machine!
mairving posted this at 12:39 — 6th March 2004.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
A Fileserver really doesn't need a fast processor, since it really isn't processing anything like a SQL Server would be. RAM and some fast SCSI drives and of course, good pipes in your network would be much more valuable.
I run Samba on the fileserver and it runs pretty good. It has been up for about 5 months straight now without a reboot. Actually only 5 months because I had to shut it down and move it. There are a few problems with permissions since 'nix permissions are more basic than those in Windows. You also have to create a user on both machines. I would probably run FreeBSD on it now.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
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