Server System Recommendation

[Old and In the Way]

Any DU server guru's out there that can give me some guidance? My partner sent this to me asking for help....I know just enough to really screw things up. Any suggestions?

---------------------------

You know, I should have asked these questions before. We just invested in what I had thought would be a server computer in the new office. That is, we wanted one central CPU to handle all of our prcessing tasks, and each person would just have a
"dumb" terminal on their desks connected to that computer. We had particularly wanted to install a single copy of some of the more expensive software on this computer (like Solid Works or Pro-E), that we could all share.
Well it hasn't worked out that way. The computer we bought just doesn't have enough horsepower to do all this - it can only help us to share some files, and to do backups of current data. I guess that to get the system that I was envisioning is a whole lot more money. Anyway, our computer should also allow us to access our personal data via the Web, much like the server in the States does. But now we're learning that we need to buy new software to do this, which is also not cheap.
My problem is that I just don't know enough about the nuts and bolts of setting up a server. I don't know what software we really need, or what the protocol is for connecting us all together in this office. I don't really trust the local people very much at this point either - they keep saying different things every day, but it's always the wrong thing.
If you were to set-up a system like I just described - 7 people linked together, actively sharing files and software, with one big brain running it all, and accesible from anywhere with an Internet connection - what would you be looking for in terms of both hardware and software? What kind of money are we talking about?

[MichaelHarris]

1. I can help with this

Windows 2000 server, with 10 client licenses. Linux has to big of a learning curve. To do a good job I would have to ask some questions, such as intranet only, no internet? A duel processor would be nice but a bit more costly. I would say any 2 gigahurtz processor would be fine if the server is set up properly. By that I mean set to optimize running tasks, things like that. Security is a whole new picture. Thats something we can discuss.

[Maine-i-acs]

3. Agree here:

2 gig processor, 1 gig RAM or better.

Hard drive size depends on data needs but RAID is a cheap and necessary component. Server 2000 will set up a mirror drive rather cheaply for data redundancy in case of hard drive failure.

2 network cards, 2 power supplies are nice too, for redundancy.

[MichaelHarris]

4. I forgot about RAID

that would help out alot

[Maine-i-acs]

2. Some notes:

(I manage IT for a 30-station system with 3 servers, hardly a robust qualification)

1 - Cheap servers work to hold files and some server-compatible applications. Most are based on each user having their own CPU-based workstations which themselves can be cheap (like old Win98 machines). Dumb-terminal systems are more expensive.

2 - You can't just load any executable file onto a server and have everyone run it at once. The applications have to be server-based. Otherwise there might be only one person at a time that can use the software.

3 - you might have a hardware bottleneck in the hubs/switches that relay data. An inspection of the switches, cables, etc. could help.

4 - to access data from anywhere in the world, you need a good firewall/VPN system. Symantec Enterprise VPN 200R is a good one for around 800 bucks. It encrypts data from end to end to eliminate security risks.

5 - by the time I finish typing this there will probably be about 20 more responses more pertinent than mine.

[Maine-i-acs]

6. Also FYI:

I bought an HP system with 4 disk RAID for data, a 2-disk mirror for the OS, 2 power supplies, and 3 NICs for about $4K.

[MichaelHarris]

9. if they are close

to Washington I have a serverwith 2000 loaded up and ready to go in the closet. Haven't turned it on in months. Not since it got hacked like an O.J. girlfriend.

[DS1]

11. same deal for Boston area!

Dually - half gig ram - raid 5 - in basement :hi:

[MichaelHarris]

7. It kinda sounds like

it may be a small place with only 5 clients. Also they seem to wanna go as cheap as possible, if they don't need outside access, WWW, then a server, Win 2000 server, a router, and someone to set up the accounts and permissions and they could be rockin'. Without Web access they would save a ton on management and security.

[DS1]

5. There's not nearly enough information here to get an accurate response

Your files could be between 2k and 200 megs - BIG difference when multiplied by 7.

[TrogL]

8. He's describing Citrix

or he's harkening back to the "mainframe mentality".

[MichaelHarris]

10. I don't

work and play well in the old 'mainframe' world. I've been known to hammer together some pretty good cheap networks for people though. If he flys me to where he's at I'll hook um up. Unless its a place where bullets are flyin' around.

[Old and In the Way]

12. Thanks for the comments folks!

I suspect that we are trying to do this way too cheap and aren't using the suggested minimum hardware and software liscenses.

If I have other questions, I know where to go! :-)