Tweet
We have an ageing server that we feel needs replacing, though we are reluctant to go down the route of an 'all-singing-all-dancing', top-of-the-line server. Our requirements of a server are tiny. We don't run any complex software - the server is basically a central file server where all our projects and assets are saved. Nightly backups run to external hard disks using 3rd party software. Backburner manager runs on the server, as does the vray license manager and the itoosoft manager etc. We are also looking into Google to host our email, so the server will not necessarilr run even as a mail server.
The main considerations are stability and disk space. I have roughly configured a Dell Poweredge T320 on the dell website with a RAID1 (SATA)/RAID5 (SAS) system, giving us a mirrored OS drive on SATA drives and a RAID5 data area using a few SAS disks. With a Dell recommended UPS, the costs are quite reasonable - around £3-3.5k plus VAT.
However, the option of OS is where I am not too sure which route to follow. At the moment, we have Windows SBS 2003. We have always felt that this is over the top for us. Can I just install Windows 7? Would that suffice? Dell only gives options for the various server packages. They are both expensive and overly complex for a small business such as us.
The main considerations are stability and disk space. I have roughly configured a Dell Poweredge T320 on the dell website with a RAID1 (SATA)/RAID5 (SAS) system, giving us a mirrored OS drive on SATA drives and a RAID5 data area using a few SAS disks. With a Dell recommended UPS, the costs are quite reasonable - around £3-3.5k plus VAT.
However, the option of OS is where I am not too sure which route to follow. At the moment, we have Windows SBS 2003. We have always felt that this is over the top for us. Can I just install Windows 7? Would that suffice? Dell only gives options for the various server packages. They are both expensive and overly complex for a small business such as us.
Comment