Do I need dedicated file server for surveillance cameras?

[marcink99]

I just deployed a 2nd file/database server for quickbooks and some other aplication that works with quickbooks.

Currently that server has 1tb 7200rpm dell enterprise level hard drive with 3 partitions

First for OS -87.8gb
2nd for databases 117gb
3rd Planed for surveillance recordings -726gb

All network users have access to the databases about ~20

I have about ~32 IP surveillance cameras that I need a computer to record too.

Questions
Would having those 32 cameras record to the 3rd partition effect access speed of the QuickBooks database?

Would having those cameras record to the same drive result in a faster death of the hard drive?

If yes too both what would be the best solution?

Add 2nd hard drive for the cameras or 2nd dedicated server for camera recording.

Thank you in advance

 

[Maniaman]

One single hard drive?? No RAID?

32 network cameras recording is going to murder that box.


I'd put network cameras on their own box. Network cameras are use a ton of cpu power and disk i/o.

That database server should have more than 1 drive in RAID. What happens to that database if that single drive craps out?

 

[marcink99]

I just got this server. It does not come with raid controller(I did't customize it) all databases will be backed up to our main server that can take over this file server if needed.

I agree that server should have raid and plan on adding it to this server in a week or two.

 

[JustInTech]

Hi there, we use a QNAP NAS that is specifically designed for cameras, typically we use the 4 bay one. http://www.qnap.com/images/products/comparison/Comparison_NVR.html

Cheers j

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I'd be scared to death of that server before even talking about bogging it down with video storage.

About 20x users for Quickbooks and some secondary program...

A 1TB 7,200 rpm drive is mentioned. Means it's SATA. You're already slow out of the gate.

The same spindle has all 3 partitions on it...instead of multiple spindles...1 for the OS, another for the data volumes. So here's another crippling features for performance.

Having this same overburdened drive take on heavy writing ..from more than twice the amount of remote users....those poor Quickbooks users will be calling it "Slowbooks", and they'll be better off breaking out an old fashioned abacus and spreadsheet and ledger to do the books.

I'd get a NAS unit that has a DVR plugin, or a DVR on the compatible list with these cameras, and leave this duty off of the server.

And for the server itself, I'd still pickup 3x more drives. 1x matching 1TB drive, and a pair of smaller say 250 gig drives. Make the pair of 250's a RAID 1, make it C drive..and move that system volume to it. Pair the two 1TB drives to a RAID 1 and leave that all for the data/storage. Pagefile.sys on each. Performance will vastly increase.

 

[angry_geek]

Performance issues aside (already mentioned), what happens if the server is liberated by a burglar? There goes all your evidence.

Since this is public, I won't give specific suggestions. However, the cameras need a dedicated DVR in a secure location. That many cameras are going to kill hard drives pretty fast. I would go with a machine with at least 2 x 2tb hdds in raid 1. 32 channel dvr will probably run about $2,500.

 

[ArtemusComputerTechnology]

I would recommend adding the cameras to a separate NAS or server. Honestly, the server you setup is an accident waiting to happen. If it crashes then you will look bad. Check to see if the cameras are compatible with a NAS unit. This would be your best bet. Purchase a raid controller for the server because I'm pretty sure the quickbooks data is very important to the users.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

What A_G says above.....here's a quick story.

A good buddy of my colleague at work owns a bar/restaurant.
2x weeks ago it was broken into and burglarized.
The thieves did 2x things....broke into the safe (had the equipment and skills for that), and took the DVR with them...no evidence left behind.

 

[marcink99]

Thank you for all the replys I consider my questioned answeared. Will get raid card and a dedicated machine for video recording.