Internal Server

[vdub12]

Anyone try MS Virtual Server 2005? Does this provide what you are describing?

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/

Virtualbox is free, opensource, and cross platform. Not quite sure why anyone would try a retail alternative for a great working free alternative. But hey I assume there would be a reason.

@ vdub12

I read on petri the other day that people are having really good results with running and backing up vmware machines with dropbox. I'm going to give it a try soon.

I have been looking for a good on-line backup but have been having problems finding one that was cross platform.

 

[NeutronTech]

Virtualbox is free, opensource, and cross platform. Not quite sure why anyone would try a retail alternative for a great working free alternative. But hey I assume there would be a reason.

I only asked because I saw that was free. Didn't know if there were advantages or disadvantages to this over VMware.

 

[weezon]

I don't see you pulling off a 500GB HW RAID and a OS for under $1000.

 

[Deleted member 13571]

I don't see you pulling off a 500GB HW RAID and a OS for under $1000.

Seconded. Sounds like a pretty tall order.

Just Server 2008 R2 and the CALs will probably cost you $1000 bucks.


I just installed windows server 2008 for a client who runs a small office (less than 10 systems) and it was very affordable. did everything you want (Domain, file server, print server, etc.), very straighforward administration and backup and it was very reasonable.

 

[chrisaroz]

Have you looked into the new Windows Server Foundation OS? It's cheaper than SBS but offers some of the same features.

 

[exbabylon]

As for the software costs, if you're not using MAPS then you need to get signed up. Subscribe to MAPS and you'll have more options than you need for server options. We're currently running a Server 2008 machine (non VM), and sometimes really wish it was for portability/upgrade/backup and migration options.

We have our current nox running mirrored 160GB drives for OS, and mirrored 750GB drives for office in house storage, documents, accounting stuff, etc. We use the server 2008 machine for DC, Exchange and a TS Remote Gateway. Would probably run Server Essentials 2008 if we had the option.

On the repair network we run a Synology NAS with 4TB storage (which is also accessible from the private office network). We store images and client backups on it, and it's fast, simple, and integrates with the domain for security control. We're working on a system right now which will put the database for our repair tracking software on the Synology as well.

If you figure ~$500 for MAPS, you should be able to put together hardware for a box for right around $500 to accomplish what you want. I'll warn you, we have 6GB RAM on the Server 2008 box with Exchange and we're getting ready to migrate it over to a VM box, but this time we're giving it 8GB because it's using the 6GB every day. If you go with SBS or Essentials make sure to get at least 8GB RAM. Bottom line, Server 2008, DC, Exchange = memory hog.

 

[vdub12]

Seconded. Sounds like a pretty tall order.

Just Server 2008 R2 and the CALs will probably cost you $1000 bucks.


I just installed windows server 2008 for a client who runs a small office (less than 10 systems) and it was very affordable. did everything you want (Domain, file server, print server, etc.), very straighforward administration and backup and it was very reasonable.

Very doable if you use Linux.

 

[jhoppe]

Thanks for the replies all!

Over at Dell, you can obtain a T110 with 125GB (maybe it was the 250GB) HDD's (and the HW Raid and 2008 Foundation Ed.) for ~$1,050. I was hoping to just say to Dell 'forget the hard drives (because they are super cheap elsewhere), just give me the OS (2008 Foundation media and the server itself', but I wanted to see what similar operations are running...

I haven't really considered too much in the virtual arena, but I did learn much from reading this thread!

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 13571]

Very doable if you use Linux.

Ugh, setting up a Linux box at the primary domain controller sounds like a bigger pain than the OP needs. If you are pinching pennies so much that you can't just get the MS OS, maybe you need to rethink your need for an inhouse server.

@OP: glad to hear Dell came through. Sometimes that's the best option in the end.

 

[jhoppe]

coalescent: I was also hoping that someone here had setup a Lenovo server because kind of wanted to take the plunge from nearly exclusively working with their desktops, to their servers as well.

My clients that have invested in the T105's don't seem to have problems either though so I'll most likely end up going that direction...

 

[jhoppe]

I prefer to have solutions to a thread, so I thought that I'd let everyone know that I pulled the trigger on the T110.

It had all the specs I wanted...4GB RAM, 250GB (x2) HDDs, HW Raid, Win 2008, for under $1,000 before shipping.

Thank you all again!

 

[bug byte]

I bought a HP proliant ML115 from ebuyer.com for just over £200. Installed 8G RAM and 2 SATA HDD's. Cost total £400 ish.

It has an internal USB slot that you can install VMware ESXi (free) onto.

I run my web server (apache, joomla) on it plus a load of Windows servers I use for testing scripts etc. I also run Exchange but will be soon migrating to SBS.

VM has many advantages and few drawbacks (Too many to list here) but for e.g I have a total of 8 servers running on one box, I use the spare HDD for backups. I can deploy and roll back changes easily when Im testing stuff give boxes extra mem and cpu within seconds.

For little over £400, it is a great solution.

 

[vdub12]

Ugh, setting up a Linux box at the primary domain controller sounds like a bigger pain than the OP needs. If you are pinching pennies so much that you can't just get the MS OS, maybe you need to rethink your need for an inhouse server.

@OP: glad to hear Dell came through. Sometimes that's the best option in the end.

lol, last I thought we where techs here.

 

[1aComputerServices]

Honestly was looking at this for our shop as opposed to an actual server. Biggest issue at the moment seems to be a lack of money to buy a server outright. Plus our hosted Exchange is with Rackspace and absolutely love it.

http://www.rackspacecloud.com/windows

 

[donnakamla]

Big server shops are virtualizing to better utilize resources I.e. Lowers air conditioning costs, power costs from better utilization of servers. HP proliant server blades typically average at 12% resource utilization for a single server o/s install. Virtualization allows upto 8 virtual instances to run on 1 physical box. The other big positive is reduced server outage and shorter turnaround in bringing a virtual server back up - 20 minutes vs upto 2 days for a server outage.

 

[Deleted member 13571]

lol, last I thought we where techs here.

I'm not saying people here aren't qualified to do it. I am saying it probably just isn't worth the time. Why fit a square peg in a round hole.

Also <obligatory "check your grammar" comment here>

 

[Holzster]

I bought a good server on Ebay for $90.00 - free shipping - you can find a $200-$300 server for about $100 if you are not in a rush & look on Ebay.

I then put ClearOS on it. http://www.clearfoundation.com - it is Linux based but it is WAY easy the whole thing is web based to configure - really zero Linux knowledge is needed. ClearOS has all the bells & whistles of SBS but free.

I do run it on a VM - it is the only VM on that box at this time but that might change.

Holzster

 

[Deleted member 13571]

I bought a good server on Ebay for $90.00 - free shipping - you can find a $200-$300 server for about $100 if you are not in a rush & look on Ebay.

I then put ClearOS on it. http://www.clearfoundation.com - it is Linux based but it is WAY easy the whole thing is web based to configure - really zero Linux knowledge is needed. ClearOS has all the bells & whistles of SBS but free.

I do run it on a VM - it is the only VM on that box at this time but that might change.

Holzster

Yeah, that sounds like an awesome deal. A lot of times people buy the "blow your head off 16-core 256gb memory server" when all they do is run Windows Media Center on it and it's a waste of money. Part of speccing out a system isn't just buying the most expensive thing, but buying the thing that best fits your needs.

Awesome job with the ClearOS recommendation, very cool.

 

[Remote-IT-Guy.com]

I bought a good server on Ebay for $90.00 - free shipping - you can find a $200-$300 server for about $100 if you are not in a rush & look on Ebay.

I then put ClearOS on it. http://www.clearfoundation.com - it is Linux based but it is WAY easy the whole thing is web based to configure - really zero Linux knowledge is needed. ClearOS has all the bells & whistles of SBS but free.

I do run it on a VM - it is the only VM on that box at this time but that might change.

Holzster

I second ClearOS. I use VMware and run ClearOS as the FW/spam/etc... I then use a SBS server for Exchange/ my CRM software.

 

[jdengelke]

To the OP, thanks for the thread 'cause it has me thinking.

My son's office was moving a month ago and disposing of all the IT equipment free to employees. He didn't need anything so he called me. He picked up for me a "Dell Xeon server". Have not seen it yet, but looking forward to playing with it, but I have zero experience or education with servers.

What can I do with it for the business? I hear a lot about HDD images of customer's machines. How much storage space would I need ?
What else do you use it for? Accessing tools from shared files?
I am sure that it would of course give me experience setting up a server environment. Is there a particular book or reference I should have?

We have a large family and all together on network six computers and two xbox's. What is the benefit there?

I tend to backup customer hdd images and usually it takes 4 gb of storage for a 40 gb harddrive.