Server introduction and recommendation

[cstech]

I know the standard answer is to find somebody doing the work and shadow them as one of the better ways to learn server/workstation environment but I don't really have that option as the ones who know this stuff in my area are my competition. (or at least will be as I venture into this)

I have worked mostly with residential home networks, home offices, and the small (micro) business environments. Everything I have worked with so far involves peer-to-peer networking, small UTM (untangle), basic NAS (Netgear and Synology). I am wanting to branch out to pick up some larger small businesses and to do that I know I need to learn about server/workstation setups. What I am seeing the need for is a simple server for AD and file server capabilities. A number of the businesses I want to go after would also benefit from a QuickBooks server function as well. I know there are many more functions that even the basic servers can do but not sure the practical application for the small businesses. I do not want to go into exchange or things along those lines as all my clients are using either Office 365, hosted exchange, or Google apps for business.

The big things I need to find some information on is licensing for software like the server OS or anything else I would need to know about that. I have found a ton of resources for information on hardware so not needing much in that department. What other things should I need to know before venturing into this market?

I am looking at starting out with one of the HP Micro Servers for my shop basically just want something small and inexpensive to start with and play around on so I can get used to a different environment. Are there other suggestions? Maybe I should just look for something on ebay used but I figured if I go new it is something I could continue to use in-shop and not just waste money on a "throw away" server. Unless somebody has an old server box laying around the want to ship to me for the cost of shipping .

I am going to be searching around on the forum trying to find any old posts that may have some good nuggets of information in them as well. Thanks for any advice you guys (and gals) can offer.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

So getting a "lab environment" to build, break, rebuild, format, rebuild again...break..rebuild....that's the way to go.

I encourage you to get better hardware than those toasters...the HP Microserver. For the money, pickup a used HP Proliant ML or DL 350 or higher server, or a Dell PowerEdge 3XX or higher series. Get something with good hardware based RAID controllers, hot swap drives, etc.

Now you can learn hardware, virtualization, and the OS.

Some good links...
http://thelazyadmin.com/
http://www.petri.co.il/

Register with Microsoft to become a partner, and pickup an action pack. Incredible learning resources and tools there.

 

[Markverhyden]

Yep, don't waste your money on those low end server boxes. If you don't want to spend any money on a real server now you can just use another HD on a regular desktop. It will still let you work on the OS part of windows servers.

If you have a recent desktop max bump up the RAM to 8gb or more and you will be able to setup ESXi. Then you can setup all kinds of VM's. But, as YeOldeStonecat said, you eventually want to get a real server. After a couple of years I broke down and bought a R710 on fleabay.