Small office server suggestions?

[mraikes]

I have a small office customer, 5-6 employees, residential design (architect) company. Heavy use of CAD programs and opening large files across their network.

Currently they run everything off a NAS device they setup years ago, but now they want to move to a "real" server running Windows Server 2016, better controls, more flexibility, and they hope better speed. Like all small businesses, budget is an issue - but the right machine is the right machine.

This kind of thing is outside my comfort zone, but I agreed to help them out since they're a long time customer. I've been looking around at Dell, HP, etc. but I don't have a high enough level of confidence to recommend one over another.

I'd sure appreciate any suggestions from you more experienced folks for a decent server for a small office that won't break their bank but provides good performance, reliability, and bang for the buck.

EDIT: All the client computers are newer model Windows 7 & 10 desktops.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Is it really just file access? Or do you need to run an app on it, that might be SQL based (some "team" organizing core apps for design software perhaps).
Earlier this winter I did a budget server for a 4x person law firm.
Used a little HP MicrosServer, it has Server Essentials on it, with 4x solid state drives (pair of RAID1s).
The thing flies!

 

[mraikes]

Is it really just file access? Or do you need to run an app on it, that might be SQL based (some "team" organizing core apps for design software perhaps).
Earlier this winter I did a budget server for a 4x person law firm.
Used a little HP MicrosServer, it has Server Essentials on it, with 4x solid state drives (pair of RAID1s).
The thing flies!

Yes, it's really just going to be a file server and nothing else. At least for the foreseeable future.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Only thing with the HP MicroServer....is adapters for 2.5" SSDs. I picked up some of those Western Digital "IcePack" 3.5" to 2.5" adapters..worked great! Got 'em dirt cheap. Whole server was an inexpensive build, did 16 gigs of RAM I think. Flies on SSDs.

 

[mraikes]

Only thing with the HP MicroServer....is adapters for 2.5" SSDs. I picked up some of those Western Digital "IcePack" 3.5" to 2.5" adapters..worked great! Got 'em dirt cheap. Whole server was an inexpensive build, did 16 gigs of RAM I think. Flies on SSDs.

I like the sound of that!

 

[DataMedics]

Yes, it's really just going to be a file server and nothing else. At least for the foreseeable future.

If you really don't plan to do anything more than file serving, perhaps you should just be looking at a better NAS. I've actually retired all our servers in favor of Synology NASs and a few Intel NUC boxes for the couple Windows services we need. For what you'd spend on a server, you can get a monster NAS that'll definitely outperform for file serving. Plus you'll save a bundle over time on the power savings.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Only thing with the HP MicroServer....is adapters for 2.5" SSDs. I picked up some of those Western Digital "IcePack" 3.5" to 2.5" adapters..worked great! Got 'em dirt cheap. Whole server was an inexpensive build, did 16 gigs of RAM I think. Flies on SSDs.

What SSDs are you putting in those?

 

[mraikes]

If you really don't plan to do anything more than file serving, perhaps you should just be looking at a better NAS. I've actually retired all our servers in favor of Synology NASs and a few Intel NUC boxes for the couple Windows services we need. For what you'd spend on a server, you can get a monster NAS that'll definitely outperform for file serving. Plus you'll save a bundle over time on the power savings.

A bigger/better NAS was considered, but they're looking to the future. While no actual plans right now for it to be more than a file server, their business is growing and they want to have more flexibility down the road then it seems another NAS would provide. Power savings isn't a concern for them.

 

[Metanis]

I noticed the network hasn't been mentioned. The fastest server with the fastest SSD drives are no panacea if they have a weak network infrastructure. One of the problem with modern speed-shifting NICs is they can mask underlying cable and switch problems.

 

[E Bell]

+1 on the Synology devices. With the benefits of new Virtual Machine Manager, you can provide them with an updated NAS now and install a Windows Server (VM) later if they need AD, etc. That's what we are currently doing in-house.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

What SSDs are you putting in those?

I think I did Crucial MX300's in this one.

 

[mraikes]

I noticed the network hasn't been mentioned. The fastest server with the fastest SSD drives are no panacea if they have a weak network infrastructure. One of the problem with modern speed-shifting NICs is they can mask underlying cable and switch problems.

Along with a new server, they're also upgrading to gigabit network.

 

[seedubya]

Along with a new server, they're also upgrading to gigabit network.

If they ONLY moved to Gbit lan that would likely improve the situation massively.

 

[Mick]

You/they may have issues trying to edit files directly over the network using a server (specially if they stick to 10/100) . Certainly I have had this with users of Adobe InDesign working on Win Essentials 2012 R2. Adobe's response was merely: "We don't recommend this, Get them to open a local copy, then save it to the server, over-writing the previous file." Now, this did work, but, as usual, the users just found it beyond them to actually remember to do it...

File locks often failed to release as well, necessitating a remote log-in to the server to force-release them.

 

[trevm999]

Server + hypervisor = flexibility

If they want to look at the big picture, they should be looking into version control, @Mick is definitely right about the problems that come up accessing these types of files over the network.

 

[drnick5]

If space is a concern, the HP microservers are pretty good. If you're looking for the best value, I find the Lenovo TS140's are great. My only concern whit them is that they use a nonstandard power connector to the motherboard. (seems like most Lenovo's are going this route) So if the PSU ever dies, you'll need an adapter to replace it. I bought a few of them to keep on hand just in case.

 

[Choppie]

What about booting FreeNAS from an inexpensive 60GB SSD, and getting as many GIGS of SSD they can afford in a RAID setup on the network in a nice roomy ventilated box sitting up on a shelf somewhere, replace the needed switches with all Gigabit topology, switches, cat5e and that stuff. Heck you can get all pre made Cat6 cabling pretty cheap, save on time terminating them all.