Re: Help me configure hardware for new Dell Server

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I agree that I would absolutely not use SATA drives for this purpose. I'm a
little old school in this regard - I run them on my storage server, my home
server with only a few client PCs, and all desktops, but I would not run
them on a production server. Add SQL, Exchange, and the rest to this, and
IMO I wouldn't even consider it. You may get comments from people who have
not had trouble with SATA drives on servers, but IMO that doesn't make it a
good idea.

SBS doesn't tend to need heavy processor capacity, but I'm not sure about
SQL and the other apps you plan to run on this box. To me, I don't see how
more processor power can hurt. I'd probably go with dual procs but not at
the top of the performance/cost list. Maybe high-end dual cores or low end
quads. A SQL guru might have more valuable comments about processor. I'd
go with the 4 GB of RAM for sure.


"stephen" <stephen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:O$zSoGSqHHA.3456@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris Fisher wrote:
Hello,

I am getting ready to replace my three year old Dell server with a new
one running SBS 2003. I was looking at Dell's website and noticed they
are running SATA drives now which suprised me for a server. Are these ok
to use on a network with 25 empolyees or is the SAS the way to go. We
run a Goldmine CRM software (SQL version), Quickbooks Enterprise
accouting package, Trend CSM and a couple of smaller software packages
along with the typical SBS 2003 Standard install. What do you all think
about dual processors.. either duo or quad? I was planning on using RAID
1 with duplexing using two partitions, one for the system and boot on
drive C: and the data and programs on drive D: the second partition.
Does this sound good? I am planning on reinstalling the SBS 2003
software from the original server onto the new one since it won't be used
anymore so I am not anticipating any problems with the install or
switching the licenses. I am also going to get 4GB of RAM. I use a
Smoothwall firewall so only need one NIC and am going to go with the
embedded GB NIC. Do these things sound good or does anyone see a problem
with this configuration?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Chris

Stay clear of the Dell SAS 5ir RAID card: performance is dreadful unless
you enable write caching (dangerous) by downloading and running a special
tool.

Better to use the PERC 5 RAID card with 256MB of cache with some nice 15k
SAS drives in RAID 1 or RAID 5

-- stephen


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