Need low budget functional server for a 300-400 church database that can be accessed via office network.

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Deed_girl

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Apr 4, 2012
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Need low cost Specs for a functional server for a 300-400 church database that can be accessed on office network, eventually will want remote access. No gaming, little graphics. Mostly storage and house database software. Local retailer has "intel pentium processor". How do I find what that processor specs are? Will it run Windows 8 well enough?
Software specs say:
OS: Win 98 or newer, including Windows 8 (both 32 and 64 bit)
Processor: 350 MHz CPU or faster
 
Solution
hunter315
Given those software specs and the size of the database you are dealing with, any computer built within the last 5 years will do just fine. Database work only gets intensive when dealing with large databases and lots of queries, from the sounds of things you have neither of those criteria. I would get the cheapest box you can, reformat it so you clean off any crapware, then load the OS and necessary software on to it. Ideally you are going to want to set up your network so that it cannot make it to the outside world.
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hunter315

hunter315

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May 12, 2009
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Given those software specs and the size of the database you are dealing with, any computer built within the last 5 years will do just fine. Database work only gets intensive when dealing with large databases and lots of queries, from the sounds of things you have neither of those criteria. I would get the cheapest box you can, reformat it so you clean off any crapware, then load the OS and necessary software on to it. Ideally you are going to want to set up your network so that it cannot make it to the outside world.
 
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Deed_girl

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Apr 4, 2012
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Software is PowerChurch Software Management and I can't find on their website what the type of database is. The size is very expandable, as this software is used at churches with 2,000-3,000 plus members. It tracks membership, contributions, accounts payable and receivable and payroll, weekly worship attendance, activities, email integration, photo directory. Does that help?

 
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Deed_girl

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Apr 4, 2012
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Thank you Hunter. That is the general advice the Best Buy kid gave me. He seemed to know what he was talking about, but since I didn't, I needed additional input. I'm having to figure this out as I go along. Next concern is securing our network. Can I ask here or do I need to post separately? We have AT & T Uverse Wi-Fi. The AT & T 2Wire Modem DOES NOT allow for something called a "guest wi-fi"? Where you can attach another modem or router to let church attenders have wi-fi access but not to our office computers. But, I don't know where to start or what to buy - again on a low budget. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
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hunter315

hunter315

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May 12, 2009
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The trouble is there are only two kinds of secure computer, an off one and an offline one but both have been proven to be not totally secure in recent years(i blame witchcraft....) The IT/IS perspective is to lock things down as hard as possible and only let the required traffic through, so your database is likely accessed through a specific port similar to how websites are port 80, SSH is port 22, Telnet is port 23, your database likely requires a couple high number ports to be opened, all other ones should have all traffic to them completely blocked. The other computers on the network pose a threat as well but securing them will generally interfere with their primary function so its a balance of risk vs effort.

Also, while you are doing this, get someone to lock down the webserver. Most malware infected sites are church sites because they have minimal budget and almost zero web security experience, so while you are on this little project make sure you aren't accidentally infecting the members.
 
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