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Vonkwink   06-12-2003 at 01:22:42 AM

Hey. I'm planning on purchasing a server for my business. I'd like to build it myself if possible as it will save a great deal of money. I've built plenty of desktops before. What are the differences between server and desktop building? Does anyone know where I can find a guide on server building?

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jihiggs   06-12-2003 at 01:25:25 AM
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there is no difference between a server and a "regular" computer. it depends on what you want the server to do, and how many people will connect to it at a time. most likely if you dont have one and are just going to use only one it doesnt need to be too powerfull.

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knowan   06-14-2003 at 08:05:54 PM
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File Servers: RAID, usually SCSI. The CPU can be slow and the RAM can be fairly low as well, but more RAM is better. EEC RAM is not really necessary in a file server, but it can't hurt.

Application server: Multi-CPU, Loads of EEC RAM, harddrives don't have to be plentiful but they should be fast.

Email/Exchange server: Loads of EEC RAM, Loads of RAIDed SCSI hard drives, a decent processor, possibly multi-CPU though that's not really necessary. Typically these are UNIX machines for POP3/IMAP, and NT for Exchange.

Proxy server/firewall: Can be pretty pitiful actually. An okay CPU, a decent amount of RAM, SCSI isn't needed and neither is RAID. I know a place that's still using a Pentium 200 for their proxy server. If you're planning on running netnanny or some other filtering software you'll need a more powerful CPU, but still not beyond the desktop range.

Necessary for all: Hardware RAID controllers, typically SCSI. Adaptec and 3m ware are pretty popular. Loads of RAM, typically EEC DDR. A gig will do for a file server, but you'll want lots more for application and email servers. At least one decent NIC, and you may want more than one. A gigabit NIC may be a good idea, but you'll also want a gigabit switch to go with it.

Of course once you start servicing over 100 multiple simultanious users you'll likely want to start using blade servers. Until then a standard PC chassis is okay, provided you have loads of room for hard drives. Antec makes good SOHO server chassis.

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Vonkwink   06-15-2003 at 12:57:13 AM
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Yeah, I'm planning on doing a rackmount file backup server with a T1 hookup that COULD be servicing more than 100 persons uploading and maybe 5 downloading. I'd think there would be at least a few differences in building these though - at a minimum mounting the mobo would be a bit weird.

I was planning on having specs as follows (please tell me if you think any are unneccesary or more are needed. This is my first forray into this business). The main concern is data security, followed by speed of data transfer.

1 Intel Xeon at 2.4ghz (or so)

1gb DDR400 RAM (I dont think I'd really need EEC)

8 (or so) 200gb PATA western digital drives 8mb cache in lvl 5. I'm also considering SCSI and SATA drives

3ware 7500-12 (or 7500-8. the only difference is how many drives are supported) RAID controller

I am still looking into motherboards (any suggestions?)


Is a blade server a rackmount? 1U 2U 4U or whatever? (what are the differneces between these btw)

Thanks for all the help!

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knowan   06-15-2003 at 02:23:54 AM
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Can't help you with Xenon mobos. No experience.

Yes a blade server is a rackmount. The difference between 1u, 2u, 4u is basically just size, specifically height.

I don't think a file server NEEDS a Xenon, but it can't hurt, especially if the company is planning on growing. Ideally a file server should barely use the CPU.

A gig of RAM seems right, plus it's still pretty cheep right now. EEC isn't really needed for a file server (though it doesn't hurt).

You'll know better than I the amount of hard drive space that you need. SCSI is always good but is pretty expensive. I would recommend SATA over IDE simply because of the cable length/size issue, plus it has a larger bus and is still cheeper than SCSI.

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Vonkwink   06-15-2003 at 04:09:53 PM
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Don't SATA have the same cable size issue as PATA (or IDE?). I'm pretty sure that I won't be going SCSI at this point since there isn't THAT MUCH performance increase and it is so expensive (plus there is the cooling issue). SATA isn't looking too good either because of the lack of big drives and it is newer technology that doesn't seem as reliable.
I'm just looking at the bottleneck in the fileserver. I won't be transmitting the files over a network or anything. I'd be transmitting it over a dedicated T1 line (aprox 1.5 mbit/sec = about 1.2 mbyte/sec) and I think that 8 to 12 lvl 5 RAIDed 200gb 8mb cache drives would be able to put out 1.2mbyte/sec up and down don't you?

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