Can I get some feedback or advice on this server build?

[rdsport323]

I need a server built that can support 10 workstations for a small dental office. We had someone configure this and here's what he came up with..

Intel Xeon Quadcore 2.4/2.6 GHZ with Intel Serverboard
4GB DDR3 ECC 1033 MZH Memory 1156 8MB Cache
2PCS. SATA 1TB Enterprise Hard Drive with Raid 1
Server Towercase with 600 Watts Power
DVD-RW 20X
Intel Graphics Onboard Video Accelerator
Keyboard/Mouse/500GB External Backup

Does that sound sufficient ? or should we go with something prebuilt from Dell.

thanks

 

[internetlad]

Is this just a file server or is it going to be supporting a web page or something of the nature as well?

if it is a file server i wouldn't suggest RAID 1 for a file server, get a third drive and do raid 5, which uses parity (basically the computer uses 1+0=1, if it loses one part of the equation/one drive, it can figure out what it was supposed to be. Think algebra.)

Since it uses one drive to calculate the parity, you will lose the size equal to 1/3 of the array, and all drives must be the same. You will have 2Tb if you get another Tb drive or you could get 3 500's and have the size you have now. It would be good for a price comparison.

Might bump that up to 8Gb too depending on how heavy your use is.


not really sure why you only have a 500gb for your external backup, however. I'd either go with a 1tb or just do cloud-based.
other than that it looks okay to me.

 

[finn281175]

If its just going to be a file server then powerwise it should be fine. Dont forget your UPS though!

 

[rdsport323]

thanks for the quick responses.. I forgot to mention, it will be mainly used as a file and print server.

"We use a dental practice management software package called Dentrix that is basically a database that the workstations get info from and display it, all our records are electronic, all the x-rays are digital, paperless charting. So reliability is important,

So is dual CPU overkill, vs using something like a single quad core sufficient since the server isn't running any applications beyond the Dentrix database and a SQL database for the digital images? I don't want to have to upgrade again for at least a couple of years (probably 5 or so). Is a faster single processor better for database access vs multiple processors at a slower speed? Or should I even care?"

 

[finn281175]

dont worry about it. The rig you listed is perfectly ok for your needs. and like you said you dont want to have to upgrade for a few years so overkill in this instance is a good thing. but dont forget your UPS!

 

[internetlad]

yeah the single processor you have listed will be fine for a 10 PC setup, A file server will mostly be about the speed of the drives, which is why a RAID 5 would be better as well (2 drives writing data instead of one) and it would seem to be fully capable.

As finn said, grab a UPS and I'd reccomend Raid 5 and see what the price would be on 8 gigs of ram (i'm not sure if they're using 2 sticks of 4 or 4 of 2 or what but i know that ECC ram is fairly expensive)

 

[rdsport323]

would a hardware controlled RAID card be necessary? or would the onboard "fake" RAID be sufficient?

 

[internetlad]

I'm thinking you'll have so much overhead the onboard will be fine, especially on an intel board.

 

[flongo]

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(347) 826-4317
395 Pearsall Ave
Cedarhurst, NY 11516

 

[internetlad]

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