Exisitng or New Server for SQL Database

[waitzkin]

I currently have a domain controller which hosts my windows network AD/Exchange and acts as a file server. It currently has 2 - 1TB Hard Drives, 16 GB RAM, and 2 - E5520 Processors @ 2.27 (16 logical processors total).

My question is whether to add 4 drives (RAID 10 array) to this server (if even possible) or get a new separate box for an SQL database and application that will take a significant amount of resources. It looks like the existing power supply does not even have the connections to connect 6 drives.

I know the answer most will say get a new box, but would I save much money trying to configure this server to work or would it be too much of a headache? Do you need more info to accurately answer this question? Just curious what some responses would be.

Thanks.

 

[sadams04]

It all depends on how much load you currently have, and how much you expect will be added. If you have a small office with a dozen people or so, then I doubt you will have any problems adding the database role to that server. If you have a few hundered users that will all be hitting the database at the same time, then you may want to consider adding a new server. Assuming you already own the SQL license there isn't much risk in installing it on the existing box...

BTW - Your dual E5520 server has eight cores and eight hyperthreads for sixteen processing threads.