| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ButtcraxOMO |
Posted - Feb 21 2009 : 09:29:45 Ok, I know a bit about computers but they are not a hobby, so I need some advice.
I think I want to set up a server at my office. I currently have 4 dell computers running XP Pro, Networked through a Linksys wireless router.
What i want is for my Accounting data, Customer files that contain contracts, estimates, designs, digital photos, And all our business documents and pricing database to all reside in one place that is automatically backed up on site to a storage device (External HD) and Off site daily.
I have always had good luck with Dell, what do you guys recommend I do here? |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Petrified-OMO |
Posted - Feb 23 2009 : 12:04:26 Aww, don't mean on Linux Arcane. 
Yeah, I have Home Server as well but allowed myself to get sidetracked from tinkering with it. It is nifty and there is an active community making apps for it. |
| Arcane |
Posted - Feb 23 2009 : 10:47:40 BC - Here's what I recommend. Before you go spend a lot of money on hardware... spend a little on something like what Stingray indicated (Windows Home Server). It is one of the most end-user friendly servers available and is quite powerful. Mess with that for a bit... contact me and I'll help you get under the hood.
Once you have messed around a bit... go to ebay and get a server for cheap. I just purchased a HP DL380 G4 with 2 3.6G CPUs 8G Ram and 6 72G 15k RPM drives all for... $500... yep... $500 bucks for a server that cost me over $5k when I was at Intel in 2005. With that server I would get Small Business Server 2008 Standard. A Dell 2950 that I just picked up already has a 5-user licence for SBS 2008 (again another $500 purchase). All you need is the software for install (which can even be the trail version... you just put the product key that is listed on the server and it will activate as licensed).
Or... you could go the way Gink went a few years ago and mess around with Linux. *grins* |
| Expired-OMO |
Posted - Feb 22 2009 : 19:53:53 I just tried the servers down at I-HOP this morning and they really sucked so don't use theirs.  |
| Bedpan-OMO |
Posted - Feb 22 2009 : 18:33:16 I am a server guy and Dell does a great job for the money. We use Dell, HP, IBM, blade servers and all running fine! Dell owns the small biz space so you can't go wrong there! |
| Stingray |
Posted - Feb 21 2009 : 14:55:00 You may want to look into this. I beta tested the software sometime ago and really like it. I'm not a server guy by any means, but the software seemed intuitive to me.
I'm not sure if it will help you back-up off site, but it will help with back-ups in general and keep a close eye on all your hard drives, even the ones in other computers for potential failures.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116550 |
| ButtcraxOMO |
Posted - Feb 21 2009 : 13:58:51 I do carbonate already, Its amazingly cheap, and I am going to find out how much I like it when I reformat here soon...Its the server I'm asking about...what do I need to look for in a server and storage. Can I just keep my other computers as work stations? Should I upgrade to VIsta yet? What server software should I use? |
| HEARTBURN-OMO |
Posted - Feb 21 2009 : 11:44:38 http://www.carbonite.com/ads/rush/banner1.aspx?SourceTag=RushSite&cmpid=RA_Rush_1_Banner |