Advise - Small Business Setup

[Ishtim]

I have been asked to build or buy several systems that fit a budget. I would like your volunteer opinion(s) as if you were assigned the same task. Even ideas or bits of opinion is GREAT! The more detail the better though...

Each system will require hardware and an OS.

Here is what I am given... (*in US Dollars*)

• Server(1) - $1500
• Workstations (5) - $500/each
• Laser Printers (4) - $200/each
• Hub/Switch (1) - $300

What do you think?
I need to come up with a list of questioins/concerns to "fire back".

[Adrian Wong]

Hmm.. Are you going to run the server on a rack? Like a 1U rack. Or is it just a standalone server?

As for the laser printer, what kind of workload do you foresee?

[Ishtim]

Stand alone server...

I just got system requirement specs...
--------------------------------------------------
Workstations

MINIMUM

Pentium 4 - 2.0 Ghz or faster
Win 2000/ XP Professional/ Vista
512 MB RAM – 1GB if Vista
20GB Hard Drive
Video Card capable 0f 1024 x 768
10 / 100 Ethernet Card for Networking
DSL/ Cable Internet connection for training / updates
UPS (Uninterrupted Power Source) battery backup
17” or larger flat screen monitor


RECOMMENDED

Pentium 4 - 3.0 Ghz or faster
XP Professional/ Vista
1 GB RAM – 2GB if Vista
40GB Hard Drive
Video Card capable 0f 1024 x 768
10 / 100 Ethernet Card for Networking
DSL/ Cable Internet connection for training / updates
UPS (Uninterrupted Power Source) battery backup
17” or larger flat screen monitor
---------------------------------------------------------

Server

RECOMMENDED
Pentium 4 - 3.0 Ghz or faster
Win 2003 Server/ XP Professional/ Vista
2 GB RAM – 3GB if Vista
80 GB Hard Drive
Video Card capable 0f 1024 x 768
10 / 100 Ethernet Card for Networking
DSL/ Cable Internet connection for training / updates
UPS (Uninterrupted Power Source) battery backup
17” or larger flat screen monitor

*Networking requires a WIRED connection. Wireless networks are not recommended.

[Adrian Wong]

Oh, okay. What will they be used for?

Personally, I would go with a Core 2 Duo solution for both workstation and server. Definitely more efficient and faster than the Pentium 4. You don't have to get the faster models. Even the slower ones work great. Might want to get the 4MB models for the server though.

Definitely get as much RAM as possible for both workstation and server. 1GB would be minimum, 2GB or 3GB preferably.

I think the workstation can still run on Windows XP without a problem. Right now, Windows Vista is definitely less stable than Windows XP, and I don't think there's any real advantage to migrate to Vista from XP for office users.

But the server... probably best to stick with Windows 2003 Server. That's what we are using for our server and it seems to work great.

You can definitely save on the graphics card for the server. You can just get a motherboard with integrated graphics (e.g. Intel Extreme Graphics) and that's good enough. For the workstations, it depends on what they will be used for. Same goes for the monitors. A 17" monitor should suffice for the server, but your workstations will probably do better with a 20-24" monitor (depending on the work they are intended for).

[Adrian Wong]

BTW, if you intend to do a lot of printing, it might be a good idea to get a heavy-duty laser printer with a network card. Then all the PCs in the network can use that printer.

That should be cheaper than buying four separate printers. The running costs would be lower as well, with a lower cost per page.

[Ishtim]

Thanks Adrian!

I didn't even think of dual core vs single. The software is an appointment oriented/driven app with a GUI on sterroids!
The server will act as a database for thousands of records and maybe even small (100-200K) pictures. In the past I have used 3 - 2500 barton machines with NF2/NV440MX boards w/ 1GB DDR each and it does pretty good except one of the machines is a workstation/server. The HUGE difference here is that we will have a stand alone server.

Any reason to go Gigabit ether net over std 10/100?

[Adrian Wong]

Oh, okay, a file server. Hmm.. Would be a good idea to get an NCQ-capable hard drive (and HDD controller). If the data is important, you might want to do RAID5 (if you can afford it) or just RAID 1 (cheaper).

I would also go with more RAM for the server. 2GB would be nice. The more RAM you have, the more it can allocate for disk caching.

Hmm.. I don't think there's a real need for a Gigabit LAN, although most motherboards now come with Gigabit LAN built-in. You don't transfer large files, so you don't really need the bandwidth. But wired LAN is definitely the way to go.

[peaz]

definately choose a dual core solution over a single core one.

BTW, would software also be cost in? especially the OS and office suite can be quite pricey if you buy it retail. Cheapest might be purchasing via a pc vendor like Dell which bundles the OS and Office at a very attractive price. Something to consider? Dell machines are dirt cheap these days plus they come with superb on-site customer services, at least here in Malaysia.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by peaz

definately choose a dual core solution over a single core one.

BTW, would software also be cost in? especially the OS and office suite can be quite pricey if you buy it retail. Cheapest might be purchasing via a pc vendor like Dell which bundles the OS and Office at a very attractive price. Something to consider? Dell machines are dirt cheap these days plus they come with superb on-site customer services, at least here in Malaysia.

Heh.. They can always buy an OEM version together with a hardware component... like a mouse.

[Ishtim]

Thanks Guys...

The part I don't like about Dell, etc is they don't give you the master CD's, and upgrading piecewise by components can be difficult based on their case designs and "proprietary" layouts.

A basic Dell, Pentium Dual core E2140 @ 1.6Ghz, integrated Intel 3100 graphics, 1GB ram w/monitor upgrade 19" widescreen and XP Pro was nearly $600 USD. I can build for similar machine for nearly $70 cheaper and I can later upgrade to Core 2 Duo, PCI-e GPU and I get to keep the CD's.