what exactly is a server??

**zskillz** · November 17th, 2002, 04:57 PM

hahah... ok, now I'm not that dumb! i know that there are different types of servers for different tasks (web, ftp, etc.) But my lab is thinking of getting/setting up a server for our LAN so that we can all use it to back up and store our data.

I'm curious what exactly would be good for this...

-Z

btw - if this is too vague, just lemme know

**no1_vern** · November 17th, 2002, 05:03 PM

Check here -

http://www.ciol.com/content/flavour/.../101061601.asp

**jkrohn** · November 17th, 2002, 05:04 PM

When you say "what would be good for this" do you mean what PC? What OS?

Also what functionality are you looking for? What hardware will you run?

Jkrohn

**eclipsera** · November 17th, 2002, 05:10 PM

actually i think what he means is, what would be the point in buying a server for their lan, what are the pros and cons about it. just a quess. ;-)

**zskillz** · November 17th, 2002, 07:08 PM

sorry.... well here's the deal. I have my own little FTP server running on my computer at home.. I basically use that computer as storage, mp3 holder, mirc box, etc. But it's just a normal computer that I have dedicated to tasks such as that. I'm curious about what other tasks a "server" does.....

i read the article that no1_vern posted, and now I'm even less sure about what our lab really needs. I think that I could save us a lot of money by just setting up an old box as a file server instead of buying a new box that is designed to be a server. However, I want to know what other possible uses a server could be to us....

so the level of question I'm asking for the time being is what are the pros/cons of file/print servers vs. application servers? I'm just trying to decide if we really even need an application server or if a file server will do the job...

is that more clear??

-Z

**sixf00t4** · November 17th, 2002, 07:11 PM

how big is the lab?

or rather...how many users/computers in the lab

**zskillz** · November 17th, 2002, 07:13 PM

jeez.... ummm.... well, there's probably 20 or so people, but this is a chemistry lab so all of those people are creating large amounts of data on a daily basis.

-Z

**DVNT1** · November 17th, 2002, 07:22 PM

I usually base it on what is really needed (does the task require a separate computer), as I opposed to what can I do with it.

You may still be hung up on on the word "server". The real question is what type availability, speed, and tech support do you need for whatever you will run on this server.

If what you do isn't mission critical than perhaps you don't need the biggest/best "server".

Start by trying to determine what type of availabity does this server need to have and what are the expected future roles for it.

**PresterJohn** · November 17th, 2002, 07:23 PM

>I think that I could save us a lot of money by just setting up an old box as a file server instead of buying a new box

i think you're a little confused about hardware specifics and file servers (their purpose) in general.

you can build a file server using an ordinary desktop pc...(i've even configured laptops as servers) provided the hardware is compatible with the OS. you don't have to buy a 'specialized' hardware configured server such as the ones that article describes.

but depending on your environment, using an ordinary pc might not work well or be sufficient.

for ex. if you're building a file server which will hold hundreds of gigabytes of user data, you would probably want to go with a specially configured server than has features like: scsi raid5, hot-swapable drives, fiber-channel connectivity, high-speed multi-port nics, extra ram capacities, etc. these are features not found in ordinary pcs. the same goes if you are configuring an app server.

so in a nutshell, for your lab, you probably don't need a special machine as a file server. it really depends on your need and of course your budget...

**zskillz** · November 17th, 2002, 07:30 PM

you can build a file server using an ordinary desktop pc...(i've even configured laptops as servers) provided the hardware is compatible with the OS. you don't have to buy a 'specialized' hardware configured server such as the ones that article describes.

That was my understanding... and that is what I have done at home however, you then say...

but depending on your environment, using an ordinary pc might not work well or be sufficient.

this is the point that I'm at... I don't think that an ordinary PC is best for the job b/c this is very important data. I know that I want to run RAID, and that I want to back the data up once a week or so, and people will need to access the data, but we're not talking about hundreds of people or anything. So I'm just not sure if a normal PC will do the job.

I guess what I'm asking is how do I decide what is best for the job?

-Z

**DVNT1** · November 17th, 2002, 07:34 PM

Normally you buy the best to fulfill your presumed needs with the money you have available. Do you know the budget limitations?

**zskillz** · November 17th, 2002, 07:35 PM

Quite honestly... I don't think there is really a budget limitation...

but we don't want to spend so much that we're buying what we don't need

do you know what i'm saying?

-Z

**PresterJohn** · November 17th, 2002, 07:41 PM

sounds like you definitely need a "real" server...not a converted desktop.

compaq makes some of the best servers around, imo and they have a number diffenrent models/price ranges. check their website and plan on doing some research...

**DVNT1** · November 17th, 2002, 07:46 PM

20 people, very important data.

After I make a lot of assumptions on the high end, I guess a name brand server with Raid 5, hot-swappable HDs, and redundant power supplies wopuld be in order. Depending on your storage space needed, perhaps the Compaq Proliant DL380 G2 with 3 SCSI hard drives to start with. Add 1 or 2 gigs of ram and then buy a 2nd power supply (would be a live redundant PS) in about 6 months. This server could cost less than $4000 but be pretty reliable and support the 20 users easily. The costs of the hot-swappable SCSI HDs would be quite high and could double the costs of the server along.

**zskillz** · November 17th, 2002, 07:52 PM

wow... holy crap. thanks for the help guys... clearly I'm well outside of my knowledge level here. I will take these suggestions however when the dept. IT guy comes in to take a look at our situation.

btw - what exactly does hot-swappable mean. what does it do that is so great?

-Z

**DVNT1** · November 17th, 2002, 07:56 PM

hot-swappable - a very nice feature; you can remove or add these hard drives without taking the server offline. Works real well with RAID arrays (like RAID5).

If a HD fails in a RAID5 Array you can simply remove the drive and put in the replacement without the users ever knowing it, even while they are still working with the data on the server.

btw, hot swappable drives must work with a hot-swappable capable controller to make use of the actual hot-swappable feature.

edit -> gotcha PresterJohn

**PresterJohn** · November 17th, 2002, 07:57 PM

hot-swappable basically means drives can be removed and plugged in again without having to power down the machine for the system to initialize the drives.