OK, so I am looking at building a server for a small business I support. I do tons of PC support, and support their server too, but have not built or setup one before. So I am risking a bit here, but I've told them my situation and they still say they can't find anyone else to do it, so they've asked me to go forward. So here we go...
I've looked at pre-made servers and it just seems like you're throwing away money buying a basic server from HP or Dell. Their current server is right now about 8 years old, so their needs are not high end. But it has a version of Windows server that is too out of date to allow a software upgrade that they need, so it's time for a new server.
Very little processing is done by the server, but it does do some. That said, what processing it does is (obviously) done by an 8 year old processor, so clearly the new system does not need a ton of horsepower. But might as well try to make it good for another 10 years, right?
So I'm thinking of basically a glorified workstation. Right now they have 2 CPU cores, 2 GB of RAM. I figure a Kaby Lake i7 will run cool and be more that powerful enough for a long time for them. What do you think about this motherboard? https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132934
I figure I will set up two Intel or Samsung 850 SSDs in a RAID 1 in case of failure. I also figure (perhaps naively) that dual LAN ports indicates a motherboard somewhat more built for business. Please correct me if I'm wrong. This is a server that sits in a closet and runs 24/7, no user at it of course. They do not run a domain. The server operates as a file server and database server for a small database program, again, that runs ok (but getting slow) on their 8 year old server.
I figure installing Windows Server 2016 is a good idea, to provide the longest lifespan possible. 2012 is so long ago already.
Pop in 8 GB of RAM, maybe 12 or 16. That motherboard has 4 slots.
Any advice is appreciated, including advice that I really should just buy a server from Dell or HP.
Thanks!
I've looked at pre-made servers and it just seems like you're throwing away money buying a basic server from HP or Dell. Their current server is right now about 8 years old, so their needs are not high end. But it has a version of Windows server that is too out of date to allow a software upgrade that they need, so it's time for a new server.
Very little processing is done by the server, but it does do some. That said, what processing it does is (obviously) done by an 8 year old processor, so clearly the new system does not need a ton of horsepower. But might as well try to make it good for another 10 years, right?
So I'm thinking of basically a glorified workstation. Right now they have 2 CPU cores, 2 GB of RAM. I figure a Kaby Lake i7 will run cool and be more that powerful enough for a long time for them. What do you think about this motherboard? https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132934
I figure I will set up two Intel or Samsung 850 SSDs in a RAID 1 in case of failure. I also figure (perhaps naively) that dual LAN ports indicates a motherboard somewhat more built for business. Please correct me if I'm wrong. This is a server that sits in a closet and runs 24/7, no user at it of course. They do not run a domain. The server operates as a file server and database server for a small database program, again, that runs ok (but getting slow) on their 8 year old server.
I figure installing Windows Server 2016 is a good idea, to provide the longest lifespan possible. 2012 is so long ago already.
Pop in 8 GB of RAM, maybe 12 or 16. That motherboard has 4 slots.
Any advice is appreciated, including advice that I really should just buy a server from Dell or HP.
Thanks!