Server for small office: HP MicroServer vs custom build

[amagador]

Dear community,

I am going to buy/build a server for a small office and would like to get some advice. We are a non profit organization and we have only 3 computers.

OUR NEEDS
Active Directory and file server, since the users sometimes want to use any PC available. We may want something else in the future, but definitely not now. We want reliability for data storage, but high uptime is not essential.

BUDGET
It is not a fixed amount. We simply would not like to spend much more than neccessary. Our provider will be Amazon Spain.

OPTIONS CONSIDERED
HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen10, or the following build.

Operating System: Windows Server 2016
CPU: Intel Pentium G4560
Motherboard: Supermicro X11SSM / ASRock H270M Pro4
RAM: Kingston 8GB DDR4 (ECC depending on chosen M/B)
Power Supply: Seasonic Focus+ 550W 80 Plus Gold Modular
Chassis: Corsair Carbide Series 200R (or maybe something better?)

Drives: 2 x 2TB Western Digital Red + Toshiba OCZ TR200 SSD 240GB
SSD is for OS and HDDs for data using RAID 1 (Windows software RAID).

The HP server costs around 400 €, and the custom build price is around 575 € (Supermicro M/B) or 415 € (AsRock M/B).

MY THOUGHTS
I think the HP MicroServer would be enough, it is cheap and lovely. However, I do not like the not-so-fast CPU fixed to the motherboard. After the warranty period (2 years), if the motherboard breaks or we need something more powerful, we will have to buy a whole new server. While with a custom build we may replace any broken or not-wanted part at any time.

QUESTIONS
- Which option do you think is best?
- In case of custom build, any suggestion about the motherboard or chassis?
- Is there anything I have missed?

 

[mdd1963]

Using Windows Server 2016 is fine, but, adds approximately $800 to any build cost for the OS, and, now need latest version/variant CALs as well at about $50 per client. and should be using Pro/Enterprise version of OS.

I'd consider a CentOS (essentially free Redhat) or FreeNAS (ZFS/FreeBSD) build just to avoid the MS OS licensing costs unless they truly want the perceived benefits of Active Directory.

Going with Dell or HP and WS2016 does at least provide the office with a path warranty/service/ support, however....in case no one is there to offer glitch/problem guidance later. (Who do you call for quick FreeNAS/OpenBSD help, for instance, unless you are right there with them? Getting this help would quickly negate the savings on OS-cost)

 

[USAFRet]

Dear community,

I am going to buy/build a server for a small office and would like to get some advice. We are a non profit organization and we have only 3 computers.

Is your personal job, dedicated every day all day..the IT person?
If not...then buy something, don't build it. Dell or HP.

3 systems? Do you really need Active Directory, etc?
Why the RAID 1, instead of actual backups?

 

[amagador]

I understand that Active Directory for only 3 PCs is probably a bit odd, but since our users want to use any of the computers interchangeably, I think this is the best option. $800 for OS totally exceeds our budget, so actually we are considering to install a "very low cost" version of Windows Server. However, if there would be a problem with that, we could get CentOS or FreeNAS as you suggested, using the network share permissions to manage data access. Even though, Active Directory is our main idea.

Is your personal job, dedicated every day all day..the IT person?

I am the IT person, although I only deal with them monthly to make backups and generic maintenance, or whenever any problem arises.

Why the RAID 1, instead of actual backups?

For backups we will be making copies from server to external HDDs, but I added RAID 1 for convenience.