An Above Decent Server...

Liquid · June 20th, 2003, 09:17 PM

Looking for advice on a server that will preform these fuctions...

1. Web Server. (More than one site.)
2. Mail Server.
3. FTP Server.
4. Domain Controller.
5. NWN or Freelancer Server... (In otherwords, a Game Server.)
6. File Server.
7. Printer Server.

I am an Intel Fan-Boy, I admit that freely, but the prices and performance of an AMD can't be disputed... Well... It can and has been, but that isn't what I am interested in at the moment. I do wonder what setup everyone else thinks would work well to handle all those functions... And yes, a Dual CPU system is something I am considering. Please give me your advice, system specs and all, that would be able to handle this load properly, without any overclocking, RAM and all...

Another question would be, Linux or Windows 2003 Server solution? Though I think I will make a poll out of that...

Let us keep the price at a max of $3000 Canadian... The cheaper, the better... As long as ability is not destroyed.

Liquid · June 20th, 2003, 09:18 PM

Looking for advice on a server that will preform these fuctions...

1. Web Server. (More than one site.)
2. Mail Server.
3. FTP Server.
4. Domain Controller.
5. NWN or Freelancer Server... (In otherwords, a Game Server.)
6. File Server.
7. Printer Server.

I am an Intel Fan-Boy, I admit that freely, but the prices and performance of an AMD can't be disputed... Well... It can and has been, but that isn't what I am interested in at the moment. I do wonder what setup everyone else thinks would work well to handle all those functions... And yes, a Dual CPU system is something I am considering. Please give me your advice, system specs and all, that would be able to handle this load properly, without any overclocking, RAM and all...

Another question would be, Linux or Windows 2003 Server solution? Though I think I will make a poll out of that...

Let us keep the price at a max of $3000 Canadian... The cheaper, the better... As long as ability is not destroyed.

Radical Dreamer · June 20th, 2003, 10:13 PM

I voted windows because its easier to setup, yes I like linux,and IMO am pretty proficient with it, its just not as easy to work with as windows, if you want it to work, linux, but if you want it to work for you and not you for it, windows

GokuSS2 · June 21st, 2003, 01:01 AM

I wish you had a depends choice. If it comes down to money and you don't have enough Linux will do(Free). I would recommend Windows 2003 Server because so far I have been impressed.

silencio · June 21st, 2003, 01:24 AM

I've run that with a dual PIII 500 box and 2gig of ram without coming close to maxing it out. If you're going to run all that stuff make sure you invest in a good backup device.

This would do the trick very nicely and it's cheap too. Then just pick yourself a cheap nas box for MP3 storage (or just some huge drives in a RAID 0, 1, or 0+1 configuration to the existing box) , something to back it up with and some more memory...

confus-ed · June 22nd, 2003, 06:58 AM

Mmmmm you can do all that with any old processor !!! Perhaps a bit more slowly but you never said anything about that !!

Lots of memory & fast i/o (storage devices) would come higher up my list than processor ... you ain't really 'doing' anything - but moving it, & you don't really need much processing power for that ....

If it comes down to can I have twin xenon's or a fast array of scsi disks ... I know which ones will impact more ...

silencio · June 22nd, 2003, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by confus-ed

If it comes down to can I have twin xenon's or a fast array of scsi disks ... I know which ones will impact more ...

With that action above you can have BOTH

Gotta hurry though, only two hours left, price is at $590.

2 – Pentium III 500Mhz Xeon Processors (Step code: SL2XV)

512 MG Memory

Smart Array Raid Controller

5 – 9.1 GB 10,000 RPM Wide Ultra 2 SCSI Hot Swap Drives

Six Eyed Smily · June 22nd, 2003, 03:17 PM

your gonna need some serious internet connection to run all that.
also would reccomend a gig nic.

as for linux or windows, well it kinda depends on how experinced you are at networking. if you are learning, i would reccomend windows, as it does a suprisingly large amount of the server setup with easy wizards, whereas wiht linux you will be hunting down config files scattred all over the opertaing system (depending slightly on distro).

additionally, most of the easier distros (red hat, mandrake etc) charge money (athlogh not as much as windows) for the server edition of thier os.

i would strongly reccomend dual cpus if the server is typically going to be running all or lots of those tasks at the same time, but you can probably get away with a fast ide raid 5 array (use a decent controller though). for a server like that, i would tend to choose dual slower cpus than a single fast cpu, as niether linux or windows always have particularly intelligent cpu sharing for services in my experinces.

something like a dual athlon mp 1gig should cope with plenty of overhead to spare.
remember that the cheaper hd controller and nic card you buy, the more the cpu gets taxed, so if you get really good controllers and nic then you could run it quite happily with mcuh less powerful cpus.

i haent actually got to windows 2003 yet, sadly i only have 56k to play with while broadband is down

but i have used and liked windows 2k adv server.

particualrly if you go with windows, get a large (and i do mean large) amount of ram, as not only is the core os memory hungry, the individual services tend to be less memory efficent.

- a bit disjointed, but i hope it helps anyway

confus-ed · June 23rd, 2003, 07:56 AM

Hang on a minute 3000 canadian dollars is like £1350 ... or $2000 usd ..... I read it as us dollars originally ...

You might just squeak twin pentium 111s & a board & some 'average' scsi drives for that ... so no xenons for you !

... unless as suggested you go 'pre-used' .... if you have 'big' storage requirements you might have to use ide disks to stay in budget (the difference between IDE & scsi in the 'mid' range is practically nil performance wise, but not so reliabilty wise)

I'd say dual cpu's look favourite as you are definately doing several things at once, remember the more memory the better whatever o/s ....

As for o/s you get more effective use of resources with linux than you ever do with Uncle Bills bloatware ... but quite a lot more difficulty in getting it going !

Radical Dreamer · June 23rd, 2003, 02:29 PM

Mods, this is double posted in AMD and Intel, could these threads me merged so that we may discuss this in one place?

*NooNoo* · June 23rd, 2003, 02:35 PM

I did wonder... will merge them now.

View Poll Results: Linux or Windows?
Linux!!!	0	0%
Windows!!!	2	100.00%
I Have No Opinion.	0	0%
Voters: 2. You may not vote on this poll

June 20th, 2003, 09:17 PM	#1
Liquid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 13	An Above Decent Server... Looking for advice on a server that will preform these fuctions... 1. Web Server. (More than one site.) 2. Mail Server. 3. FTP Server. 4. Domain Controller. 5. NWN or Freelancer Server... (In otherwords, a Game Server.) 6. File Server. 7. Printer Server. I am an Intel Fan-Boy, I admit that freely, but the prices and performance of an AMD can't be disputed... Well... It can and has been, but that isn't what I am interested in at the moment. I do wonder what setup everyone else thinks would work well to handle all those functions... And yes, a Dual CPU system is something I am considering. Please give me your advice, system specs and all, that would be able to handle this load properly, without any overclocking, RAM and all... Another question would be, Linux or Windows 2003 Server solution? Though I think I will make a poll out of that... Let us keep the price at a max of $3000 Canadian... The cheaper, the better... As long as ability is not destroyed. __________________ ..."This is what is sad when one contemplates human life, that so many live out their lives in quiet lostness . . . they live, as it were, away from themselves and vanish like shadows. Their immortal souls are blown away, and they are not disquieted by the question of its immortality, because they are already disintegrated before they die."...

June 20th, 2003, 09:18 PM	#2
Liquid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 13	An Above Decent Server... Looking for advice on a server that will preform these fuctions... 1. Web Server. (More than one site.) 2. Mail Server. 3. FTP Server. 4. Domain Controller. 5. NWN or Freelancer Server... (In otherwords, a Game Server.) 6. File Server. 7. Printer Server. I am an Intel Fan-Boy, I admit that freely, but the prices and performance of an AMD can't be disputed... Well... It can and has been, but that isn't what I am interested in at the moment. I do wonder what setup everyone else thinks would work well to handle all those functions... And yes, a Dual CPU system is something I am considering. Please give me your advice, system specs and all, that would be able to handle this load properly, without any overclocking, RAM and all... Another question would be, Linux or Windows 2003 Server solution? Though I think I will make a poll out of that... Let us keep the price at a max of $3000 Canadian... The cheaper, the better... As long as ability is not destroyed. __________________ ..."This is what is sad when one contemplates human life, that so many live out their lives in quiet lostness . . . they live, as it were, away from themselves and vanish like shadows. Their immortal souls are blown away, and they are not disquieted by the question of its immortality, because they are already disintegrated before they die."...

June 20th, 2003, 10:13 PM	#3
Radical Dreamer Avatar Goes Here Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Fairmont, West Virginia Posts: 4,866	I voted windows because its easier to setup, yes I like linux,and IMO am pretty proficient with it, its just not as easy to work with as windows, if you want it to work, linux, but if you want it to work for you and not you for it, windows __________________ :::Asus A8N-Sli Premium:::AMD 3500+ @ 2.4ghz:::2x80GB 8mb cache RAID0 Array:::GeForce 7800GTX OC:::2GB Corsair XMS Memory:::500 Watt Enermax Liberty PSU:::16x Lite-on DVDRW::: Counter Strike Source Forum and Server @ http://www.nvpclan.com -=Ninjas Vs. Pirates=-

June 21st, 2003, 01:01 AM	#4
GokuSS2 Anime God Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 711	I wish you had a depends choice. If it comes down to money and you don't have enough Linux will do(Free). I would recommend Windows 2003 Server because so far I have been impressed. __________________ "Thou shalt not kill, remember? What in the hell kind of church man are you?" - Vash the Stampede .

June 21st, 2003, 01:24 AM	#5
silencio Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Savannah Posts: 3,960	I've run that with a dual PIII 500 box and 2gig of ram without coming close to maxing it out. If you're going to run all that stuff make sure you invest in a good backup device. This would do the trick very nicely and it's cheap too. Then just pick yourself a cheap nas box for MP3 storage (or just some huge drives in a RAID 0, 1, or 0+1 configuration to the existing box) , something to back it up with and some more memory... __________________ Deliver me from Swedish furniture! Last edited by silencio; June 21st, 2003 at 01:29 AM.

June 22nd, 2003, 06:58 AM	#6
confus-ed Geezer Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: In front of my PC.... Posts: 13,091	Mmmmm you can do all that with any old processor !!! Perhaps a bit more slowly but you never said anything about that !! Lots of memory & fast i/o (storage devices) would come higher up my list than processor ... you ain't really 'doing' anything - but moving it, & you don't really need much processing power for that .... If it comes down to can I have twin xenon's or a fast array of scsi disks ... I know which ones will impact more ...

June 22nd, 2003, 03:17 PM	#8
Six Eyed Smily Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: uk Posts: 357	your gonna need some serious internet connection to run all that. also would reccomend a gig nic. as for linux or windows, well it kinda depends on how experinced you are at networking. if you are learning, i would reccomend windows, as it does a suprisingly large amount of the server setup with easy wizards, whereas wiht linux you will be hunting down config files scattred all over the opertaing system (depending slightly on distro). additionally, most of the easier distros (red hat, mandrake etc) charge money (athlogh not as much as windows) for the server edition of thier os. i would strongly reccomend dual cpus if the server is typically going to be running all or lots of those tasks at the same time, but you can probably get away with a fast ide raid 5 array (use a decent controller though). for a server like that, i would tend to choose dual slower cpus than a single fast cpu, as niether linux or windows always have particularly intelligent cpu sharing for services in my experinces. something like a dual athlon mp 1gig should cope with plenty of overhead to spare. remember that the cheaper hd controller and nic card you buy, the more the cpu gets taxed, so if you get really good controllers and nic then you could run it quite happily with mcuh less powerful cpus. i haent actually got to windows 2003 yet, sadly i only have 56k to play with while broadband is down but i have used and liked windows 2k adv server. particualrly if you go with windows, get a large (and i do mean large) amount of ram, as not only is the core os memory hungry, the individual services tend to be less memory efficent. - a bit disjointed, but i hope it helps anyway __________________ "they're funny things, accidents. you never have them untill you're having them" - Winnie The Pooh

June 23rd, 2003, 07:56 AM	#9
confus-ed Geezer Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: In front of my PC.... Posts: 13,091	Hang on a minute 3000 canadian dollars is like £1350 ... or $2000 usd ..... I read it as us dollars originally ... You might just squeak twin pentium 111s & a board & some 'average' scsi drives for that ... so no xenons for you ! ... unless as suggested you go 'pre-used' .... if you have 'big' storage requirements you might have to use ide disks to stay in budget (the difference between IDE & scsi in the 'mid' range is practically nil performance wise, but not so reliabilty wise) I'd say dual cpu's look favourite as you are definately doing several things at once, remember the more memory the better whatever o/s .... As for o/s you get more effective use of resources with linux than you ever do with Uncle Bills bloatware ... but quite a lot more difficulty in getting it going !

June 23rd, 2003, 02:29 PM	#10
Radical Dreamer Avatar Goes Here Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Fairmont, West Virginia Posts: 4,866	Mods, this is double posted in AMD and Intel, could these threads me merged so that we may discuss this in one place? __________________ :::Asus A8N-Sli Premium:::AMD 3500+ @ 2.4ghz:::2x80GB 8mb cache RAID0 Array:::GeForce 7800GTX OC:::2GB Corsair XMS Memory:::500 Watt Enermax Liberty PSU:::16x Lite-on DVDRW::: Counter Strike Source Forum and Server @ http://www.nvpclan.com -=Ninjas Vs. Pirates=-

June 23rd, 2003, 02:35 PM	#11
NooNoo Driver Terrier Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: UK Posts: 31,622	I did wonder... will merge them now. __________________ Never, ever approach a computer saying or even thinking "I will just do this quickly."

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