Labor and setup fees for implementing 6 HP LH3000 servers

[Mauser]

Does any have a sense of how much this would cost to have done?

[MacGyver]

That's a pretty general question. When you say "setup" what do you mean, are you going to unpack the servers, plug them in, and leave, - or are you going to fully configure them, connect them to the network, configure the network/workstations, provide new network drops, move all the data from different servers, provide training to the owner, etc.

You can see how complicated this can become, so I think it's better to come up with a time estimate breakdown of how long it's going to take like this:

3h Survey existing configuration
2h Unpack servers
2h Connect servers to network
10h Install software and configure servers
etc. etc.

Then based on that time estimate you can figure out how much you should charge.

[Mauser]

MacGyver: Thanks. Pretty much what you have stated in your response will happen. Although I will not be performing these myself a contractor will be doing this and we were quoted $110,000 for the six servers. This does not include the cost of software, the servers, hot swap drives or any related device which turned out to be half the amount quoted for labor and setup.

What do you think? I think we are being raped - so-to-speak.

[MacGyver]

I would have to agree. The highest price I found on <a href="http://www.pricewatch.com" target="_blank">www.pricewatch.com</a> for an HP LH3000 is $7500 - with Dual 550MHz Xeons!

Methinks you should get a second opinion on that quote...

[Mauser]

Thanks a ton!

[DonJ]

We charge $120/hour...so it all depends on how many hours they estimate. Five hours per system would seem like a reasonable estimate for hooking up the system, running basic diagnostics, and loading the basic system software. If the customer has some special proprietary software or applications or other user files to install, that is his responsibility...once the hardware has been verified good.

So...six systems times five hours each times $120/hour equals....(computing here)...$3600. They probably also charge for travel...we do. Minimum of one hour travel at $120/hour...comes to a total of $3720. This is for labor only and is an estimate only. An accurate record of man-hours worked will be provided.

If the customer bought the equipment from us, we would typically install the equipment for free. But this has recently changed...now, we charge for installations also.

Hope this helps out somewhat...let us know how it goes.