[wplug] Server choice

[Michael H. Semcheski]

Here are my thoughts:

First, if you predominantly have a particular platform (eg, you have all
BrandX computers), stick with that.

Second, think carefully about what warranty you get.  You can save a nice
chunk of change by getting 9-5x5 support instead of 24x7.  If you aren't
going to be monitoring it 24x7, then why bother paying more for it?  Of
course, sometimes you need it.

Third, figure out how much disk space you need.  Then, get a fast disk.  If
you only need 50GB (which is a lot of trouble tickets), get a 150GB
10,000RPM SAS disk or SATA disk.  Don't bother with a 750GB 7200 RPM drive
if you don't need the space.  And don't trouble yourself with a RAID array
if you don't need it.  Its a great thing when you need it, but it can be a
pain too.  It complicates things.

Finally, I always look for the sweet spot in processors.  You don't need to
get the cheapest one, but generally you can see the fastest or the top two
processors cost a lot more.  At one price point, you're paying $50 more for
10% more speed.  That might be OK.  At a higher price point,you may be
paying $200 more for 5% more speed.  That's not necessary most of the time.

And of course, don't skimp on things like RAM or a DVD drive.  They're going
to come in handy at some point in the life of this machine.  Think about
what this machine will be doing in five years.

It depends a lot on your organization and how you do things.  Personally, I
pinch the pennies, and we keep our machines in service for a LONG time.
Some people replace them more frequently.  Some people have racks, some
people like towers.

On 4/11/07, Kevin Squire <gentgeen at linuxmail.org> wrote:
>
>
> This year I used an spare desktop machine to set up a trouble ticket
> system (Request-Tracker) and a jabber server for our school staff.
>
> Now that my direct boss (the IT director) has seen it running for a
> year, and the CFO has heard all the great reports - I have a green light
> to get our first DEDICATED Linux server into the back office (WOOT!)
>
> Anyway, they are asking for my input on what machine to get. (The IT
> directory has only run Windows machines, so he wants my input since I am
> the resident "Linux Expert")  Since I have never worked with server
> hardware, I really don't have much input to give - so I am turning to
> you all....
>
> The server will run Debian stable - will serve as school wide Trouble
> Ticket system, Jabber Server and POTENTIALLY (not 100% on this part yet)
> a secondary email server. (we already have a very good, and stable email
> server, but the CEO wants a "fall back" system for those few times when
> #1 goes down).
>
> Ultimately I want to get the biggest bang for buck here.  The more I can
> show off what we can do with Linux servers in the back office, the
> better off we are going to be over all (right now we pay big bucks and
> are depending on a number of different outside vendors - the more money
> we can save on the IT side, the more money we can get sent over to the
> "student" side - my real goal)
>
> I have been given a price range of ~ $2,000, the IT director has said to
> me -  "In the past I have always gone with X series on IBM "e" platform
> servers"  but "I have a good rep and some great pricing for an HP\Compaq
> Proliant .... Proliant has an awesome reputation and I can not neglect
> the price points."
>
>
> So those of you with server experience --- if someone gave you 2-3k to
> buy any setup you wanted, what would you get?
>
> --
> http://gentgeen.homelinux.org
>
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