Stuart Little wrote:
>
> Hi there!
>
> I'm about to build an internet server machine to replace our
> struggling one that has NT on. I intend using e-smith 4.1.2
> this time!
Good choice
> It will host the company's website but much more importantly
> it will also be the internet gateway for up to 250 machines
> on our LAN. Webmail will also be turned on, and the website
> will be php based - so a fair amount of processing power will
> be needed.
I'll start by pointing out I am one of e-smith's reseller partners. Since this install will be used for your company in a production environment, I do hope you will consider registering your copy of e-smith and allowing a partner to assist you with your companies e-smith support and customization needs.
> I plan on using a 1.2 GHz Athlon and 512 MB PC 133 RAM. Our
> internet connection unfortunately is only a BR1 ISDN line
> which of course is quite slow if a number of users want to
> access the internet at the same time and so the squid proxy
> will be used. This brings me finally around to my question(s):
This config should be more then adequate for a webserver/webmail only implementation.
>
> 1) I understand that SCSI disks will mean quicker cache
> access (V. Important). Also, RAID hardware mirroring is
> required for safety. I've tried to look through the red hat
> 7 compatibility page for SCSI controllers but would rather
> hear from anyone who has a SCSI RAID controller working with
> e-smith and recommends the one they've got! [can't be too
> expensive though as I have a maximum budget of 1500 pounds
> [british]. I think a single channel SCSI system with 2 disks
> is all that will ever be required as there won't be any need
> for further disks] . I assume that if I buy acompatible SCSI
> controller that offers RAID, and two SCSI hard disks that
> that's all that's required ?
SCSI is fine however as you mention budget is tight, I would recommend an IDE RAID1 solution using a
www.3ware.com 6200 RAID1 controller and two IDE hard drives. Performance is excellent with the 3ware card.
>
> 2) If supported SCSI (with RAID) controller is installed
> then e-smith will work with a clean installation and not
> require complicated modifications?
>
Yes, whether SCSI or IDE, if the card is supported, installation is not complicated. The 3ware card is supported and tested ok.
> 3) Has anyone used a dual processor system (say 2 1 GHz
> Athlons)?
Yes, dual processor installs are implemented by some. I would say not needed in your instance.
>
> Many thanks for any help or guidance or suggestions you can
> give me on SCSI with RAID cards. I've only used e-smith at
> home on my little network and have been so impressed that
> I've gone on and on about it in work so much that I've been
> asked to build a new server and set up e-smith on it. But I
> don't know anything about SCSI so hope you can help,
> otherwise I'll have to eat humble pie and say I don't know
> how to set it up!
Not a problem, however you didn't mention above, but I would consider an antivirus solution a mandatory addition to protect your 250 webmail users!
Again I do hope you will consider registering your companies e-smith server and recommend you work with an e-smith partner to assist in the set up, on-going support and customization. E-smith partners are listed here:
http://www.e-smith.com/partners_list/ and I see there are a few partners in your area.
Alternately I would be happy to work with you myself and welcome you to contact me directly.
Regards,
Darrell May
DMC Netsourced.com
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