Topic: Correct Way to setup a server

[PhilV]

Ok peeps,

What is the correct was to properly set up a server? I had had an old version of SME running at home for ages, but now I want to do it on a bigger scale and what to do it right.

Should I try to physically seperate OS and data storage areas? How is best to do this?

Is raid mirroring worth looking at (the server will only be serving about 30 employees)?

MOST OF ALL, how do i keep it up to date with the latest fixes, patches, etc etc?

Many many thanks,

Phil

[cydonia]

I'm also interested in this.

Also whether SME is suitable for such an app.  Or whether it is better suited to situations with <10 users for example.

[NickR]

You'll probably get a different opinion from everyone who replies, but FWIW, here's mine:

Software RAID-1 mirroring: definitely, although I've never had a disk failure in 3 years on the 10 servers I look after.  Disks are cheap compared to downtime.

SME is very capable - 50 users is easily achievable.  This all depends on the load the server will be getting of course.  Document storage is a totally different scenario to heavy duty database processing.  Spec the server as you would for any other NOS and you won't go too far wrong.

Fixes/patches: monitor the forums & bug tracker areas.

Seperating OS & data:  I wouldn't bother, but it is possible if you require it.

[Boris]

Phil,
can you elaborate a bit on the desired usage?
Webserver, fileserver, application server?
Handling e-mail for example for 30 users is very different from filesharing for graphics and video editing workstations and from heavy use of database driven applications.

[PhilV]

I'm trying to 'future proof' myself a bit.

It will start predominantly being a mail server / file server / gateway. As far as the file serving side of things go very low database usage, maybe 2 or 3 very light users at a time.

In the future, may well become a intranet web server, again only for about 50 ppl max tho, currently about 25-30.

If I went for mirroring, then I know I have to get two drives the same. Should I also try to get a hardware raid controller? I presume if not then SME has to do twice the work to write to two drives?

Many thanks,

Phil

[Boris]

Check out accusys 7500 or 7630 RAID subsystem as RAID solution. If hotswap is not required and you can afford some downtime in event of drive crash, then software mirror is adequate. Consider 512Mb RAM for good caching and antivirus protection. As far as CPU speed, most today’s CPU would do. 2Ghz P4 Celeron or better is good enough.