Topic: What spec is everybody running?

[the_mad_prof]

Hi,

I'm curious, what spec is everyones servers?  

I'm running a PII-400 Compaq deskpro with 256MB ram, 3.2 & 40 GB hard drives and DDS2 tape backup.

Go on, you have permission to flaunt.

J.

[Garfield]

Currently I'm running SME 6 only on one of my development servers, but when I'm done testing and converting some stuff from my websites, I will run it on a P3-600 with 512 MB RAM, 10GB hd. That system currently runs Win2K03 with Exchange 2003 and IIS6, but I want to move back to Linux (have run it before as web/mail server).

[matsk]

Production system:

Code: [Select]

Celleron 1.7GHz, 256MB RAM, 2x60 GB Harddrive in software RAID 1 and a DSS2 backup

Development:

Code: [Select]

Celleron 2.1GHz, 256MB RAM, 1x120 GB Harddrive

Test system:

Code: [Select]

Celleron 466MHz, 384MB RAM, 2x40 GB Harddrive in software RAID 1

OBS
And register your systems at http://counter.li.org/estimates.php !

Or maybee we should modify the script at http://counter.li.org/scripts/ to report vital data to a central machine spec. repository.


/Mats

[Brave Dave]

Horse for Courses

If the server is predominantly File Serving non database files (eg. word processing), then it likely doesn't matter.

But as the users creep up - say 25, with a database app and webmail, 512Mb RAM becomes a necessity, php and webmail is a lot nicer with a proper p4.

certainly, if you want snappy response, you will be rewarded by beter hardware

[matsk]

2-5 users and no heavy db usage so...



The peaks is the antivirus scan's.

My tips is to install MRTG and then collect statistics on machine load and can see trends and predict hardware upgrades, see http://sme.swerts-knudsen.dk/index.html?frame=http%3A//sme.swerts-knudsen.dk/howtos/howto_6.htm.

So a P4 isn't the solution for everyone

But it is also running VoIP on the production system and that can be a trigger for a upgrade.


/Mats

[1111]

ASUS AP1400R (HP lp1000r) 1U
Serverworks LE chipset
Dual onboard LSI U160
Dual onboard Intel 82559
Triple hot swap bays
2 x 866MHz
1.25GB reg ECC
1 x Fujitsu 36GB MAJ3667MC 10K
1 x Seagate 73GB ST373405LCV 10K 16MB cache
1 x Maxtor 146GB 8B146J0 10K
1 x Intel SRCU42X

External 4U:
1 x IBM LTO Ultrium 100/200GB
10 x Seagate 36GB ST336752LC 15K
2 x Intel AXX2HSDRVUG

All in 5U of space. Yes, it's a serious server.

[Brave Dave]

ASUS AP1400R (HP lp1000r) 1U
Serverworks LE chipset
Dual onboard LSI U160
Dual onboard Intel 82559
Triple hot swap bays
2 x 866MHz
1.25GB reg ECC
1 x Fujitsu 36GB MAJ3667MC 10K
1 x Seagate 73GB ST373405LCV 10K 16MB cache
1 x Maxtor 146GB 8B146J0 10K
1 x Intel SRCU42X

External 4U:
1 x IBM LTO Ultrium 100/200GB
10 x Seagate 36GB ST336752LC 15K
2 x Intel AXX2HSDRVUG

All in 5U of space. Yes, it's a serious server.

What do you use it for ?

[1111]

What do you use it for ?

Surfing for pr0n.

I'm sure an intelligent person like yourself will easily be able to judge from the specifications what its possible uses are and therefore not need to ask. A number of those uses concurrently would be accurate.

[arnoldob]

Ran Happy on:
PII 350 256mb pc-100 Ram
Abit BH6 Motherboard
80GB Western Digital SE HDD
2 old NIC's from a box in the Garage
Old Matrox Millenium Video card
Salvaged case with a generic 400w PS
Kinda slow but serviceable. Your basic "garage sale" class PC.

Upgraded last month:
Athlon XP 2000
MSI KM4M Motherboard
512 MB pc2700 DDR
onboard NIC + Linksys Nic
onboard video
same HDD
Antec Sonata Case

Much snappier and nearly silent now. The Antec Case is very, very quiet and has excellent ventilation, I highly recommend it. Cost about $330 US to upgrade for the case /w PS, mobo, ram and CPU. It only supports 4 or 5 users, runs some php pages, 1200+ e-mails per week and a couple of mysql apps. I could have bought a  low end Dell PowerEdge but that would have been around $600.

[PhilV]

At home, PentiumI 133 with 196mb ram and a 20Gb harddrive, (yeah I know, it struggles, but i only use it as a gateway, and rebooting each day does no harm!)

Currently building at work, Pentium 4 3.6Ghz, 1Gb of DDR400 memory, 4x 200GB 8M cache harddrives, (was hoping to mirror and stripe, but that is now looking unlikely), and gigabit lan. (Probably won't be used to it's max, but future proofing never hurt).

As a side note, how can I make some drives hot-swappable? Then I could just use SME's own software striping and then rsync to one of the other disks each night.

Thx,

Phil

[arnoldob]

Abe Loveless had a how-to about using rsync and hot swap HDD's for backup:
http://mirror.contribs.org/smeserver/contribs/aloveless/howtos/rsync_backup/SME_BackupServer.html

Not sure if that's exactly what your looking for or not.

[mophilly]

Shuttle XPC SFF SB62G2 case
250w power supply
2 x 80GB Seagate Barracuda HD
Intel P4 1.2 Ghz
2 x 512 MB DDR800
Server only config.

Used for mail, 3 web sites, two PHP apps, one c/s application and (almost) Webware for XML-RPC. DBMS includes MySQL and Frontbase, soon PostgreSQL.

[PhilV]

I had a read thru that document, but I was looking for something that would be hot swappable, but it says about haveing to powerdown the server and reboot each time? Or do i have the wrong end of the stick?

Phil

[mbachmann]

Production:

PIII 1 GHZ, 256 MB ECC, CD-Rom, 2x40 GB HD, software raid

used for some 40 clients as gateway, firewall, mailserver, fileserver, virtual pdfprinter (no ideal setup)

Test:

PIII 650, 256 MB, CD-Rom, 2x20 GB HD, software raid, kind of clone

running some groupware, backup

[martinhick]

PIII 366, 192mb Ram, 8gb. 4mb video

Also run Redhat 9.0 server. PIII 366, 512mb ram, 20gb,32gb hardsrives, 16mb video

Fedora core1 client. 1,7 celeron, 512 mb ram, 80gb harddrive, 32mb video

[Rogue]

3 existing installations:
Proliant 1600s x 2
Both dual PIII-450s
128MB RAM
3 x 9.1GB HDDs (RAID5)
Archive 4586NP DDS autoloaders (4 tapes, cyclical backups)

Proliant 1850
Dual PIII-550
512MB RAM
3 x 18.2GB HDDs (RAID5)
7 x 9.1GB HDDs (RAID5 - external storage array)
20/40GB DLT drive
2 x 6CD stackers
Intel Dual port ethernet card (so 3 ports total)

The first two systems are located at customer sites, and used for basic web/mail hosting. The third system is my main server at home and used as a file repository, CD server and mail/web host.

I used to run dual AMD XP cpus, but they were running too hot, so I tried dual PIII-1GHz CPUs, then realised how little of the processing power I actually consumed. When the opportunity arose to pick up a large quantity of older Proliant gear from an ISP, I rebuilt the server using the best bits, then built additional servers for some clients.

If only I could get the cpqhealth monitoring to work properly...

[RobF]

Should I feel inadequate??

Pentium 100, 32Mb, 2.1Gb,

SME 5.6 for 5 users on 4 machines, just a home gateway and server. What chance of running 6.0.1 on this box?  

[Rogue]

Hi Rob,

I don't know if a P100 will cut it for 6.0.1, but if you are anywhere near Macquarie Park or Kellyville, I can probably help you out with some extra memory and a faster CPU (P166 or similar). I have a couple of old Socket 7 machines I'm about to drop in a dumpster that you can scavenge from first if you like.

[RobF]

Thanks for the offer Rogue but I'll have to decline.

Unfortunately I'm down Sutherland way, bit of a hike to your area and with work and family I couldn't see me being able to get over there for months.

[jdavey]

At work:

Corporate location - 50 users ... 2U PDC dual P3 1.0 GHz, 1.0 GB RAM, RAID 5 IDE 100 GB. Web Server 2U Celeron 2.0 512 RAM, 40 GB s/w RAID. Mail Server 2U Dual P3 1.1 GHz, 1.0 GB RAM, RAID 5 60 GB. Document Server 4U (running Open DocMan in an Ibay) dual P3 1 GHz on Tyan board, 1.0 GB RAM, RAID 5 1.2 TB (with a duplicate box as a backup). Archive Server 4U P3 1.0 GHz, 1.0 GB RAM, RAID 5 480 GB, DDS4 running Tapeware. 1 each 2U back up Web Server / Mail server celeron 1.2 GHz, 512 RAM, s/w RAID 40 GB. 1 development / test 2U celeron 900MHz, 40 GB s/w RAID, 512 RAM. I assemble all of these boxes from parts as the need arises.

11 satellite locations - no more than seven users at each satellite location - IBM X server or Dell 400 - celerons 900 MHz to 2.1 GHz 128 - 512 RAM, Daul 40 GB IDE s/w RAID.

Home - VIA mini ITX 1.0 GHz, 512 RAM, 80GB s/w RAID (This box is perfectly quiet). 2 Celeron 733 256 RAM 40 and 60GB.

[arno]

Webserver: PIII 500mhz, 512 Ram 80gb HD
Mailserver: PII 220 mhz 96 Ram 40gb HD
GameserverI: PII 220 mhz 128 ram, 10gb HD
Gameserver II: PIII 550mhz 256 ram, 10gb HD

[the_mad_prof]

Jdavey - nice toys.  Was thinking of an ITX pc as a home server as I value peace and quiet!

[EcklineTD]

Production server:
HP Netserver 3LZ pentium 3 600
1 Gb ram
3 30 GB scsi in raid (hot swappable)

2nd Production Server:
AMD 2800+
1Gb ram
2 120 GB SATA

Used for Mail, Web, Backup, Database and development.

Backup Server:
AMD 2100+
1Gb ram
3 240 Gb SATA

Test Server:
Celeron 700
512 Mb ram
3 80 Gb ATA 100

Using in it for webdevelopment and video authoring with Mysql database.

Fun Server:
AMD 3000+
1 Gb ram
3 240 SATA in Raid
Is our game server (so nice when the boss pays)

[funkusmunkus]

Dual P111 1G
1G ram
2 20G mirror raid HDD

used as a file server, firewall proxy web hosting for the company and sending large emails(it handles them better than exchange )
it's probably an overkill but it sure is fast    

unlike my home one
p266
64m Ram
4G HDD

my home one has just been upgraded
dual PII 450 Mhz
256M ram
and same HDD

[JmcSkiXC]

Running on a Celeron 500 clone, 384MB, 20GB.

Home network, simply allows 3 users scheduled backups within their quotas and hosts an inkjet printer.  I have yet to setup an e-mail system, as the 'net is run through an IPCop on a 350MHz box.  Seems that configutation wasn't easy to set up (the SME was on the IPCop's DMZ nic, now it's back on the LAN) so I gave up- no real need for the e-mail server, I was just toying with it.  This machine hasn't been rebooted in a year, save for the occasional power outages we seem to be prone to.  SME is so smooth, I like it a lot.  The raw socket printer sharing is a dream to set up.  Very slick!

[StuC]

home one,
200 pentium 128ram 20G h/d
Main uses
secure mail, webserver
(inluding install images for smoothwall/IPCop).
email antivirus, file server and test bed for anything I am thinking of doing to the work one

Work One
Mainly underhand way to get Linux into the workplace
Athlon 800 256Ram single 30G drive.
proxy, mail server (fallback/internal mail only) and smpt out.
intranet server,I've also redirected a few domains that were being "over subscribed during work time", backup file server.
Not a permanent setup but after a few months of reliable use I now have the chance to buy some proper bits and reinstall mirrored.

it would be the main file server on a windows network if I could find a way to be more specific about file security within i-bays - sorry off topic

[iFX]

I have a client that is running SME on:
a Pentium 133, 64MB RAM, 2GB HDD... They're too cheap to upgrade

though I don't know how much longer they'll last on it, as they got me to update it to 6.01... And if you thought it'd be slow running SME 5.0, just imagine 6.

It takes about 20-30min just to boot up - luckily it doesn't have to do that very often

Simply changing remote access settings take about 15min or more...

I've disabled all mail services (as they only send and recieve via external mail servers). But there are 4 other PC's in the office that are connected to it - it's main function is as a gateway/firewall and runs a customised MySQL database which they access on their Windows PC's via an MS Access front-end...

The hours they've had to pay for in maintenance costs ('cause it's so slow - takes so long to update etc), would have easily paid for a brand new kick-ass system... but do you think they'll listen?!

I just can't seem to get it through to them that they're paying more to get temporary fixes, than they would if they paid to get what they really need.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest  

[JmcSkiXC]

So, if the generic P1/early P2 systems a lot of us are running are expected to be pretty slow, what is the consensus for what would be considered "recommended" specs?  This is obviously pretty fluid, as the server can fill either several, or only one role.  Just curious what you experienced guys would say is a "good" platform for say a basic office server running as a gateway, database, file/print server.  Your basic all-in-one solution??

Are we talking 1 GHz plus, or would something slower still perform well?  

Just my curiosity.

[matsk]

So, if the generic P1/early P2 systems a lot of us are running are expected to be pretty slow, what is the consensus for what would be considered "recommended" specs?  This is obviously pretty fluid, as the server can fill either several, or only one role.  Just curious what you experienced guys would say is a "good" platform for say a basic office server running as a gateway, database, file/print server.  Your basic all-in-one solution??

Are we talking 1 GHz plus, or would something slower still perform well?  

Just my curiosity.

The cheapest new produced PC is good enough for that!

/Mats

[JmcSkiXC]

The cheapest new produced PC is good enough for that!

/Mats

Well, This much I pretty much already knew!!  lol.  

Esp. considering the cheapest new produced pc would be approx. 2.5 GHz with at least 256MB and an 80GB HDD.

To be more specific, what CPU speed/RAM should I expect will run SME 6 well enough to have snappy performance in any/all features?  ie, a fully  loaded server running all the built-in features like mail server, gateway, file server, etc?

Is a 3 GHz what is needed for the machine to be considerd "fast"?  Or would we expect a dual 450 or a P3-800 to run fast enough to keep pace with users even under a heavy load?  I ask this question as a long-time Windows NT/2000 user who can see the value and power of such a refined linux-based solution, but I'm still trying to get a feel for what kind of hardware I should set up for various deployments.  The old Mitel manuals say a 700 MHz with 512 MB RAM should support several hundred users, but that seems pretty optimistic, doesn't it?  What kind of performance would that provide?

I know these questions are annoying noob type stuff, but any opinion offered is appreciated!!  Thanks!!

See this link for the full manual.
http://edocs.mitel.com/6000_SME_Server/6.0/6000_Tech_Handbook_En/6000_tech_handbook_en.pdf

Copied from the above PDF file:

Table 2.1. Definition of a Category 1 Server
# of Users Up to 10
Usage Light (minimal use of remote access, file sharing and other disk-intensive activity. No
use of webmail, virus scanning or VPNs.)
Table 2.2. Hardware Requirements for a Category 1 Server
Architecture PCI-based Pentium-class processor
Processor speed 90 MHz (or better)
Minimum RAM 64 MB
Hard drive IDE or SCSI - at least 1 GB
SCSI adapter Refer to SCSI Adapter section below (only necessary for SCSI systems).
Ethernet adapters Refer to Ethernet adapter section below.
Modem (for dialup only) Only modems that are Linux-compatible may be used. WinModems are not supported.
CD-ROM drive ATAPI or SCSI
Floppy drive any
Monitor any
Graphics card any
Mouse none required
Sound card none required

2.1.4. Hardware Requirements for a Category 4 Server
Table 2.7. Definition of a Category 4 Server
# of Users Up to 500
Usage Heavy
Table 2.8. Hardware Requirements of a Category 4 Server
Architecture PCI-based Pentium-class processor
Processor speed 700 MHz (or better)
Minimum RAM 256 MB
Hard drive SCSI - at least 20 GB (2 large SCSI drives using RAID1 strongly recommended)
9
SCSI adapter Refer to SCSI Adapter section below (only necessary for SCSI systems).
Ethernet adapters Refer to Ethernet adapter section below.
Modem (for dialup only) Only modems that are Linux-compatible may be used. WinModems are not supported.
CD-ROM drive ATAPI or SCSI
Floppy drive any
Monitor any
Graphics card any
Mouse none required
Sound card none required


According to these specs, my little 3-user SME at home is nearly a category 4 server?  Is this for real?

Thanks again for any input or interpretations!!

[sander]

Site 1:
Model Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.80GHz
256MB RAM
hde: WDC WD800JB-00CRA1 (Capacity: 74.53 GB)
hdg: WDC WD800JB-00CRA1 (Capacity: 74.53 GB)
running 6.0.1

Site 2:
Model Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
512 MB Kingston ECC RAM
Intel entry level server board
hdi: WDC WD800BB-00FRA0 (Capacity: 74.53 GB)
hdk: WDC WD800BB-00FRA0 (Capacity: 74.53 GB)
running 6.0.1

Site3:
Model Celeron (Covington) 233MHz
64 MB RAM
hda: SAMSUNG SV0322A (Capacity: 2.98 GB)
running SME6.0

my production systems

[Tib]

Hello

I'm running SME 6.0.1


Dell Poweredge 2400
2 x PIII 667mhz CPU's
1 gig ram
6 x 9.1 gig scsi Hdds in Raid 5
Sun 40/80 Scsi Tape Backup

SME setup as web/mail/file/ftp server

[BOD]

PII 233
64MB RAM
2GB HDD

[Baysie]

SME is running Raid 1 (with hardware raid card)
2x200gb Hard Disks
1.5gb Memory
2.17 Athlon XP

This machine fly's, been running this machine for 12 months now, until a month ago I was running 5.6.

I would like to install vmware esx , as well as squid guard.

This machine cost next to nothing to put together.  Very future proof, should last a good few years.

By the way,  I have had no trouble with SME after a 10 min install & config.

Thanks to everyone that has been involved with this.  This is a very ggod site for user problems and feedback.

Thanks.

[ergozd]

Compaq Proliant 3000
Dual PII 450 Mhz CPU
Raid5 with hotspare (90 GB)

SME v6 Final with a quite alot of contribs and some updates

Best rgds, Ergin

[azche24]

Hi,

Office Server (8 Users, File, Mail px. 120 Mails a day, 2 Websites)
Pentium III 800 on Asus CUSL Serverboard / 512 MB Ram
2 * 18 GB IBM SCSI HW-Raid with Mylex 960G Raid-Controller
Home Server (3 Users, Website, px. 50 Mails a day)
Pentium II/350 BX-Chipset 256 MB RAM 10 GB EIDE Harddrive

Both Systems do what they should including Spam-Filter and AMAVIS. Fileserving is pretty slow on the office server. I think there is a bottleneck in the RAID-Controller.

[shanen]

Proliant ML310
640mg ram
IDE RAID Mirror
CLAM Antivirus package from Pagefault

2000+ inbound messages processed per day
This box forwards all mail to exchange server.

Proxy for 30 internet savy users
Virus updates for workstations
Website

CPU rarely over 5%
Swap 50meg

A very solid and reliable package...
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/linux/spotlight.html
But best of all 3 year NBD warrenty

[wickedImp]

Office supporting 12 Local & 7 Remote Workers
Proliant ML350
Dual PIII 900
512 Mb EEC RAM
UATA-100 130Gb HDD
Installed: 6.0.1 (very recent, previously running 5.6)
Details: Anti-virus/spam, FTP, Samba, SMTP/IMAP/Webmail, VPN, Gateway
Comments: Flys' like *sand* off a shovel!

Office supporting 10 Local Workers (heavy users)
Proliant ML350
PIII 600
256 Mb EEC RAM
UATA-100 130Gb HDD
Installed: 6.0
Details : FTP, Samba, Gateway
Comments: a few problems with Squid cache

My Own Vanity Box! One user! Doing Everything!
PII 450
512Mb Ram
EIDE 30 Gb HDD
Installed : 5.6
Comments : Never a moment's trouble!

[hamishau]

Ah why not!?!

Compaq Presario 100P
Intel PIII 500 MHz
96 MB RAM
20 GB HDD

Running:
server-gateway
ClamAV/Amaviz (Jesper Knudsen)
SpamAssassin (Jesper Knudsen)
Zoneedit client
Webmail
Proxy for 3 users
D-Shield client (JK again!)
MRTG (JK again!)

Will soon be running a second domain on this box. It works quite nicely for the three of us

Hamish

[8stargen]

I'm actually getting a fairly poor response from my machine. Webmail is sluggish and the server-manager admin area takes ages to do stuff sometime.

I am running:

Celeron 400
128mb RAM
4GB HDD

Serving:

1 website
4 users
Webmail
ClamAV
MRTG

Thats about all I think. From looking at the MRTG graphs, the CPU rarely goes anywhere NEAR 50%, i assume my RAM is ok. Therefore I reckon that the HDD is the weak link in the chain. Its old and SLOW! Slow access times are probably slowing me down. Right?

Cheers,

> 8 Star General