Topic: What spec is everybody running?

[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!!