I am a new member here.
I have started a small business and have realised that a web-server would be a big help going forward. We currently have a simple wireless PTP network. I think that we could achieve significant productivity improvements using a server for CRM and Accounts (ERP). I am interested in the following server based solutions - in order of urgency/desire:
REQUIREMENTS - server based:
accounts (incl stock) ERP - webERP?
CRM - vTiger?
data entry (ecommerce interface - website integration)
VPN - remote access
HR (clocking in/out)
Bar code integration
email - SoGo
calendaring - SoGo
notes
document management (retrieval)
VoIP
word processor / spreadsheet / presentation ...
By the way I have looked at SME-server, ClearOS and Zentyal and favour SME due to it's simplicity, security, apparent stability, ease of upgrade ...
1) My most immediate question is this. Is the HP Proliant Microserver (spec. - AMD Turion II Neo N40L / 1.5GHz, 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, HDD 1x 250GB - UKP150) suitable? I know that it looks way powerful enough (exceeding recommended specs on the contribs site), however I am hesitant as I have Googled "SMEserver HP microserver" and found no responses. I would have thought that this low powered (40W) small, quietish server (that will supposedly work with RHEL) would have been ideal - hence my surprise. Is there something I am missing here? MIght it be too 'new' and have driver issues? I am interested in it as there is a great deal on it in the UK at the moment (again making me wonder why people don't seem to be using it with SME).
2) What is the general consensus - gateway or NAS deployment in my situation (I currently use a good Draytek router). And perhaps more importantly, can I change my mind later. e.g. I am assuming that the SME box needs to be the Gateway to run as a webserver and asterix server (there are probably security issues here?), so if I start using it as a NAS can I then later change it over (with the addition of another NIC) to be the Gateway ?
3) BTW I am considering using the SME box in a Raid 1 (larger is overkill at the mo). I have seen a nice hotswap HDD bay on Amazon (for UKP 20) that might lend itself to an easy back-up solution, but I am not knowledgeable enough about SME to know - also I don't think that the Microserver has 'hot-swapping' allowable in the BIOS settings - does this matter using SME software Raid.
Three questions.
I would be very grateful for some direction and encouragement
Thanks