Topic: Suitable motherboard for 8.x

[wbs316]

I was wanting to have replacement hardware configured to run an SME server on version 8.  The company I have used to build a number of Windows PC's was unsure of what motherboard to suggest that would confidently run the OS as they are principally a Windows builder.

Has anyone put together a system with version 8 using a currently available motherboard that I could suggest they source. 

I hope to just run 2 x SATA drives with software RAID.

[idp_qbn]

SME is derived from CENTOS 5.x which in turn is based on REDHAT
Check the CENTOS or REDHAT ]sites for compatible hardware.

I use HP N40L Microservers ( http://tinyurl.com/au2wtvy ) and have found them robust and reliable
They are about $250 for a 4Gb RAM version on Ebay here in Australia (That's AUD$250 not US$250)
No Disks....supply and fit your own - just pop-them in: takes longer to remove the anti-static wrapping than to fit the disk.
Has HW RAID but you turn that off and use the SME Software raid - much better!

A search of the forums for "suitable motherboard" produces lots of results. See the "search" option in the series of blue tabs near the top of the page.

Almost anything which is not revved-up gaming machine will do, but something marketed as a "server" may be more reliable.

Cheers
Ian

[wbs316]

Thanks very much for your input.  I was hoping to have my usual PC manufacturer put something together for me as their support is very good and easy to access as they are a small organisation.  I have only been exposed to this operating system via one client and I must admit that it is an amazing package in that you can run the older versions on hardware that is nearly 10 years old, but I was hoping to replace their current temporary machine with a new version that they can use from now for a few years.

I will keep hunting but if anyone has a suggestion e.g. for an Intel board of some description I would be glad to hear it.

[idp_qbn]

In that case, why not burn an SME Disk, give it to them and ask them to do an install on one of their systems to see if it works.
Tell them that if the motherboard they want to supply is on the CENTOS 5 compatibility list it should be OK. They should be able to work that out, they are a professional shop.

This is not actually such as big deal if you are going for a cheaper system - they are usually more stock standard issue kit. The big problems come when you want to use a bleeding edge, high performance gaming machine as an SME server - the drivers may not be available in Centos 5.

Don't hang back waiting for a universal guarantee - follow Nike's lead and just do it!

Good luck
Ian

[wbs316]

If the install completes without issues is that a pretty good indicator that the configuration will subsequently run all of its functionality?

[idp_qbn]

is that a pretty good indicator

Yes.

If you add contribs (addons) from the SME repositories, all should be well.
If not, search the forums for answers, or ask the developer/maintainer of the contrib.

BUT - remember, keep is simple. Your server should just be a server, not a work-station, media box or games PC as well.

Since you want your local IT shop to supply the server, if they can run up SME 8.0 (or 8.1 if it is available) then that box should do for your requirements.
If you want it as just a server, it only needs 1 network card.
For a Gateway and Server, it needs 2 network cards.

I suggest it is time to get on with it - or as has been said by 11-year-olds all over the world, "Suck it and see"..

Cheers
Ian