[AccessD] RE: OT Server Needed

One more from William, just in case.

Donna

----- Original Message -----
From: "William Hindman" <wdhindman at bellsouth.net>
To: <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>

> Rocky
>
> ...ditto on most of gustav's points ...except of course the novell or
Linux
> comments :)
>
> ...Novell reported another quarterly loss ...the last thing you want
to
> recommend to your client is a server software without support behind
it
> ...and even if Novell does avoid bankruptcy, it has not put any real
> resources into its server products in quite some time :(
>
> ...Linux is more interesting ...its essentially freeware upfront and
has
> proven to be very reliable in server environments ...but its much more
> technically demanding than current MS products to install and
maintain,
> especially if you make frequent changes ...and while you can train a
client
> power user to be a reasonable Windows 2000 Server Administrator
(wizards
> will help him/her do most maintenance tasks) the same cannot be said
of
any
> Linux version I've yet seen.
>
> ...so while either Novell or Linux are certainly lower in
> "out-of-the-box-costs", your client's total cost of operation (and
> frustration) may well be much higher with either unless he has a
resident
> notwork geek ...and if he did, he wouldn't be asking you.
>
> ...stay with well tested server software ...Win2K SP3 is highly
reliable
> ...unlike its NT4 predecessor, I've not had to reboot a client system
in
> ages because of server software problems. On the other hand, it will
be at
> least two years before MS's Windows 2003 Server due for release any
time
now
> will reach the same level of reliability ...its far too complex a
piece of
> software to be fully debugged in beta trials ...inevitably the user
> marketplace along with hackers find bugs that the most intensive beta
trials
> don't ...and there is nothing in W2003S that your client will need
today
> ...so stick with W2K Server, making sure SP3 is installed.
>
> ...on the other hand, while a lot of the server installation
complexity
> depends upon your client's internet configuration and security, two
days
for
> an MS W2K Server install, configuration, and training is minimum
...any
> installer telling you otherwise is simply low-balling you ...waiting
for
> your client to ask the first question ..."Oh, you didn't tell me you
wanted
> me to do the client setups ...or software updates (hours upon hours
upon
> hours, even with SP3, trust me) ...or "simple" security setup, etc,
etc,
ad
> infinitum :(
>
> ...I usually recommend MS's Small Business Server for client's similar
to
> yours but again that takes an assessment of your client's actual needs
> ...does he actually need SQL Server and Exchange Server ...bang for
the
buck
> though, it is the best all-in-one solution going ...and contrary to
gustav's
> comment, its SQL Server implementation is the real thing :)
>
> ...as for CALS, count the client computers and any print servers and
buy
the
> next higher CAL pack ...a 5 pak is the standard included with your W2K
> Server but your client will need at least another 5 pak ...and if you
or
the
> client intends to do any server maintenance themselves, the Resource
Kits
> are cheap insurance.
>
> ...as for hardware, the three major hardware brands simply can't be
beat
> when it comes to server quality vs price vs support ...its no longer
> possible for local builders to compete with them on any of those
points
> ...no matter what the local guys say ...nor can they come close to
providing
> the configuration and maintenance software the major brands do which
is no
> small consideration when you're up to your ass in network alligators.
>
> ...Gateway is about to go under and who knows what will come out of
> bankruptcy ...they are so desperate for sales that their boxes are
starting
> to turn up in computer flea markets ...and they still can't go head to
head
> with Dell.
>
> ...Compaq/HP build good stuff which is well supported ...while higher
priced
> than Dell, they've been in the server business a lot longer ...my
major
beef
> with them is that they use proprietary parts which lock you into them
for
> support ...and then charge you enormously inflated prices when you
need
> replacements ...if you can find the parts in the first place ...and
having
a
> client with a dead server waiting more than a week while Compaq finds
a
part
> can be wearing on any client relationship where you made the server
> recommendation ...it doesn't happen often but once was more than
enough
for
> me.
>
> ...so I now spec Dell servers with their 3 year warranty ...and make
damn
> sure if you buy the server software from them that you also buy their
> software support up front ...MS won't even talk to you about a Dell
> purchased W2K Server for instance without you giving them $250 upfront
on
> your credit card ...for EACH problem you have ...thus I no longer
recommend
> that my clients buy the server software preinstalled (another
misleading
> phrase since its not actually anything more than imaged onto a
partition
on
> your disk ...trust me, server installation is a LOT more than that)
...your
> client can get the same software in the market place with full MS
support
> for less money.
>
> ...the most important factors in a server are reliability and speed
...and
> that means at the very least a RAID 1 configuration with SCSI disks
> (mirrored disks) for pure reliability ...or, if your client can afford
it,
a
> RAID 5 configuration (striped disks) for both reliability and speed
...the
> cpu in your type of file server installation is much less important
than
the
> disks and ram ...again, if your client can afford it, go with a
hardware
> RAID controller rather than using W2K's software RAID (for people who
don't
> read the small print, a software RAID 5 requires its own disk which
money
> could have been better spent on a HW controller) ...better to pay for
a HW
> RAID controller than to pay for a 2.6Ghz cpu over a 1.6GHz cpu since
the
cpu
> has far less impact than disk access speed in your client's
configuration.
>
> ...buy the 10K scsi disks rather than the new 15K ones ...despite the
pitch
> their sales people give, the techs will tell you the 15Ks still have
heat
> build-up and reliability problems.
>
> ...buy as much fast ram as your client can afford ...512 is the
absolute
> minimum and I use 1Gb as my minimum ...lots of ram will cure a host of
> server problems that nothing else will.
>
> ...besides the RAID hardware, a real server will give you hot
swappable
HDs
> which means in a RAID 5 configuration you can pull a failed disk and
replace
> it without interrupting server operation (ok, it WILL slow down but it
will
> still work) ...and at least dual hot swappable power supplies ...Dell
gives
> you three on all of its servers ...and multiple fans to ensure
continuous
> operations, high availability, and long life ...and a well engineered
> component layout designed for maximum airflow and reliability.
>
> ...be sure to spec two identical nics, one for your internal network
and
one
> for the internet ...any single nic configuration has high security
problems
> even with h/w nat routers.
>
> ...and one last consideration ...Dell has its net based refurbished
systems
> outlet where you can pick up a new, 3 year warranted server for as
much as
> 40% off their retail list price ...I say new because its exactly the
same
as
> a new server except that a client returned it because something failed
on
> initial install ...Dell replaced the defective part but cannot sell it
as
> new any more ...so they put it up for sale on their refurbished outlet
> ...but its exactly the same box and warranty as that being sold as new
on
> their retail pages.
>
> ...all in all, $4-6K is imnsho, a more reasonable price range for a
viable
> server and software configuration ...plus installation costs ...but
when
it
> comes to servers, everyone has their opinions ...this is mine
...others
will
> certainly differ ...take it for what it cost you :)
>
> William Hindman

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