Building a server computer...

Hi guys!...I'll introduce my self first, my name is Hector and I'm pretty much new at this, just starting to get involve with and working with computers. Ok! a few months ago I won a Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition and I'm thinking of putting it to use. Right now I'm looking how to build my own server computer on the web and haven't found what I want, but I'm going to keep looking...so if anyone have any suggestions I'll appreciate it...(what type of CPU or motherboard, stuff like that) Any suggestions would be welcome!

Thanks in advance, HIL

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Comment by Alexandre Fournier on June 4, 2009 at 6:01pm: ThrawnKnolls, how much did it cost including shipping?

Thanks!

Comment by HIL on June 3, 2009 at 8:57pm: Hey guys thank you all for the help, I really appreciate it!

Comment by De1ta on June 3, 2009 at 6:12pm: First of, you've got to decide what is gonna be the server's purpose. For example I have a Linux server at home that I use for sharing files, in other words it's an ftp server. You could also use it as a media server, web server, etc etc. They all have diferent configurations depending on it's purpose.
Now as for the hardware, one of the main bottlenecks servers face is the hard drive. Make sure you get one with plenty of memory, it doesnt have to be crazy fast though, 7500 rpm will do fine. Since you'll be building a server most likely you won't need a graphics card or sound card, unless it's a media server. Also keep in mind that servers need to stay on 24/7 so you'll need a good cooling fan system. Finally the obvious, decent processor (Eg. Intel core Duo), at least 1gb RAM, optic drive to install the OS, and of course an ethernet card if your motherboard doesnt have one, ethernet cable is better than wireless when it comes to servers, or so I think.

Comment by Gabriel MICLAUS on June 3, 2009 at 5:22pm: Hello,
First is to know what kind of server you want.

- For home use, most important is a file/media server: average processing power, large storage.
Any CPU with 2GHz should be fine (multy cores not really needed), 1GB RAM memory, and storage - the hard drive as you wish - I guess 1TB should cover a pretentious user storage. Maybe two hard drive in a RAID1 - mirror, to secure data if one hard drive fails. Do not worry if you do not have a hardware RAID, your server can do it (software), but you need two similar hard drives. You have an interesting link above (first one from Seif Sallam).

- For a small business, beside file server you will want some processing power, meaning not only processor but RAM memory too. Increase RAM to at least 4GB and verify to have dual channel - help a lot, and if you can afford it, some "server" CPUs, like Xeon should be fine, you can run now a database medium size with a lot of users. Do not forget, in a such a case you need also a 1GB network or two, at least up to the first switch.

But if you like to run only a performance database, no file server, you have a very good link from ThrawnKnolls. If you want both, file server and database, you must verify if two hard drives can go in this server (maybe instead of floppy drive - as space, but need also interface on system board).

Success!

Comment by macman1293 on June 3, 2009 at 4:40pm: if you are just thinking about a start up server to get you acquainted with the whole idea you may want to check this out.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SC5300BASE-750-K1

It is great for starting out if you want a web based server so you can access all of your files over the net. However, if you want to do anything else with it, you should probably keep looking because this server has a 8 MB graphics card.

Comment by lenswipe on June 3, 2009 at 10:53am: as a side note i also have apache installed and PHP and mysql http://www.freshupforums.servebbs.com/

and its running a website for me...

Comment by lenswipe on June 3, 2009 at 10:52am: i picked up a crappy machine off ebay, installed ubuntu, installed SAMBA and there we go....

Im logged into it right now from my windows machine as its running a domain here...

128RAM

Celeron processor -1.2GhZ i think

160GB HDD

-L

Comment by dave on June 3, 2009 at 6:52am: Here at the radio station we use Dell 530 with a upgrade of 1.5 tig HD and we have two other Dells and 3 laptops working in stride with one another . But our big server is a stand alone server that has 80 tig hd and we use all of this to get out to 135 radio stations for one of our dj's that has a syndicated show . It just depends on what you want to do with your server . A gamer or a business. It depends on if you are going to allow it to be a web based system for others to come to share . There is so many possibilities out there . I know chris here on this user site uses a big server . I dont know the exact yet but its big enough to take care of allot of people . Here is my radio inc server site . www.radioinc.media.officelive.com

Comment by HIL on June 3, 2009 at 6:04am: hey man that's great, I'll keep that in mind...,
Thanks a lot ThrawnKnolls

Comment by ThrawnKnolls on June 3, 2009 at 5:51am: Hil,
SCSI is not necessary for a home server. SATA is fine. I just picked one of these up for hte office. Dell Dual Xeon CPU system for only $299 (refurbed). It runs like a champ.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SC1425-3600X2-R&cat=SYS

You can put two SATA drives in. One for OS and programs the other for data. (there are other methods to replicate data directory (files, photos, etc) between the two drives as well for redundancy)
peace...