A small to medium enterprise ( SME ) server should be able to handle files, printing, internet and e-mail usage. Our goal here is to choose the best hardware with $4000 to meet these tasks. Of course we’re not including software, since network operating systems vary from free ( Linux ) to expensive ( everyone else ). Our target price went up from $3000 to $4000 to cover the best ATA storage options available via RAID1 and RAID5 arrays. As well the processors and RAM have been bumped for better performance. A server is no place to scrimp in the budget.

To start things off I went with dual AMD Opteron 246 processors. Price to performance against the Intel Xeon puts the Opteron ahead. Dual core Opterons are still too pricey.

The Tyan S2892 motherboard is brand new, utilizing the Nforce4 Professional chipset. Rock solid with cutting edge features, this is a solid board.

DDR RAM pricing has stabilized, but this month we’re sticking with 2048 MB. This should be enough for all but the most demanding server applications. Of course they’re registered ECC.

Storage is deftly handled by a Broadcom BC4852 RAIDCore SATA RAID adapter, two Samsung 80 GB 7200 RPM SATA hard drives and six 7200 RPM 250 MB hard drives. The BC4852 is a 133 MHz PCI-X RAID5 adapter that works nicely with our Tyan board and operates with SATA drives. The two 80 GB hard drives are configured as a RAID 1 array; one drive is mirrored onto the other for the operating system and boot drive. This can run from the motherboard or the BC4852. The six 250 GB drives are configured as two 500 GB RAID 5 arrays and handle storage.

Optical and removable storage is handled via a LG DVD-RW , since network operating systems are starting to ship on one DVD-ROM instead of a handful of CDs. This is fast and cheap backup to DVDs. Nine gigabytes on one disk is good, but it won’t do a full system backup. Last but not least is the trusty 3.5” floppy drive.

We’re removed the tape drive and suggest backing up to the second RAID 5 array using your favorite backup software. Hard drives are so cheap it’s hard to justify the cost of tape. The only concern is off site storage, which for critical documents can be handled via DVD.

Video is basic, but this is a server after all. Onboard ATI mated with a 17” Envision monitor. It’s getting difficult to find 15” monitors today, and the LCD prices are still a little high for this use.

Connectivity is provided via dual onboard 10/100/1000 ethernet. I’ve thrown in a 56k PCI modem for remote diagnostics.

The housing of choice is an Antec Titan 550 server case. Very slick design with lockable front and side panels. Loads of room for hard drives and cooling, with a sensible price for a server case. A 550 watt quiet power supply and additional cooling give us all the toys.

Input comes via a basic PS/2 keyboard and optical mouse; again this is a server and will not have someone working in front of it every day. Or so we hope.

Last but not least is a decent UPS ( uninterruptible power supply ). Nothing like losing power and seeing open files disappear. Don’t run any mission critical PC without a UPS in place.

Lets address what’s not on the list: server software. It’s costly, and is never listed in server hardware specs from the big boys like Dell, IBM or Compaq. Linux is the cheap solution here, but a Windows environment allows for familiarity and breadth of choice. Include eBabble’s free software bundle.

Pricing from November 2005

$5000 Gaming PC

 

$2000 Home System