Please help me to build a reliable server system

Happy holidays, Here is my mission.

A small company (25 employees) wants to build a Windows 2003 server SP1, We never have a server system before. System Cost limited to $800.00 US excluded OS software, of course. I never build a server before ... What parts should I look at in order to build a reliable server system.

I need like 3GHz Intel CPU, 2 H/D, a CD & 1GB or 2GB RAM , so so AGP video....

Are any mother board makers like Abit, Asus, ECS ... will do the job?

Some boards said " Windows 2003 server certified" most won't, only up to XP OS .... Is this matter?

Any 2003 server experience builders are welcome to comment.


Or better buy a low end server from Dell ....

Thanks in advance.

to the forums!

Single or dual cpus? For single, you can pickup a

P5WD2 NP (179.00), http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131547
Intel 630(171.00), http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116198
2gb of PQI PC4300 (128.00) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141224
X300SE 128mb (49.00)http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102545
2x120gb Western Digital (71.00 a piece) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144118
Lite-On CDDrive (20.00) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131407

Total: 689 w/o tax / shipping / case / psu.
With the money left over, you can get a good Antec. (SLK165 I believe, 61 bucks w/ PSU (350W)
You can go cheaper for the mobo, I think they are a great reliable board. As far as I know, any system can use Server 2003?

Happy holidays

xTrEmEoVrClOcKr said:

to the forums!

Single or dual cpus? For single, you can pickup a

P5WD2 NP (179.00), http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131547
Intel 630(171.00), http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116198
2gb of PQI PC4300 (128.00) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141224
X300SE 128mb (49.00)http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102545
2x120gb Western Digital (71.00 a piece) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144118
Lite-On CDDrive (20.00) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131407

Total: 689 w/o tax / shipping / case / psu.
With the money left over, you can get a good Antec. (SLK165 I believe, 61 bucks w/ PSU (350W)
You can go cheaper for the mobo, I think they are a great reliable board. As far as I know, any system can use Server 2003?

Happy holidays

Click to expand...

Thanks,
All we need is files sharing, quickbook program, mail handler with contact lists. I guessed a single CPU should do the job right?

My biggest concerned is if we use a cheap MB (non- windows 2003 server certified) then it won't handle the load good (like 20 users requested at the same time) caused system hang or freeze. Is this true or false?

I doubt it would freeze or hang (Course depends on your network ). That whole "Windows 2003 server certified" really means nothing, just has extended options for hardcore server stuff. This should suite your company fine.

xTrEmEoVrClOcKr said:

to the forums!

Single or dual cpus? For single, you can pickup a

P5WD2 NP (179.00), http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131547
Intel 630(171.00), http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116198
2gb of PQI PC4300 (128.00) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141224
X300SE 128mb (49.00)http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102545
2x120gb Western Digital (71.00 a piece) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144118
Lite-On CDDrive (20.00) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131407

Total: 689 w/o tax / shipping / case / psu.
With the money left over, you can get a good Antec. (SLK165 I believe, 61 bucks w/ PSU (350W)
You can go cheaper for the mobo, I think they are a great reliable board. As far as I know, any system can use Server 2003?

Happy holidays

Click to expand...

Just to comment a little on this:

1. You don't need a top of the line OCing board. I rather get a ROCK stable Intel board.

2. Processor is OK and so is memory but I don't think you need a video card. Onboard is fine for a server.

3. Get large HD's if you intend storing a lot of files on this server for sharing

4. Buy a DVD-ROM drive because they are just as cheap as CD and you never know if you might need one.

5. Buy a GOOD psu not a generic one. I wouldn't trust a generic psu on a server with important data on it needed for your business.

In all the servers I build I try to stay with INTEL motherboards. I have used Asus and some others and as long as you stay with a reputable mfgr you will be fine. $800 is not much man. P4 even a 2.4 would be fine... the thing you want to be fast are the drives... I recommend 2x 74GB raptors in raid 1, unless you need more space.

Reseverd for my spec for a xeon server...

nikhsub1 said:

In all the servers I build I try to stay with INTEL motherboards. I have used Asus and some others and as long as you stay with a reputable mfgr you will be fine. $800 is not much man. P4 even a 2.4 would be fine... the thing you want to be fast are the drives... I recommend 2x 74GB raptors in raid 1, unless you need more space.

Click to expand...

Hi nikhsub1, About the raid 1, On board SATA RAID 0, 1 is OK to use .. or better buy a SATA RAID 0.1 controller for better clonning HD.

I wonder using Norton Ghost 2003 program will back up entire HD is OK?

Thanks for all comments.

Onboard is OK with Intel if it has raid support... ICHR5 6 or 7.

nikhsub1 said:

Onboard is OK with Intel if it has raid support... ICHR5 6 or 7.

Click to expand...

I heard that when RAID 1 fail if we can not get exactly the same manufactor, model name, size, even rev board version... then the RAID won't rebuild ... Is this true or false ?

That is the reason I choose Norton Ghoost 2003 program to create images and keep transfer the images to external drive weekly.

Thanks for your comments.

learner123 said:

I heard that when RAID 1 fail if we can not get exactly the same manufactor, model name, size, even rev board version... then the RAID won't rebuild ... Is this true or false ?

That is the reason I choose Norton Ghoost 2003 program to create images and keep transfer the images to external drive weekly.

Thanks for your comments.

Click to expand...

One more question before I place the order.

As you recommended go for Intel MBs .... They have STANDARD and SERVER board (single CPU) ... Is this server board will do better job than standard board? or just a professional mark-up?

Thanks to all of your comments.

Happy Holidays