Help with File/Print Server Build?

[Jeri]

You helped me successfully build 2 work stations – They are awesome! Do you think I could build a small business file server too?

There will be, at most, 6 computers accessing this server. The one we inherited and are limping along with now is running Windows 2000 Professional. It is a PowerEdge rack server and is LOUD. I think we would prefer a desktop case. Our needs are simple – a 500 GB disk would probably be sufficient. Perhaps a RAID 1 system? I know very little about RAID, but we are more concerned with data loss than speed. Windows 2003 or 2008? 64 bit or 32?

What else should I be asking?

We would not need a monitor or keyboard.

Thank-you!

Jeri

[glc]

Edited - bad information

[Jeri]

My bad! The PowerEdge is running Windows 2000 Advance Server.

[glc]

I had a system using inexpensive desktop parts all posted, but that won't work - no support for Server. If you are going to do this, you need Windows Server 2008 R2 (Standard should be all you need, probably 64 bit) and server-specific components. Let's try this:

Newegg.com - HEC 7106BB Black 1.0mm Thickness ATX Desktop Computer Case

Newegg.com - ASUS P7F-M LGA 1156 Intel 3420 Micro ATX Intel Xeon 3400 series / Core i7-800 series / Core i5-700 series Server Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Pentium G6950 Clarkdale 2.8GHz 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616G6950

Ram removed, see below

Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - Bulk - CD / DVD Burners

Newegg.com - Western Digital RE4 WD5003ABYX 500GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (Get 2 for RAID 1)

Newegg.com - Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by glc Newegg.com - Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT25664BA1339

Curious, why did you choose that memory with that CPU? Don't you want a ECC UDIMM for that board and CPU?

[glc]

I'm still not totally clear on what memory you use with which processors with that board. That standard non-ECC memory *IS* listed as being compatible on Crucial's site, and I'm under the impression you only use the fancy ram when you put a Xeon in it. If you can find something more definitive, please do!

[jdeb]

Here is what I could find George. I am not totally clear either. I thought maybe you knew something different. I assume it would work.

[Jeri]

I have no idea what you two are talking about!

What are your thoughts on SBS 2011 Essentials?

[glc]

Perfect, jdeb. Need ECC unbuffered for that processor.

4GB kit (2GBx2), 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 upgrades for ASUS P7F-M Motherboard, CT1618441 from Crucial.com