Re: [NTSysADM] Server build recommendation

[Susan Bradley]

In SMB space I don't see VMware as the virtualization platform of choice. I see HyperV, not to mention in a single host, you either go with what we used to do:  Host is not domain joined, hanging off the dhcp/dns of the firewall with static entries.  Or what you can do what we do now in the 2012 R2 and later era which is domain join the host to the DC-VM and it doesn't freak out and boots just fine without DCHP/DNS. I wouldn't use VMware.  I would do HyperV, and I would make these VMs. You never know even in SMB when you have a need for a virtual machine to stand up and test something, or a need for another server to put the application on.  On 1/25/2018 8:29 PM, Kurt Buff wrote: VMware really wants a DNS server at boot time. If your DNS server is a VM on that host, it isn't there for VMware. This is a problem, to say the least. It's really the only reason why I have a DC on it's own physical host in my server room. Kurt On Thu, Jan 25, 2018 at 7:36 PM, Susan Bradley <sbrad...@pacbell.net> wrote: Why two hosts? On 1/25/2018 7:09 PM, Kurt Buff wrote: I had further discussion with them today. The LOB is Timberline property management software, and they're adamant about keeping it in-house. They were also set on Dell, so we finally settled on a Dell T430, with an H330 RAID card, and two 1tb NLSAS drives, and 16gb RAM. The Windows Essentials will come from Amazon for a lot less than what Dell was charging - and they weren't bundling Essentials with this machine anyway. They have moved their email to gmail (which was news to me - last I had heard from them they were still using their SBS 2003 Exchange). They also wanted to keep their RD1000 unit for backups, which seemed pretty reasonable - actually, they'll be getting a new RD1000 bundled into the new machine, and probably keep the old one for an emergency spare. I'm going to turn that server into a combined AD/DNS/DHCP and file server, and I think I can convince them to keep their Timberline software on a domain-joined Win10 machine - I just gives me the shivers to install third party software on a DC. I didn't save them much on pricing (maybe $100-200), but I think I got them a much better machine. And, as a followup, once they have ordered it and it's in house, I'll be waling through their guy on setting it all up. If I could, I'd virtualize it all, but doing that right would involve two hosts, and more servers than they need, I think that it's pretty good the way we went. Kurt On Thu, Jan 25, 2018 at 9:11 AM, Susan E Bradley, CPA/CITP/CFF, GSEC <sbrad...@pacbell.net> wrote: What LOB needs do they have? What storage? Premise peeps: The Gen 10 Microserver doesn't have the fans it once had, my peeps are recommending HP ML110e Cloud peeps: Do they really need a server or a rethinking of what they do needs to be done and office 365/mapped drive to Sharefile or Google drive would be a better plan going forward. What LOB is keeping the need for the on premise server? These days, check that chip to see if it will get a spectre/meltdown patch. On 1/25/2018 8:18 AM, Rick Berry wrote: I'd suggest the consideration of something aftermarket as an option for them (since you said the words 'property management company' and having supported a few of those in the past I'll make crass generalizations about budget limitations/thriftiness) www.buysellservers.com ... you can go build a 1U dell for instance with what you want in it (like a real RAID card) and also still get a drac/warranty/etc at aftermarket prices. We normally do new ourselves, but I'm also not against getting the occasional 1U 'a few years old but with a fresh warranty' dell for swiss-army-knife server basic stuff like a dc/dns/ad/dhcp box. So sometimes we'll grab something like an R420 poweredge and put a RAID card in it/drac it and even ESXi it to internal USB bootable for a few grand less than new (but still with new hd's) Just throwing it out there, I know folks sometimes cringe at the 'used' market but in certain situations it works. -----Original Message----- From: listsad...@lists.myitforum.com [mailto:listsad...@lists.myitforum.com] On Behalf Of Kurt Buff Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2018 6:46 PM To: ntsysadm <NTSysADM@lists.myitforum.com> Subject: [NTSysADM] Server build recommendation The owner of a small 5-6 person property management company has approached me to help acquire a new server. They're currently running a 10+yo machine with SBS 2003, and wish to replace it. They've migrated their email to gmail, so don't need exchange, but do want a DC for account management, DHCP/DNS, etc., so they're looking to go with Server Essentials. The fellow he's nominated at his firm to be their sysadmin is quite green, and got a quote from Dell for a tower box with a software RAID card, and I told them to hold off on that purchase, while I look at alternatives. I was leaning toward an HP Microserver, but haven't played with one in years, and it looks like the current generation is using an AMD processor, and doesn't come with a RAID card to support RAID1. Anyone have a recommendation they can make regarding hardware? Kurt