My workplace needs a server for backup and some limited file storage. We're a small company, with 7 PC's and 3 networked printers. Right now, everyone backs up to an external HDD on their desks, but its a clumsy, unmanaged, unreliable system, imposed by my predecessor. Our network is a mishmash of hubs, switches, and cat5 cabling.
I'm proposing that we rip out all the old wiring, replace it with Cat6 (all the wiring is external, so thats not a big deal), replace our existing switches/hubs with a single 8-port Gigabit switch, and a single 4-port 10/100 switch. The printers get hooked to the 10/100 switch, and all clients get hooked to the gigabit switch. That and the 10/100 switch will feed into our existing wireless router, and that to our cable modem. Its a simple system, keeping the gigabit switch for the client computers that need to talk to one another very quickly (and backup over the network), and leaving the printers on the 10/100.
Our backups will be handled by a server I'm going to build, running XP Pro, and Acronis TrueImage Workstation. I'm figuring that a low-end C2D will handle it all no problem, with around 2GB of RAM. For storage, I want a motherboard-level RAID for the OS, and a hardware RAID (Either RAID1 or RAID6) with 4x750GB SATA2 drives for an effective array size of 1.5TB. That should be ok, as each client's full backup will run about 40GB, with daily differentials running around 2GB each. I plan to run a full every Saturday, with differentials running each morning at staggered times from midnight to 5AM (to reduce network overload). I'd like to keep a months worth of backups for each machine.
Weekly/client: 40GB+6x2GB=52GB/week/client*4*7=1.456TB Of course, I know that 2 of the clients have less than 30GB for their full backups, and most won't reach 2GB/differential. Those are worst case scenarios, and should allow for at least 500GB of free space on the array. I'll also have a backup for the server's OS drive, but that'll be very small (2GB or less).
So, I have a number of questions, and I'm having trouble finding answers to them.
1: Is there a difference between consumer-level gigabit switches? I'm not talking about a Cisco managed switch, I'm talking about Linksys SD2008, a 3com 3CGSU08, or something like that. I don't think there's a need for anything more, but if there is, please convince me, or link me to an article that explains it. If you have a favorite model, please tell me what it is, and why you like it.
2: Do you see a problem with my network layout, with our wireless router running supreme, connected to a 10/100 switch for the printers/laptops, and the gigabit that hooks all the clients and the server together?
3: Whats a good choice for the RAID card? I've got a bunch of experience with HighPoint cards, both external and motherboard-based, and ditto with Promise. I've been looking at the Tekrams and Adaptecs in the 200-400$ range. Battery backup for the card would be nice, but not necessary. We'll be running a pretty hefty UPS to make sure this thing doesn't go down unexpectedly.
4: What motherboard/processor/RAM combo should I go with? I need the mobo to play nice with the RAID card, and we don't need a $$$$ server motherboard that fits in a 1U case, or has dual processors. ECC RAM should not be a requirement.
5: Case suggestions other than an Antec P182? This won't be rack-mounted, so no need for a special case.
6: What about buying a used PowerEdge from eBay with an SAS card in it. Can I use SATA drive on an SAS card, and still use its RAID features?
Thanks very much for the suggestions. I'll check this thread as regularly as I can, I'm going offshore for next week.
I'm proposing that we rip out all the old wiring, replace it with Cat6 (all the wiring is external, so thats not a big deal), replace our existing switches/hubs with a single 8-port Gigabit switch, and a single 4-port 10/100 switch. The printers get hooked to the 10/100 switch, and all clients get hooked to the gigabit switch. That and the 10/100 switch will feed into our existing wireless router, and that to our cable modem. Its a simple system, keeping the gigabit switch for the client computers that need to talk to one another very quickly (and backup over the network), and leaving the printers on the 10/100.
Our backups will be handled by a server I'm going to build, running XP Pro, and Acronis TrueImage Workstation. I'm figuring that a low-end C2D will handle it all no problem, with around 2GB of RAM. For storage, I want a motherboard-level RAID for the OS, and a hardware RAID (Either RAID1 or RAID6) with 4x750GB SATA2 drives for an effective array size of 1.5TB. That should be ok, as each client's full backup will run about 40GB, with daily differentials running around 2GB each. I plan to run a full every Saturday, with differentials running each morning at staggered times from midnight to 5AM (to reduce network overload). I'd like to keep a months worth of backups for each machine.
Weekly/client: 40GB+6x2GB=52GB/week/client*4*7=1.456TB Of course, I know that 2 of the clients have less than 30GB for their full backups, and most won't reach 2GB/differential. Those are worst case scenarios, and should allow for at least 500GB of free space on the array. I'll also have a backup for the server's OS drive, but that'll be very small (2GB or less).
So, I have a number of questions, and I'm having trouble finding answers to them.
1: Is there a difference between consumer-level gigabit switches? I'm not talking about a Cisco managed switch, I'm talking about Linksys SD2008, a 3com 3CGSU08, or something like that. I don't think there's a need for anything more, but if there is, please convince me, or link me to an article that explains it. If you have a favorite model, please tell me what it is, and why you like it.
2: Do you see a problem with my network layout, with our wireless router running supreme, connected to a 10/100 switch for the printers/laptops, and the gigabit that hooks all the clients and the server together?
3: Whats a good choice for the RAID card? I've got a bunch of experience with HighPoint cards, both external and motherboard-based, and ditto with Promise. I've been looking at the Tekrams and Adaptecs in the 200-400$ range. Battery backup for the card would be nice, but not necessary. We'll be running a pretty hefty UPS to make sure this thing doesn't go down unexpectedly.
4: What motherboard/processor/RAM combo should I go with? I need the mobo to play nice with the RAID card, and we don't need a $$$$ server motherboard that fits in a 1U case, or has dual processors. ECC RAM should not be a requirement.
5: Case suggestions other than an Antec P182? This won't be rack-mounted, so no need for a special case.
6: What about buying a used PowerEdge from eBay with an SAS card in it. Can I use SATA drive on an SAS card, and still use its RAID features?
Thanks very much for the suggestions. I'll check this thread as regularly as I can, I'm going offshore for next week.