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  1. #1
    DF MaSter computerman's Avatar
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    Setting up a RAID server?

    I work for a company that wants to setup a new server, I am thinking about setting up a RAID server, which RAID should I choose (which will work best, incase of a hard drive failure, will I be able to get all the data back?)?

    Also, what kind of hardware will I need to get a fast & reliable server up & running?

    Thanks all

  2. #2
    DF VIP Member Pegasus's Avatar
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    If you are truly serious about data integrity then you will be wanting RAID 5. A suitable controller with 32MB RAM will set you back around £170 and then whatever the HDD's (SCSI by the way) cost on top.
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  3. #3
    DF MaSter computerman's Avatar
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    Thanks m8, what other hardware/software will I need to set it up?

    Im new to this, can you tell

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    DF VIP Member Pegasus's Avatar
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    Lets take this from the top shall we?

    How many users will this server have to support?
    Is it just going to be a standard file server, or something more?
    Understeer is when you hit a wall with the front of your car
    Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the back of your car
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  5. #5
    DF MaSter computerman's Avatar
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    about 20 users are going to be using it, the server will be used to share data/programs etc...

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    DF VIP Member Pegasus's Avatar
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    OK then, here we go.

    Something along the lines of a PIII 500 upwards with 512MB RAM will more than suffice. Graphics card can be any old piece of $hit.

    For maximum data integrity you will want a minimum of RAID1 although the drawback to this is that if a disk fails then you will have to shut the system down to replace it (taking the server offline). If you go for the RAID5 option then you can "hot swap" the disks if they ever need replacement (means you can leave the server running).
    Understeer is when you hit a wall with the front of your car
    Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the back of your car
    Horsepower is how fast your car hits the wall
    Torque is how far your car sends the wall across the field once you've hit it

  7. #7
    DF MaSter computerman's Avatar
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    Great

    So I can just replace the the disk, with another hard drive, smashing

    What type of network should I go for m8 (E.g. Bus/Star)?

    Which one will be the fastest to access data?

    And if a clinet computer goes down, will it bring the others down?

    Thanks m8

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    Originally posted by computerman
    Great

    So I can just replace the the disk, with another hard drive, smashing

    What type of network should I go for m8 (E.g. Bus/Star)?

    Which one will be the fastest to access data?

    And if a clinet computer goes down, will it bring the others down?

    Thanks m8
    You dont sound like you know to much m8t. If I were you I would go for a RAID 5 setup with 4x36GB disks using one as a hot spare.

    This will give you a total storage space of 72GB and will automatically fail over to a new disk should one die.

    If I were you I would look at a Compaq DL380 G2 server.

    Bus / Star are both network topolagies in terms of design modern networks are Ethernet and topiligically are star in shape.

    If a client goes down then this will have no effect on the server - however like anything software you might find some server side file resources remain locked - but this is always the same no matter what LAN / RAID you go for.

    Good Luck,

    oE.

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    Originally posted by Pegasus Team

    For maximum data integrity you will want a minimum of RAID1 although the drawback to this is that if a disk fails then you will have to shut the system down to replace it (taking the server offline). If you go for the RAID5 option then you can "hot swap" the disks if they ever need replacement (means you can leave the server running).
    If all the disks are LVD SCSI 3 then there is no need to shut the system down irrespective of RAID level used.

  10. #10
    DF VIP Member Pegasus's Avatar
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    Originally posted by oE
    If all the disks are LVD SCSI 3 then there is no need to shut the system down irrespective of RAID level used.
    I know, but as you said it is plainly obvious that Computerman is seriously out of his depth with regard to setting this lot up. I made the automatic assumption that he might choose IDE RAID over SCSI because of the expense (I know, assumption can be the mother of all cock ups).
    Understeer is when you hit a wall with the front of your car
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  11. #11
    DF VIP Member
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    yeh makes me wonder how he chose his nick ;-P

  12. #12
    DF MaSter computerman's Avatar
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    lol

  13. #13
    DF MaSter computerman's Avatar
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    thanks for your help

  14. #14
    DF MaSter computerman's Avatar
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    Is there any more help you could give me (Software/Hardware)?

    Thanks again

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    DF VIP Member andyinlondon's Avatar
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    To be honest with you m8

    i would get a good it company in to do it for you.

    it sounds like you will be out of your depth from the first step.

    what type of hardware are you looking at?

    rack mount v freestanding.

    a UPS for protection.

    how is your network going to be distributed - hub, switch or router?

    what type of clients will be accessing the server?

    how about CALs

    for data recovery . raid is great but backup is also vital.

    what backup options have you looked at - dds, ait, dlt etc.

    who will be doing your cabling?

    what timescale have you set for this?

    and what is your budget?

    at the very least you need to put together a project plan and get

    a good idea of what is involved in doing this.

    the altenative will be both costly and time consuming.

    (it will also make you look bad at work) when you come unstuck.

    none of the above is dissing you m8.
    we all have to start somewhare.
    but dont go off half cocked and end up looking daft.

  16. #16
    DF MaSter computerman's Avatar
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    Thanks for your help m8, I think im just going to get a good company to set me one up

    Thanks again

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