Servers: Are they really that different?

[Lucio]

I'm grateful for your advice on this Moby-Dick, when it comes to desktop hardware I've got a reasonable knowledge of what works and what doesn't but I'm lost when it comes to servers as this is only the second one I've had to purchase.


Just spoken to our hardware providers, they're suggesting the HP DL 360 in some varient (they get a list of bundles to simplify things) rather than the slightly larger DL 380 as this will just be running SQL alongside our main server.

Also waiting to see if Scan can offer something as an alternative

[Moby-Dick]

Scan do offer server class components - so you'll get something thats pretty solid. I'm sure TiG built himself an opteron box for work many years ago from Scan components.

It might be an idea to get hold of some spares at the same time , Just in case

http://www.rackservers.co.uk/ are also worth considering.

[Lucio]

My big limitation is that I need to try and reuse 2 x 73GB 2.5" 15,000rpm drives that we got with our main server when we upgraded that were set aside to purely hold the SQL logs. Whilst I'm not too fussed about having to take them out of the cradles HP put them in, I'd be loathe to try and figure out how to get it to fit inside a 3.5" bay.