New Server Build

[Marcvs]

Been assigned a task to sort out a new server.

Needs to:
Support 20 Client PCs, to Filter Internet
Remote Control of the 20 PCs
Have abilty to Share the Attached Drives

Something in the £450 inc OS would be good. A desktop case is also fine as it does not have to go in a rack mount system.

[wasabi]

If you're OK with linux you could use something like Dansguardian for internet filtering. Then Samba for fileserver. Remote control doesn't really need to be done from server though? Something like VNC running as a service might be better, but gets problematic if remote support needed. In which case a midrange desktop PC with fairly standard hardware with mirrored drives would be fine.

[dave87]

The new HP Microserver sounds like it will do the job, it now has a 2.2ghz dual core processor, so bit beefier than the original. Add 8gb of ECC RAM if you want higher performance.

Software wise, Linux is an option, or alternatively look at Server 2012. As long as you have less than 25 users then 2012 Essential Server may be an option, though I'm not sure what web filtering options are available. I believe it can be virtualised though, so you could run something like pfsense and 2012 Essential Server on the same box, simply by adding additional network cards and a HyperVisor.

HP Server 2012 Essential ROK http://www.ebuyer.com/420030-microso...-sw-701587-a21
HP N54L Microserver http://www.ebuyer.com/430446-prolian...-in-704941-421
8GB Crucial DDR3 http://www.ebuyer.com/483979-crucial...kit51272bd160b


And if you do got the Hyper V route for pfsense add:
Intel GbE NIC: http://www.ebuyer.com/148376-intel-g...-expi9301ctblk (x2)

[shaithis]

The Microservers aren't on offer any more, which makes them no-where near as attractive anymore.

I did receive an email last week with "Dell T110 only £325 plus £65 End User Cashback" as the title. You do need to speak to Dell directly to get the offer though.

"PowerEdge T110 II is ideally suited to give your business the flexibility and access you and your employees need to get more done.

• Intel Xeon E3-1220v2 Processor (3.1GHz, 4C/4T,
8M Cache, 69W, Turbo)
• 4GB Memory (1x4GB Dual Rank UDIMM) 1600MHz
• 500GB, SATA, 3.5-in, 7.2K RPM Hard Drive (Cabled)
• Up to 4 x 4.5” HDD
• No Internal Optical Drive
• Embedded BMC
• No RAID with On-board SATA Controller
• 1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day"

[dave87]

I didn't realise a PowerEdge could be had for so little these days. I guess they have also increased the hard drive mounts too - last time I checked the basic PowerEdge machines could only hold two drives.

[phil4]

Don't get me wrong, I've got a dell T110, but I'd struggle to call it a server as such. It's a small desktop case, and while the components are server ones, the Xeon CPU is really just a slightly tweaked Sandybridge, the "near-line" SAS drives are just SATA drives which talk SAS, RAID controller has now battery backup etc etc.

While I think the reliability/tolerance of the components may be a little better this isn't a heavy duty racked server with lots of redundant components etc.

[Moby-Dick]

While I think the reliability/tolerance of the components may be a little better this isn't a heavy duty racked server with lots of redundant components etc.

neither is an HP microserver though

[Jay]

Been assigned a task to sort out a new server.

Needs to:
Support 20 Client PCs, to Filter Internet
Remote Control of the 20 PCs
Have abilty to Share the Attached Drives

Something in the £450 inc OS would be good. A desktop case is also fine as it does not have to go in a rack mount system.

By "Filter Internet" you mean content filtering? What software will you use for this?

by "Remote Control of the 20 PCs" do you mean for support or so users can use their PCs outside of the network?

I think a nice little box with VMWare may be a place to start

[Marcvs]

To Clarify; yes I mean content filtering (to stop people going on certain websites) - and was looking for ideas to use for software-

Preferably one global white list/blacklist with the ability to override both single PCs and remove the restrictions for certain keywords for the whole network -

no need to support access from outside the network.

Also if i were to use linux then how compatible/easy to set up is it with a network of about 15x Win7 PCs, 3-4 Win Vista PCs, a couple iPads/iPhones and a couple of MacBook (staffs own PCs that they use)

[Jay]

if you really must do this with a single server etc I would get a box with VMWare and a few NICs

setup a pfsense VM for the content filtering in the DMZ VLAN or a Linux box with Dansguardian and SQUID maybe?

a second VM in the Data VLAN (or server VLAN if you have a decent router with good packet throughput) with OpenFiler, pass the disk through.

Remove control of the 20 PCs is a bit harder, do you want to control their session or just be able to login to do maintenance? Is this a remote site for you company? Will you have a IPSec VPN to the site from the location you wish to remote control them from?

[ChaosSystem]

I would use OpenDNS for content filtering (set by DHCP or on the Router) or a router with content filter (Draytek). Be careful of Proxy servers that require configuration of the web browser as they will not function outside of the LAN.
OpenFiler or FreeNas for shared storage.
LogMeIn Free for remote control of the Pc's and Mac.