Help with Software/Hardware decisions....

[Guest]

Hello,

I need some advice on what software should go where on my hardware. Here is
what I have:

Hardware:

Servers: #1 – Poweredge 2600 – (MOST POWERFULL) 3.0 GHZ Xeon, 1GB RAM,
redundant power supply, Raid 5 w/3 36GB U320 SCSI 10K drives, DLT tape drive
40/80 GB.

Servers #2, 3, & 4 – Poweredge 500SC – 1.13 GHZ Pent 3, 1.25 GB RAM (or
less), RAID 1 (basic 2 drive duplex) w/2 18 GB SCSI 10K drives, DDS4 tape
drive (20/40GB)

Now for the software: MS 2003 server OS’s, SQL 2000 server, Terminal
Server, Exchange Server 2003, MS Office and other apps to run on terminal
server.

MY CURRENT SETUP:
4 total offices, 10 users local to servers, 18-20 users (in 3 branches)
connect to TERMINAL SERVER via DSL/VPN connections to run company database
application using SQL 2000 server, MS Office, Outlook etc. The 3 branches do
not have local servers and will not. (I don’t want to travel to administer,
=) )

On Power edge 2600: – MS 2003 server, & MS SQL 2000. Roles configured as
DOMAIN CONTROLER, DHCP(not used), DNS(not setup correctly), & FILE SERVER (to
store user files, profiles, etc).

On Poweredge 500SC - MS 2003 server with TERMINAL SERVICES, Company SQL
application, MS office, Outlook, crystal reports, etc.

On Poweredge 500SC – Exchange 2003 server (not yet set up on LAN)

On Poweredge 500SC – Not currently used.


My question is, Based on hardware POWER, backup and redundancy, number of
users, ROLES, apps etc, where should I put what????

I ran tests with MOST users running ONLY the company SQL app on my current
setup. The Terminal Server did ok (only high >%75 utilization when users all
logged in at the same time or performed BIG data tasks ABNORMAL for regular
usage at one time) With normal use, < 40% processor utilization. RAM was
OK.

Based on number of users (about 30 total) and MS Terminal Server guidelines
of usage (standard users, power users etc), I figured my 500 SC would
accommodate running all my apps without problem based on number of users.
(MS test said I could run 100 users with my setup)

I figured my SQL server was best on the most powerful server so processing
data is super fast. Note the 2600 with SQL 2000, DC, etc, hardly even winks
when the users were accessing the company SQL app.

Does this setup best utilize my hardware/software relationship? If not,
what is best?

I was going to take my unused 500SC and LOAD BALANCE it to the one running
now to take some load off. (not a true cluster as I cannot afford enterprise
additions of all MS products, **thanks for thinking of the little guys MS, we
need availability too ya know**)

But, I have been told to NOT run SQL 2000 and a DOMAIN CONTROLLER on the
same server. Is this really warranted? My current setup hardly even takes a
hit, but I have not FULLY tested it yet either.

Should maybe my TERMINAL SERVER be on the 2600, and I use the 500SC’s for
stand alone SQL server, DOMAIN CONTROLLER, & Exchange Server? I kind of like
having the unused Server to act as a backup, just in case one of the other 2
500SC’s would fail. Besides, the 2600 is like a fortress, with power
redundancy, etc.

My concern is backup as well; I’d like to pack ALL IMPORTANT STUFF on one
tape if possible so I don’t have to manage3- 4 Tape drives.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I’m an old Netware guy and
had to move over to MS, so I’m lacking on some knowledge.

Thanks much,

Mark

 

[Gerry Hickman]

Servers: #1 – Poweredge 2600 – (MOST POWERFULL) 3.0 GHZ Xeon, 1GB RAM,
redundant power supply, Raid 5 w/3 36GB U320 SCSI 10K drives, DLT tape drive
40/80 GB.

Are you sure the SCSI controller is actually running those drives at
u320? Did you check controller specs?

Servers #2, 3, & 4 – Poweredge 500SC – 1.13 GHZ Pent 3, 1.25 GB RAM (or
less), RAID 1 (basic 2 drive duplex) w/2 18 GB SCSI 10K drives, DDS4 tape
drive (20/40GB)

How did you set up the dubplexing? Is it on two controllers or two
channels. I assume it's not on a backplane? Have you ever tested pulling
one of the controller cables to see if it still boots (and works) on the
other drive?

On Poweredge 500SC – Not currently used.

I'm not familliar with the 500SC.

Does this setup best utilize my hardware/software relationship? If not,
what is best?

Hard to say.

But, I have been told to NOT run SQL 2000 and a DOMAIN CONTROLLER on the
same server. Is this really warranted? My current setup hardly even takes a
hit, but I have not FULLY tested it yet either.

It's not to do with performance. It's really to do with how you cope in
a disaster or migration - you really don't want them on the same box in
that context.

Should maybe my TERMINAL SERVER be on the 2600, and I use the 500SC’s for
stand alone SQL server, DOMAIN CONTROLLER, & Exchange Server?

It sounds a good plan based on what you have. You really need to get
some newer servers but at least the config above would be quite easy to
upgrade.

500SC’s would fail. Besides, the 2600 is like a fortress, with power
redundancy, etc.

Well mine seemed like a fortress until one of the memory banks produced
a low level "parity" error - crashing the whole machine and not allowing
it to reboot. So much for ECC, partiy, spare row enable etc!

Luckily removing one of the DIMMs allowed it to start up again, but only
after getting past a boot up screen saying "memory config invalid".

My concern is backup as well; I’d like to pack ALL IMPORTANT STUFF on one
tape if possible so I don’t have to manage3- 4 Tape drives.

I have four servers. I use backup exec with remote agents to back them
all up onto one SDLT tape. But I have the tape drive direct attached to
the file server, otherwise it's too slow.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I’m an old Netware guy and
had to move over to MS, so I’m lacking on some knowledge.

Ever checked out Solaris?