Servers

[Katiemate]

Hello everyone,

What are the best cost effective options out there to set up an office server?

Your help is appreciated

Katherine

[cable_dog]

That really depends on what you are looking for. If you are just looking for a basic file server to have a centralized place to store files and back them up then you could probably spend $400 on the hardware and run a Linux box with Samba. However, if you are looking at more of an office server to run a domain, mail, database, and web services that is another matter. Again you could go with a $1000 server running Linux or you could look at purchasing MS Small Business Server. All of this is depends on what you want to use the server for and the size of your small business.

[DMuse]

I'm curious to hear more about what you need to accomplish. Are you looking to run server-based applications? If you are thinking of running your own in-house mail or Web server, you may want to think about using a hosted (a.k.a. ASP) service. For some companies, this approach saves money and time.

[Katiemate]

Thanks for your replies both. We were looking at a server for gaining access to our accounts, database etc via a home computer.

So far estimated costs are proving too expensive for our company.

Katherine

[communIT]

Katherine;

Depending on how much "sweat equity" you're willing to invest, the most cost effective option would be to "reprovision" an older computer, load Linux, and install open source software that can play nice with Windows, which I'm assuming is your desktop operating system.

You can achieve practically every application functionality that a Micro$oft solution provides: database, e-mail, groupware, secure remote access, web services, etc. Of course, it's not as simple to configure as a M$ solution but, other than the time and effort to climb the learning curve, it can be set up for close to $0 up front cost, especially if you have an older model computer that can be allocated.

If you can provide some more specific information about what it is you're trying to accomplish, a more detailed solution can be suggested.

Good luck

peace

[DMuse]

If you are considering a Linux server, you may want to check out this article -- fresh off the virtual presses.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/3316531

[communIT]

Thanx, DMuse; that's a pretty good article. Good lookin' out!

:D