JF Sebastian
16th January 2004, 11:08
What particular points are there to consider when building a Server PC rather than a home PC?
The proposed PC will replace an ageing Twin P3 Xeon Data General Server which performs the following tasks:
1. File & Print Server to a suite of Mac workstations and a couple of office Windows PCs.
2. Provide connection to a 120GB Raid array via SCSI Diff card.
3. Accept and process postscript/pdf files via specialist software I already have.
The priorities for the new PC would be:
1. processing power to eat up huge (up to 100mb) incoming files all day and be hungry for more.
2. ability to shift that data across the network (gigabit uplink to managed switch, 100base from there on to receiving platforms)
Would I have to choose different hardware than if I was building myself a PC? In other words are there special requirements for constructing a Server machine in terms of Motherboard, FSB, RAM etc?
Forgive my ignorance - I have always bought in packaged Servers previously, and to be frank I'm sick of paying exorbitant prices for them when every time I crack 'em open to upgrade it all looks like normal hardware to me.
I don't see why it has to be such an expensive project - does it?
Any help appreciated.
JF
The proposed PC will replace an ageing Twin P3 Xeon Data General Server which performs the following tasks:
1. File & Print Server to a suite of Mac workstations and a couple of office Windows PCs.
2. Provide connection to a 120GB Raid array via SCSI Diff card.
3. Accept and process postscript/pdf files via specialist software I already have.
The priorities for the new PC would be:
1. processing power to eat up huge (up to 100mb) incoming files all day and be hungry for more.
2. ability to shift that data across the network (gigabit uplink to managed switch, 100base from there on to receiving platforms)
Would I have to choose different hardware than if I was building myself a PC? In other words are there special requirements for constructing a Server machine in terms of Motherboard, FSB, RAM etc?
Forgive my ignorance - I have always bought in packaged Servers previously, and to be frank I'm sick of paying exorbitant prices for them when every time I crack 'em open to upgrade it all looks like normal hardware to me.
I don't see why it has to be such an expensive project - does it?
Any help appreciated.
JF