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Can I do it this way?

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by tink!

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I am looking at replacing our current network with all new machines. It consists of 1 Server and 6 clients (5 logged in at a time)
In regards to the Server. It is currently an HP Netserver E50. All it does is control the network domain access (Microsoft BackOffice SBS Server v4.0), 2 print servers and backup the shared drive.
My question is do I have to use a machine that is specifically labeled "Server". Or can I use a desktop CPU with 512MB Ram, 80GB HD and a 2.4Ghz processor? (Current system has 160MB Ram, 8GB HD, and 333Mhz Processor)

3 replies

by choppit

There's no technical reason why you can't use a desktop system as a server provided that it meets the OS requirements. Whether it's a good idea to do this (probably not) will depend on your circumstances.Servers are usually labelled as such because their design emphasis is on stability and performance.

by toreador

I have used workstations for servers on many occasions. I built a lab for a company out of retired workstations that consisted of 12 web servers, 2 SQL boxes and an EDI box. They were not high speed beasts but they did the trick. I would suggest that you get a good high-end workstation if its job is going to be DC, DHCP, DNS, etc.

by tink!

thanks for your replies. Turns out that it's actually cheaper to get the server with the SBS pre-installed, rather than get a workstation and install SBS. So I think we're going to go with a server.
Thanks so much for your input!!
Tink

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