I am preparing (another) project to upgrade our network. We have
had some changes in our company so I have new specs to work with,
plus keep v 8.0 requirements in mind. I believe when we upgrade we
will go to v 6.1 for now (tons of RB reports!)
I would like to run it past you guys because you are so great to
share your experience and ideas.
Current:
-NT4 server, 500 mhz, dual processor, 512 mb RAM
-Vantage v 5.00.329, 4+ GB
-(1) 24 port 10/100 hub in shop area, (1)12 port 10/100 hub and (1)
24 port 10/100 switch in office area.
-Novell5.1 (new last year) for all Engineering & user files
-Linux mail server (new last year)
-(3) Laser shop machines,NT opsys,accesses files on Novell
-(21 office users) HPmodel D220,XPpro,2.0+ MHz,512mbRAM
-(15 shop users) 120MHz-500Mhz, 32-128 mbRAM, (2) use full Vantage
and Turret&Laser software to download files from the Novell server,
and (13) use Data Collection. All will need Adobe Acrobat to view
PDF files of prints currently being scanned for Document
Mangagement.
Plan: Replace NT4 server with Win 2003 server for Vantage
application server, add terminal server for (15) shop workstations.
Replace 10/100 12 port hub and 24 port switch in the office area
with (2) 10/100/1000 switches (backbone, all servers will have GHz
NICs), moving old hub and switch to the shop area - making switch
primary usage. If (2) 10/100/1000 switches are not approved, will
shoot for (2)new 10/100 switches with same idea in mind (difference
for (2) = $2800). Upgrade Vantage v 6.1 ASAP, then to v 8.0 in 1+
years. As old shop workstations fail and run out of replacements,
considering using thin clients (no idea what best specs are for
those). I already have monitors and UPS's (APC 1500 smart UPS).
New application server specs: HP Proliant Ml370 G4 Xeon 3.4 Ghz,
1mb cache, 1gb RAM + add 1gb RAM = 2gb RAM (max 16 GB RAM), 1 proc +
add 1 proc = 2 processors (max 2 processors), Smart Array 6402 ctrl
128mb 2ch U320 Ddr, (4) 72.8 gb hd hotplug 10k rpm, RAID 1/0, Backup
drive & tapes w/ Veritas software, MS Open Win Svr 2003 Std, 40 user
cals.
Option 1 New terminal server specs: HP Proliant Ml370 G4 Xeon 3.4
Ghz, 1mb cache, 1gb RAM + add 1gb RAM = 2gb RAM (max 16 GB RAM), 1
proc + add 1 proc = 2 processors (max 2 processors), (3) 72.8 gb hd
hotplug 10k rpm, RAID 5, MS Open Term Svr 2003 Std, 20 user cals.
Option 2 New terminal server specs: HP Proliant Ml350 G4 Xeon 3.2
Ghz, 1mb cache, 512mb RAM + add 512mb + 1gb RAM = 2gb RAM (max 8 GB
RAM), 1 proc + add 1 proc = 2 processors (max 2 processors), (3)
72.8 gb hd hotplug 10k rpm, RAID 5, MS Open Term Svr 2003 Std, 20
user cals.
Difference: Terminal server Option 1 is $1400 more than Option 2,
has a slightly faster processor, max RAM twice as much as option 2,
in far future the servers will have interchangable parts which will
possibly keep one of them on line longer. This company uses
computer equipment until it is exhausted and new purchases are few
and far between so it is very important that I get what will last
for a very long time.
Some questions: I believe I will hear recommendation to increase
the RAM on the App and/or Term servers. Is there a formula to
use?? I would rather have 'a little too much' than 'a little too
little'. Will the max of 2 processors and 8-16 MB RAM on these
servers limit me too much? If we need to bring in a new app server
in years to come (it better be 'many' years!), what I have in mind
is to turn the app server into a second term server. Do you believe
the benifits of Option 1 to Option 2 Terminal srvr is worth $1400?
Do you believe the increase in speed using the 10/100/1000 switches
for the backbone will be worth $2800 more than the 10/100? Current
topology is fiber between the office and shop hubs. All shop
cabling is cat5/cat5e STP, all office is UTP. The reason I want a
total of 48 switch ports in the office area is due to many offices
are cabled but not consistenly used. I would rather not have to
move patch cables as needed like a old telephone operator:) Any
reason to have a Smart Array controller on the Term server? Please
give any advise you would like!
Thanks to all who give input here and to all who have helped in the
past!!
Ann Rohyans
AMFAB
574-264-4431
amfab@...
had some changes in our company so I have new specs to work with,
plus keep v 8.0 requirements in mind. I believe when we upgrade we
will go to v 6.1 for now (tons of RB reports!)
I would like to run it past you guys because you are so great to
share your experience and ideas.
Current:
-NT4 server, 500 mhz, dual processor, 512 mb RAM
-Vantage v 5.00.329, 4+ GB
-(1) 24 port 10/100 hub in shop area, (1)12 port 10/100 hub and (1)
24 port 10/100 switch in office area.
-Novell5.1 (new last year) for all Engineering & user files
-Linux mail server (new last year)
-(3) Laser shop machines,NT opsys,accesses files on Novell
-(21 office users) HPmodel D220,XPpro,2.0+ MHz,512mbRAM
-(15 shop users) 120MHz-500Mhz, 32-128 mbRAM, (2) use full Vantage
and Turret&Laser software to download files from the Novell server,
and (13) use Data Collection. All will need Adobe Acrobat to view
PDF files of prints currently being scanned for Document
Mangagement.
Plan: Replace NT4 server with Win 2003 server for Vantage
application server, add terminal server for (15) shop workstations.
Replace 10/100 12 port hub and 24 port switch in the office area
with (2) 10/100/1000 switches (backbone, all servers will have GHz
NICs), moving old hub and switch to the shop area - making switch
primary usage. If (2) 10/100/1000 switches are not approved, will
shoot for (2)new 10/100 switches with same idea in mind (difference
for (2) = $2800). Upgrade Vantage v 6.1 ASAP, then to v 8.0 in 1+
years. As old shop workstations fail and run out of replacements,
considering using thin clients (no idea what best specs are for
those). I already have monitors and UPS's (APC 1500 smart UPS).
New application server specs: HP Proliant Ml370 G4 Xeon 3.4 Ghz,
1mb cache, 1gb RAM + add 1gb RAM = 2gb RAM (max 16 GB RAM), 1 proc +
add 1 proc = 2 processors (max 2 processors), Smart Array 6402 ctrl
128mb 2ch U320 Ddr, (4) 72.8 gb hd hotplug 10k rpm, RAID 1/0, Backup
drive & tapes w/ Veritas software, MS Open Win Svr 2003 Std, 40 user
cals.
Option 1 New terminal server specs: HP Proliant Ml370 G4 Xeon 3.4
Ghz, 1mb cache, 1gb RAM + add 1gb RAM = 2gb RAM (max 16 GB RAM), 1
proc + add 1 proc = 2 processors (max 2 processors), (3) 72.8 gb hd
hotplug 10k rpm, RAID 5, MS Open Term Svr 2003 Std, 20 user cals.
Option 2 New terminal server specs: HP Proliant Ml350 G4 Xeon 3.2
Ghz, 1mb cache, 512mb RAM + add 512mb + 1gb RAM = 2gb RAM (max 8 GB
RAM), 1 proc + add 1 proc = 2 processors (max 2 processors), (3)
72.8 gb hd hotplug 10k rpm, RAID 5, MS Open Term Svr 2003 Std, 20
user cals.
Difference: Terminal server Option 1 is $1400 more than Option 2,
has a slightly faster processor, max RAM twice as much as option 2,
in far future the servers will have interchangable parts which will
possibly keep one of them on line longer. This company uses
computer equipment until it is exhausted and new purchases are few
and far between so it is very important that I get what will last
for a very long time.
Some questions: I believe I will hear recommendation to increase
the RAM on the App and/or Term servers. Is there a formula to
use?? I would rather have 'a little too much' than 'a little too
little'. Will the max of 2 processors and 8-16 MB RAM on these
servers limit me too much? If we need to bring in a new app server
in years to come (it better be 'many' years!), what I have in mind
is to turn the app server into a second term server. Do you believe
the benifits of Option 1 to Option 2 Terminal srvr is worth $1400?
Do you believe the increase in speed using the 10/100/1000 switches
for the backbone will be worth $2800 more than the 10/100? Current
topology is fiber between the office and shop hubs. All shop
cabling is cat5/cat5e STP, all office is UTP. The reason I want a
total of 48 switch ports in the office area is due to many offices
are cabled but not consistenly used. I would rather not have to
move patch cables as needed like a old telephone operator:) Any
reason to have a Smart Array controller on the Term server? Please
give any advise you would like!
Thanks to all who give input here and to all who have helped in the
past!!
Ann Rohyans
AMFAB
574-264-4431
amfab@...