Choosing the right server software? (Help)

[twicksisted]

My requirements are:

1.) Data storage (Raid 1 or 5 array)
2.) Database hosting to my local network/internet
3.) Streaming data to devices on my local network (HD video, audio etc...)
4.) Hosting webpages
5.) Hosting gaming server/s


My questions are:

1.) What operating system should I choose?
2.) Do I need a static IP or can I use dynamic DNS?
2.1.) Will Dynamic DNS work when hosting a game server?

This information will help me choose the right config for a build I intend on doing in the next couple of months. I currently do not need this server as my data is stored locally on a raid 1 array and the database is very small though I do intend to build a server at a later stage and the cost of the operating system will greatly affect what components I choose to build with.

 

[Easy Rhino]

My requirements are:

1.) Data storage (Raid 1 or 5 array)
2.) Database hosting to my local network/internet
3.) Streaming data to devices on my local network (HD video, audio etc...)
4.) Hosting webpages
5.) Hosting gaming server/s


My questions are:

1.) What operating system should I choose?
2.) Do I need a static IP or can I use dynamic DNS?
2.1.) Will Dynamic DNS work when hosting a game server?

This information will help me choose the right config for a build I intend on doing in the next couple of months. I currently do not need this server as my data is stored locally on a raid 1 array and the database is very small though I do intend to build a server at a later stage and the cost of the operating system will greatly affect what components I choose to build with.

well you will only hear 'linux' from me. however if you use something like ps3media server it currently works better on windows server 2008.

i use dyndns which is fine in most cases for gaming. it depends on the game really.

 

[digibucc]

it really depends on which OS you use regularly/already know.

if you've got years on windows it will most likely be easier to continue using it. however if you
don't mind a bit of work, linux is definitely the most flexible (whereas windows has more pre-configured software)

as far as static/dynamic, i would do dynamic as it is generally cheaper. then just sign up for
a free dyndns service, like dyndns.org , and there's your static address accessible from the internet that will work with a game server as well.

note though there is more than one ip , there is your local ip and then your networked (internet) ip. local is for example (192.168.1.1) and you will want that static.
the router/internet/networked ip will depend on your isp/location, and that is the one you can use dyndns with to make static (if it's not already).

 

[FordGT90Concept]

5.) Hosting gaming server/s

Windows. If you want Active Directory, Windows Server.

1.) Data storage (Raid 1 or 5 array)
2.) Database hosting to my local network/internet
3.) Streaming data to devices on my local network (HD video, audio etc...)
4.) Hosting webpages

1) Should be done on the hardware level which depends entirely on your hardware.
2) Any OS can do that but it mostly depends on what database software you are most familiar with/want to use. Options for MS SQL, for example, are more limited than MySQL.
3) Any OS can handle network shares. Active Directory has the added advantage of tying user accounts to everything but that's a huge price to pay for a small feature.
4) Any OS can do that. Windows has IIS, everything has Apache.

2.) Do I need a static IP or can I use dynamic DNS?
2.1.) Will Dynamic DNS work when hosting a game server?

My server has a static IP address behind my router but my internet IP address frequently changes. I use a dyndns.com free account and run software on my server which updates dyndns every ~12-13 minutes if an update is necessary.

Dynamic IP addresses won't work for critical situations but in my case, the downtime is minimal.

 

[Easy Rhino]

couple of notes, linux has THE best software raid available. highly robust and just as quick as the fake raid included in the bios of modern motherboards. (remember even with the raid on the motherboard the cpu is still doing the processing of the drives so you might as well go with real raid software.)

my router has a dynamic ip function which hooks into dyndns and others. so if my wan ip changes it alerts dyndns and updates it automatically. zero downtime on that end.

 

[ChristTheGreat]

couple of notes, linux has THE best software raid available. highly robust and just as quick as the fake raid included in the bios of modern motherboards. (remember even with the raid on the motherboard the cpu is still doing the processing of the drives so you might as well go with real raid software.)

my router has a dynamic ip function which hooks into dyndns and others. so if my wan ip changes it alerts dyndns and updates it automatically. zero downtime on that end.

You mean real hardware, since RAID software use more CPU than RAID semi-hardware (chipset)... RAID hardware is a card like adaptec which has her own memory.. these card doesn't need to use the CPU.

The hardware card are expensive, that's why I think the best is to you the semi-hardware RAID, motherboard..

For the server, a wuad would be good, 8 to 16gb of ram, since you will do some database, web, gaming server...

Normally, for database, RAID1 is highly recommanded. Why? RAID55 has poor writing performance vs RAID1 due to Parity calculation. If the database won't be that much accessed, go with raid 5 + hotspair (3* x_Size will be 2/3 total size and 1 disk as spair, since it's mroe secure.. or get an external backup)

If you run raid 5, I Also highly recommand good drive, or Raid drive... WD Black or RE4, do not use Green drive, as since they can be idling, they can be kicked out or the raid.. RE4 has the TLER, Black not, but they are some kinda of solid hard drive

 

[twicksisted]

Windows. If you want Active Directory, Windows Server.


1) Should be done on the hardware level which depends entirely on your hardware.
2) Any OS can do that but it mostly depends on what database software you are most familiar with/want to use. Opens for MS SQL, for example, are more limited than MySQL.
3) Any OS can handle network shares. Active Directory has the added advantage of tying user accounts to everything but that's a huge price to pay for a small feature.
4) Any OS can do that. Windows has IIS, everything has Apache.



My server has a static IP address behind my router but my internet IP address frequently changes. I use a dyndns.com free account and run software on my server which updates dyndns every ~12-13 minutes if an update is necessary.

Dynamic IP addresses won't work for critical situations but in my case, the downtime is minimal.

Thanks for answering all my Q's

What version of the Windows server software will allow me to do all of these things I mentioned? Im looking for the cheapest option.
There seem to be lots of different Windows serever packages available... SBS, home, R2 etc...

 

[kciaccio]

Originally Posted by twicksisted
5.) Hosting gaming server/s
Windows. If you want Active Directory, Windows Server.

Unraid has active directory and it is linux.
http://lime-technology.com/products/registration-keys

 

[newtekie1]

The question I have to ask is do you want to run multiple websites off the server, or just a single website with multiple pages?

Everything you listed can be done with Win7 Pro, which is a major savings over Server 2008 R2 Standard(unless you have a technet account).

And if a minute or two of downtime doesn't bother you, then a dynamic IP with no-ip.com or something similar would work just fine(that is what my minecraft and terraria server runs on). Really the IP only changed with most connections if the connection goes down and comes back up, like a power outage, and after the connection comes back up a service like no-ip only takes ~5 minutes to pick up the new IP and update the address. I have the no-ip client set to refresh the ip address every 5 minutes, so the maximum it will be down is 5 minutes.

Normally, for database, RAID1 is highly recommanded. Why? RAID55 has poor writing performance vs RAID1 due to Parity calculation.

I'm sure that used to be true, but it isn't anymore. With my relatively inexpensive HighPoint controller, my RAID5 array's write speed maxes out the gigabit connection. RAID1 might still be faster, but having higher write speeds than that with data that will only be accessed over the network isn't really important.

 

[Easy Rhino]

You mean real hardware, since RAID software use more CPU than RAID semi-hardware (chipset)... RAID hardware is a card like adaptec which has her own memory.. these card doesn't need to use the CPU.

i have found that very good software raid is faster than most of the crap included on motherboards.

 

[r9]

I would go with Linux Ubuntu/CentOS. Both have a lot tutorials available on the net. I`m using Ubuntu server for backup over network and Samba/FTP server for two years now.

 

[Easy Rhino]

I would go with Linux Ubuntu/CentOS. Both have a lot tutorials available on the net. I`m using Ubuntu server for backup over network and Samba/FTP server for two years now.

off topic: you using rsync ?

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Thanks for answering all my Q's

What version of the Windows server software will allow me to do all of these things I mentioned? Im looking for the cheapest option.
There seem to be lots of different Windows serever packages available... SBS, home, R2 etc...

If you don't have need of Active Directory, Windows 7 Professional. If you do, Windows Server 2008 R2.

 

[twicksisted]

If you don't have need of Active Directory, Windows 7 Professional. If you do, Windows Server 2008 R2.

aaah really... nice i thought id need server software but i guess ill stick with what i know (windows 7 pro)... cant see any reason why i couldnt use it as storage, hosting etc

now to plan my rig build!!! still have to wait a month or two though as i need to make some capitol before i spend more on this