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server build help

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Hi guys im wanting to do a server build rack at my house.

it will be used to backup 2 small businesses. does anyone suggest where i start? never had a dedicated server before
 

Kreij

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Can you give us a little more information?

If it's just to store files for backup it doesn't matter what you have as long as there is sufficient disk space. You could use a couple of USB hard drives for that.
 

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Well, first of all, I would point out that's it's impossible to realize/appreciate just how loud a rackmount server is until you get one in your house. Secondly, you don't need all that for such. You could build an Atom combo rig with a NAS or just a ton of storage or buy something like an HP Microserver.

Though if you really wanna go rackmount maybe can find one used or buy a Super Micro case w/ PSU and board.
 

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Benchmark Scores I dont have time for that.
at least dual core 4 gb ram good network

4 2tb drives

acronis from newegg

decent skill at making directory trees


bam server
 
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Can you give us a little more information?

If it's just to store files for backup it doesn't matter what you have as long as there is sufficient disk space. You could use a couple of USB hard drives for that.

i want to do an all in one thing, i don't think it will take up that much storage maybe 10tb+, the problem is i want this to be located at my house and the 2 business locations will backup to it.

business 1: 3 desktop computers that need backed up daily, plus 12 ip cameras

business 2: 2 desktops computers that need backed up daily, plus 10 ip cameras

home use: 1,000 dvd isos plus backing up all the computers too.
 

Kreij

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4 2tb drives

All the data from the last 15 years of our small business (about 50 employees) fits in under 200GB and I back it up on pocket sized 500GB USB hard drives.

Oh ... 1000 dvds lol nevermind

Assuming you are going to be backing up data and not everything (executables, OS, etc) the computers should not use much.
I would also think that the camera data is going to be for a current period and not forever kind of thing?
 

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Well, first of all, I would point out that's it's impossible to realize/appreciate just how loud a rackmount server is until you get one in your house. Secondly, you don't need all that for such. You could build an Atom combo rig with a NAS or just a ton of storage or buy something like an HP Microserver.

Though if you really wanna go rackmount maybe can find one used or buy a Super Micro case w/ PSU and board.

I can second this. Being a lab engineer at Microsoft and in labs every day. We wear ear plugs while in them haha! When you don't its almost unbearable. Given theres over 50 machines per lab, but still.
 
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All the data from the last 15 years of our small business (about 50 employees) fits in under 200GB and I back it up on pocket sized 500GB USB hard drives.

Oh ... 1000 dvds lol nevermind

Assuming you are going to be backing up data and not everything (executables, OS, etc) the computers should not use much.
I would also think that the camera data is going to be for a current period and not forever kind of thing?

yea the cameras will store for 30 days. The cameras will take up alot since they're HD. The movies are around 7gb
 

Kreij

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Is the camera data stored and then transferred or will it be streamed directly to the server?
 
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Is the camera data stored and then transferred or will it be streamed directly to the server?

id want to have it stored directly.

i have all the cameras being delivered this week and will install them as i have time to
 

Kreij

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Will the cameras be sending data over the internet to the server?

Sorry for all the questions but it's the only way to get a good idea of what you are trying to accomplish. :)
 
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Will the cameras be sending data over the internet to the server?

Sorry for all the questions but it's the only way to get a good idea of what you are trying to accomplish. :)
no worries im overwhelmed anyway lol.

i want the cameras to backup to the server over the internet as they record. I want to place the server at my house, to backup both business locations and my house stuff, i want it centralized pretty much.
 

Kreij

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Well to backup all the data all you need is lots of HDD space.
What is the bandwidth requirement for the cameras? Will your internet connection handle all those cameras (24/7 I assume) AND the backup data transfers at the same time?

For storage I would make 3 RAID1 arrays.
One for the computer data, one for the DVDs and one for the camera data.
If you lose a HDD RAID1 will hold it up while you replace a disk.

If the camera data is more than a single large HDD can hold, go with RAID5 or 10 as needed.

Interesting project !! :toast:
 
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Well to backup all the data all you need is lots of HDD space.
What is the bandwidth requirement for the cameras? Will your internet connection handle all those cameras (24/7 I assume) AND the backup data transfers at the same time?

For storage I would make 3 RAID1 arrays.
One for the computer data, one for the DVDs and one for the camera data.
If you lose a HDD RAID1 will hold it up while you replace a disk.

If the camera data is more than a single large HDD can hold, go with RAID5 or 10 as needed.

Interesting project !! :toast:

will be awesome when its done, my problem is i've never had a server before or built one. That is one thing that I need major with help. If you could point me in a direction to get going on that.

I'm assuming just use whs? pick out parts like im building a computer but use server parts is that it or am i way off?
 

Kreij

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If it's going to be a stand-alone machine you don't need a server OS, you just need somewhere to send the data.
The hardware, other than redundancy, is not real critical either as even low-end, low power components will easily manage backups.
My only concern is do you have the bandwidth at home to handle the incoming data?
 
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You won't need a "server", but a computer with many sata plugs and a case with many slots. I would get many of these drives.
Computers 2TBx2
Cameras 2TBx4
ISOs 2TBx4
something like this should work, will want a raid
Western Digital Red WD20EFRX 2TB IntelliPower 64MB...
 
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If it's going to be a stand-alone machine you don't need a server OS, you just need somewhere to send the data.
The hardware, other than redundancy, is not real critical either as even low-end, low power components will easily manage backups.
My only concern is do you have the bandwidth at home to handle the incoming data?

we have comcast business at each location at home i get 24 download 4 upload
 

Kreij

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Do you have any download limitations? Like a data cap?
 
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Do you have any download limitations? Like a data cap?

i think 250gb, i will have to upgrade to comcast business at home which i believe is 0 data cap
 

Kreij

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250GB/month is not a lot if you are going to do daily backups, but that can be mitigated if you manage the backups right (only backup what's new or has been changed).
The cameras are a different story. Do you have any idea on what kind of data size you would be looking at on a daily basis?

Gotta go, Sean. Be back later to check to see what's up with this thread.
 
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I have a PC setup as a CCTV server and the 5 work PCs backup to it (in a separate HDD). Every weekend I take an external HDD and copy the backup and then I copy that to my home server. The backup takes about 10GB and we have been operating for 4 years. Heck, most of those 10GB are catalog photos, our main work database weights 15MB and the accounting DB takes about 150MB. Also each PC has a 16GB USB stick that serves as a secondary backup (I have an xcopy batch file set to copy all the work directories at logon).

I'd say taking back and fort a large USB stick might be a better option.


EDIT: NVM, didn't read that you need to backup the camera data. I think that bandwidth and infrastructure might be your biggest problems. A trip to the store will get you a server (which is just a PC after all) but it won't solve the issue about setting a VPN and the setup needed to backup automatically (it'd be a PITA to do that manually I'd say).
 
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A trip to the store will get you a server (which is just a PC after all) but it won't solve the issue about setting a VPN and the setup needed to backup automatically (it'd be a PITA to do that manually I'd say).

Agree 100% Your probably going to want to set up a company domain and have the systems back up automatically.
 
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