New server

How many users, Will you be using SharePoint very much?

15, no Sharepoint on this particular server

Give me a budget I will give you my recommendations. This is what I do for a living remember I am not selling you anything so it is ok to give me your budget. Once I get the config you can then shop it out.

Hi, Rick about budget its ok let me know your list (your recommendation for 10-15 users support). please exclude tape drive

You could add a second CPU and you would need to add SBS to it. The second CPU would be nice but by no means a Must have.

So that cart did not include the OS?

Thanks Chirs & Rick. I think 12GB RAM should be enough, not using SQL/Sharepoints etc
And, dedicated RAID controller is defintely better option, could you please provide more info on setting up the raid on hard drives. I have never setup 2 different raids on same server, can i do this simply using the raid management tools or from BIOS ? could you please add more info on this, thanks

I would not setup 2 raids but this is just a difference of option. But if you wanted to you would need to order 2 more drives 146GB drives would work fine. It is done in the raid config as you are booting up. You would select the drives you want to add to the array and select the raid level and then commit the changes.

so what's the best settings for storage, RAID? please let me know how many drives and settings, do i really need to create 2 raid for os and data?

You do not have to create 2 it is a preference. Raid one 2 Drives Raid 5 3 drives or more.

ok may be 3 drives with RAID 5
if i go more than 3 drives then what's the best?
On CALs, do i need to enter the key on SBS server like on SBS 2003 or keys are just for ref

It all depends on if you are using SATA or SAS drive. With most raid controllers for SCSI or SAS the more spindles the more throughput. So 6 drives will be faster that 3 everything else being equal. SATA is not normally like that but they are making changes all the time.

Not sure about the CALs

CALs are just paper.
Regarding 2 raids, 1 for OS, 1 for Data
If you do this and OS goes kaput...you're data is completely intact...you just have to restore the one area

A single Raid 5 and a controller craps...you have a lot more work ahead

thanks Chris, i've never setup 2 raids, as mentioned above i should be able to create 2 raids via raid config during start up?
"I would suggest a smaller Raid 1 for the  OS, and then a seperate RAID 1 with 1TB drives."
-but using raid 1 i am going to loose data when 1 drive fails, isn't it? at least with 3 drives on raid 5 if 1 fails i can have all data there and i can just replace faulty drive.
SATA or SAS? which to select
please suggest me thanks

No they both are redundant. The difference is with Raid 1 you are limited to 2 drives with raid 5 you can have many. You should also be able to add a hot spare if you want to leave a extra drive for each array idle.

By the way I just want to be clear there is nothing wrong with joyjohn way of doing it. It has it benefits for sure. It just cost more up front.

Raid 1 = Mirroring  - Two drives  (Appears as 1 drive in Windows Explorer)  What ever is written to one drive is written to the other.   1 drive fails, you break the mirror, replace the faulty drive and rebuild the mirror.

Raid 5 = 3 or more drives...1 drive fails you replace it (could be a hot spare) and the raid rebuilts

Everyone you talk to will have different ideas on "what's best".

Some people consider SATA drives to be consumer Grade   I've had good luck
SAS is definitely business class and more expensive

I agree with this. If you can afford it SAS is the way to go. If you buy HP there are different grades of SAS some are Enterprise some are Mid Line. The Enterprise are the better drives.

thanks guys, it really helps me to gather all the hardware.