rookie_b
asked on
Pc lab setup advice needed
Hello,
I need to set up a small lab - 1 server and 20 pcs and have some questions about hardware and licensing. Here are the requirements:
20 PCs running Windows 7 Pro x86 (for domain membership) and some client software;
20 concurrent connections to server
1 server running Windows Server OS and some server applications
file and printer sharing
domain setup (I am guessing, since more than 10 pcs)
1 generic user account
What Server edition should I choose? Will Foundation 2008 do?
What CAL count and type? What are the implications if there are 20 separate AD user accounts (will I need more CALs than if using 1 generic account on 20 PCs)
I am thinking about a second server for redundancy. Are there more appropriate redundancy options (NAS, RAID 0/5, etc)?
I am thinking about sourcing everything from Dell because of hassle free NBD warranty parts replacement service, although it does come at a premium.
THANK YOU!
I need to set up a small lab - 1 server and 20 pcs and have some questions about hardware and licensing. Here are the requirements:
20 PCs running Windows 7 Pro x86 (for domain membership) and some client software;
20 concurrent connections to server
1 server running Windows Server OS and some server applications
file and printer sharing
domain setup (I am guessing, since more than 10 pcs)
1 generic user account
What Server edition should I choose? Will Foundation 2008 do?
What CAL count and type? What are the implications if there are 20 separate AD user accounts (will I need more CALs than if using 1 generic account on 20 PCs)
I am thinking about a second server for redundancy. Are there more appropriate redundancy options (NAS, RAID 0/5, etc)?
I am thinking about sourcing everything from Dell because of hassle free NBD warranty parts replacement service, although it does come at a premium.
THANK YOU!
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Dell is a always my choice as their service is good enough, can just go for it, RAID 5 would be more safer as it will have min 3 HD, if 1 HD is down, then another HD will auto take over, will minimize the trouble for you.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Thanks Greg,
Virtualization option seems interesting.
Do you think I might be able to save on licensing if I set up ESXi on both machines, only run 1 virtual server 2008 machine (or up to 4 according to Windows Server licensing on virtual machines), back up snapshots to the second server, which only runs ESXi, and if it fails, I just start the V machine from the snapshot on the second server. Does that make sense? If it does, what would be a recommended frequency (between once a day and once every 5 minutes) that would not affect performance (if it affects it at all)
Since the server will run server applications and not just data, is there a better replication solution that would go beyond AD and also replicate actual applications/services and data, and would kick in if the 1st server goes down?
Thanks!
Virtualization option seems interesting.
Do you think I might be able to save on licensing if I set up ESXi on both machines, only run 1 virtual server 2008 machine (or up to 4 according to Windows Server licensing on virtual machines), back up snapshots to the second server, which only runs ESXi, and if it fails, I just start the V machine from the snapshot on the second server. Does that make sense? If it does, what would be a recommended frequency (between once a day and once every 5 minutes) that would not affect performance (if it affects it at all)
Since the server will run server applications and not just data, is there a better replication solution that would go beyond AD and also replicate actual applications/services and data, and would kick in if the 1st server goes down?
Thanks!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Unfortunately,we can't afford failover, within Server 2008 Enterprise/Datacente or third party like Neberfail and everRun. It will be a production environment, not a test lab. I was hoping that if I could keep regular snapshots and just restore to the second server that would do the trick, but if that is not advisable I am stuck.
if you have a second server you can do failover
ASKER
Hi Greg,
This is turning into a different case, and I reaally should have split these from the beginning, so I am starting a new ticket for failover and would greatly appreciate your feedback on setting up failover, if you would have look.
Thank you so much for your input on this one.
Cheers!
This is turning into a different case, and I reaally should have split these from the beginning, so I am starting a new ticket for failover and would greatly appreciate your feedback on setting up failover, if you would have look.
Thank you so much for your input on this one.
Cheers!