bill2013
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Cloud server or in house 2012 server?
Hi, a clients server has reached it's end of life and I am replacing this over the Christmas period while they are closed.
The current set up which has worked perfectly for the last seven years is a Fujitsu TX entry level server running SBS 2008 serving to 7 Windows 7 Pro PCs and 3 iMacs.
Two users and I, connect remotely to their PCs and me to the server.
A certificate allows them to connect their iPhone 6 mobiles and iPads to collect their mail.
I am looking to provide them with a slightly more powerful server from the same range with Windows 2012 Essentials and we are currently showing them the costings for Office 365 verses Exchange 2016/Office 2016.
We have to look at a Cloud server as well and this is something I have no experience of and need help and advice.
This client suffer a power outage once every three weeks and lose the Internet but at least they still have access to their in house server and can continue to work until the Internet comes back online.
If we assume this problem could be resolved, what would be the actual cost to them of a cloud server? What are the pros and cons of a cloud server? What would I need to do? Are cloud servers totally manageable by companies without outside support - like me?
I appreciate cloud servers will be the future for SMBs, but not quite yet - or am I wrong?
Please advise.
Thanks,
Bill
The current set up which has worked perfectly for the last seven years is a Fujitsu TX entry level server running SBS 2008 serving to 7 Windows 7 Pro PCs and 3 iMacs.
Two users and I, connect remotely to their PCs and me to the server.
A certificate allows them to connect their iPhone 6 mobiles and iPads to collect their mail.
I am looking to provide them with a slightly more powerful server from the same range with Windows 2012 Essentials and we are currently showing them the costings for Office 365 verses Exchange 2016/Office 2016.
We have to look at a Cloud server as well and this is something I have no experience of and need help and advice.
This client suffer a power outage once every three weeks and lose the Internet but at least they still have access to their in house server and can continue to work until the Internet comes back online.
If we assume this problem could be resolved, what would be the actual cost to them of a cloud server? What are the pros and cons of a cloud server? What would I need to do? Are cloud servers totally manageable by companies without outside support - like me?
I appreciate cloud servers will be the future for SMBs, but not quite yet - or am I wrong?
Please advise.
Thanks,
Bill
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about the price obviously in your case as u have less users it'll be cheaper... it's pay for what u use...
the thing is you no need to purchase any hardware, nor software, no maintenance issues, no power issues, no cooling issues but it need stable connectivity of internet.
and if you have any third party in house developed application then you have to host that app on cloud host, in this manners you need separate services for all etc.
for pricing please check the link
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/pricing/details/active-directory/
about the " cloud is they use two applications that need access to large files on the server by all users " i don't understand it...
any how the thing is in large organisations they are hosting their domain in on premises and they will host the another Read Only Domain controller of same domain on cloud (Azure) this will help them the Single Sign on, while they are using office 365 along with it.
in other scenarios : this one you could try... so it'll be single sign on.
Create separate AD forests in the cloud and on-premises, then connect the forests using cross-forest trusts or Windows Server Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS), which can also run in virtual machines on Azure.
all the best
the thing is you no need to purchase any hardware, nor software, no maintenance issues, no power issues, no cooling issues but it need stable connectivity of internet.
and if you have any third party in house developed application then you have to host that app on cloud host, in this manners you need separate services for all etc.
for pricing please check the link
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/pricing/details/active-directory/
about the " cloud is they use two applications that need access to large files on the server by all users " i don't understand it...
any how the thing is in large organisations they are hosting their domain in on premises and they will host the another Read Only Domain controller of same domain on cloud (Azure) this will help them the Single Sign on, while they are using office 365 along with it.
in other scenarios : this one you could try... so it'll be single sign on.
Create separate AD forests in the cloud and on-premises, then connect the forests using cross-forest trusts or Windows Server Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS), which can also run in virtual machines on Azure.
all the best
The biggest issue with an all-cloud environment is that access to daily documents can be slower that an in-house server.
Backup of large document stores is another issue.
All my clients have Hosted Exchange (and, yes, email is sometime slow as a result) and In-House main servers for AD, DHCP and DNS. This seems to be a good compromise. The servers have large tape drives that can do overnight backups without issue.
In terms of your observation: "Sometime but not yet" is the way I feel. Standard communication lines are not fast enough at a low price for my clients. VPN access (for security) slows things down. Faster lines with MPLS may fix this, but where I am, the cost needs to come down.
Also, get Server Standard, NOT Essentials. Server Essentials is broadly like Windows Home: Crippled.
Backup of large document stores is another issue.
All my clients have Hosted Exchange (and, yes, email is sometime slow as a result) and In-House main servers for AD, DHCP and DNS. This seems to be a good compromise. The servers have large tape drives that can do overnight backups without issue.
In terms of your observation: "Sometime but not yet" is the way I feel. Standard communication lines are not fast enough at a low price for my clients. VPN access (for security) slows things down. Faster lines with MPLS may fix this, but where I am, the cost needs to come down.
Also, get Server Standard, NOT Essentials. Server Essentials is broadly like Windows Home: Crippled.
ASKER
Thanks for the advice on not getting Essentials John,
Server Essentials+CALs:
$550+0
Server Standard+CALs:
$800+$380
I don't see how we can answer this for you effectively without seeing the business.
You know the business... you know if they have apps that can't be run on the cloud... Databases, if they have security concerns about their data. Cost? If you know Essentials - or are willing to learn it properly it may be PERFECT! Or NOT - if you want Exchange then you need Windows CALs anyway and a server license so a Windows Standard license will be required and when you virtualize, it's all covered under one.
Will cloud be cheaper? Maybe... I don't know. YOU have to do the math! Open Excel and start putting in numbers. Don't forget to include EXPECTED maintenance costs. Don't believe the hype that says running in the cloud means you don't do maintenance... you absolutely do, connecting and ensuring things keep working. And what about your internet connectivity? As you point out, power failures and internet failures can be frequent occurrences... is it acceptable that during such failures most work involving the computers likely STOPS COMPLETELY or would be better to still have the ability to work at the office if remote was offline? Or can EVERYONE work at home so maybe they don't need an office anymore?
Which is cheaper? Who knows without properly doing the math. cloud has implications for other aspects of the business that can INCREASE it's value or DECREASE it's value and only an analysis of the business will guide you through in determining which is the case for you!
$550+0
Server Standard+CALs:
$800+$380
I don't see how we can answer this for you effectively without seeing the business.
You know the business... you know if they have apps that can't be run on the cloud... Databases, if they have security concerns about their data. Cost? If you know Essentials - or are willing to learn it properly it may be PERFECT! Or NOT - if you want Exchange then you need Windows CALs anyway and a server license so a Windows Standard license will be required and when you virtualize, it's all covered under one.
Will cloud be cheaper? Maybe... I don't know. YOU have to do the math! Open Excel and start putting in numbers. Don't forget to include EXPECTED maintenance costs. Don't believe the hype that says running in the cloud means you don't do maintenance... you absolutely do, connecting and ensuring things keep working. And what about your internet connectivity? As you point out, power failures and internet failures can be frequent occurrences... is it acceptable that during such failures most work involving the computers likely STOPS COMPLETELY or would be better to still have the ability to work at the office if remote was offline? Or can EVERYONE work at home so maybe they don't need an office anymore?
Which is cheaper? Who knows without properly doing the math. cloud has implications for other aspects of the business that can INCREASE it's value or DECREASE it's value and only an analysis of the business will guide you through in determining which is the case for you!
ASKER
Sorry each time I type a reply forum crashes on my laptop so very quick answer.
This client uses Sage Accounting and a CRM, plus the power outages make Cloud a non starter.
This client uses Sage Accounting and a CRM, plus the power outages make Cloud a non starter.
ASKER
Going with Server 2012 (checking which version will be best for them) + Office 365.
Have peer to peer clients who maybe suitable for cloud in future. How is price calculated - is it storage + number of users per month or some complex algorithm?
Have peer to peer clients who maybe suitable for cloud in future. How is price calculated - is it storage + number of users per month or some complex algorithm?
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ASKER
Thanks for your helpful advice
You are very welcome and I was happy to help.
ASKER
What is the cost of cloud computing? I am trying to use it as an additional back up to my argument.
I believe people think cloud servers are cheaper than they actually are.
The other problems with cloud is they use two applications that need access to large files on the server by all users.