How much might it cost to get a windows server machine up and running

[Page]

A slightly idle question based on a chat i had with someone earlier on today but maybe I should consider it more strongly

For work in work - not down the line.

[brownie]

Getting a "basic" Windows server up and running is a simple as getting a PC up and running. However depending upon the hardware configuration (Multi Homed, RAID, external storage, etc.) and applications (Web server, DB, etc.) it can take a lot longer.

So the answer is, how long is a piece of string, you need to be more specific.

[Page]

Well I know nothing about servers at all.

So I suppose I was asking about a full package of advice - purchase - set up - ongoing support - which I assume is needed in some way.

We can do all the normal PC stuff in house but I do think we are in a hurry to start learning server stuff from a standing start

4-6 of us so we may not need one but sometimes you have to be a step ahead on these things.

I know when I briefly looked a chunk of years ago that the impression seemed to be- do not bother with the size set up we had. But things change. Hardware costs will be less - software better and easier to use and set up - own staff time more expensive.

Which is partly why the question came around again

[MartCactus]

the hardware won't cost much for a small office server - we've used old PCs as our office server for years.

Windows Server software itself is relatively pricey, £500 to 600 depending on how you license it.

Its not very tricky to set up if know a little bit about networking (if you have a network already you probably do).

[Jim2k]

Hi Page,

We are just putting a new server in for a client. Its a dell server with windows small business server 2008. Its coming in at about 2.5k with 1 years support from ourselves. If you didn't need sbs2008 ie no exchange server etc it would be cheaperthan that.

Hope that helps.
Jim

[chip_y2kuk]

if need be why don't you use turnkey linux DC for a File/ Authentication server for the windows PC's (means there's no windows server licencing)

With the right hardware it should perform very well (maybe better than windows) even if it does initially take some more time to learn (i think it's web based)

joe

[consultant]

Page,

before diving in to the world of Windows servers, what do you want the server to do?

[brownie]

Before you can have an answer to most important piece of information is still missing.
What do you want or expect the server to do for your business?

Ooops, what Consultant said.

[Page]

Thanks for all the comments.

What will will it do - well not so sure since not so up on servers etc.

It needs to run windows server since it needs to support onenote.

I bought a NAS but it does not work with onenote due to all the stuff that goes on in the background on synching. The NAS has linux or similar and other stuff that I do not fully understand.

I was looking at a new desktop - everyone else is on laptops - and then up came the discussion that maybe the money was better spent on a server which would take some pressure off the aging desktop where one note and some other bits currently sit - though the other bits will be making their way across to the NAS (Raid1) when I have settled it in. I thought it was going to be a 3 hour job - but it has taken far longer and the onenote failing has just slowed me down to thinking oh this is all a breeze shove it across.

I thought it might also offer other things that were of benefit - unspecified since not sure.

2.5K put is well out of the window though.

So maybe stick with the current plan - onenote on the desktop - rest across to the NAS

If I ever get time I could have a play at turning the old desktop into a Linux based server but I suspect that is not going to happen for along while yet.

[mit74]

you can hire windows servers now for £30-40 a month (offsite). Not sure this is an option for you but servers can be very time consuming to maintain.

[stugster]

Page,

Put your server thoughts aside for a minute and get yourself on Google Apps for just a month. Even the free Standard version if you have to.

If after the month, you're not completely satisfied with how it works, go looking at a server set-up :)

[KM-Tiger]

Page,

before diving in to the world of Windows servers, what do you want the server to do?

Can I echo that once more.

It's very tempting to discuss possible solutions when what you should be doing is a careful analysis of your business requirements, together with a consideration of the risks to your business of any of the required services failing.

It's only then that you can look at solutions that will meet the requirements, and how the provision of those solutions will mitigate the risks.

I know that sounds grand and high falutin' but you probably already do that instinctively in other areas, eg telephones, where you know who maintains, how long they might take to fix, and you have a fallback of using mobiles during an outage.

[Page]

I know that sounds grand and high falutin'

Not at all and exactly what should be done - this is partly what I am thinking about now and this is a warm up part of it.

What do you want - well what is there - well what do you want - well it depends what there and what does it cost - etc.

Once I have started picking at some threads and got a bit of starter knowledge then it will start being easier to then think more seriously.

My current thoughts are to forget server side of things

I am partly thinking again because I seem to have had 2 weeks of technology hell and hassle of one sort or another - so while in that zone and touching and thinking then ....

I think I am going to have a play with google apps and see what I think.

That said having lost 2 weeks I now have some real work that I have fallen behind on and which has to be pushed forwards first so even that will be when I get around to it.

I have also come to have regard for Stugsters replies to people over the months or maybe it is years so I see his recommendation as a good start point.

(Must be that monkey picture that sticks in my head)

[bigmouth241]

We have recently set up our Hosted Desktop platform of XP Desktops hosted in our datacentre, using VMWare View & ESX4 with the capability of hosting your "virtual IT infrastructure" complete with servers (2003\2008\SBS....Exchange...etc) & SAN storage. All that you at the client need to buy is a thin client, or we can just turn exisitng PCs into a thin client for you.

The advantage? Lower power bills, peace of mind, no management headaches & the knowledge your infrastructure is being looked after by some of the top engineers in the UK with a pedigree spanning BBC, RBS, Thomas Cook, Worldpay, Deloitte & many more.

Willing to discuss with you some tailor made packages for your needs, but as an indication we are currently setting quoting fees around £25/month per desktop & £80/month for an SBS 2008 Server. Subject to VAT, T's & C's etc. The fees also assume we're converting PCs to thin clients.

Unfortunately we do still charge a set-up fee to cover our technician cost, but the advantage of this is you get the personal attention of an engineer. 24 hour lead time on setup & we can help you transition your data to the new platform too.

Whilst we may not be the cheapest, we do know we're one of the best & unlike others, you will never share your physical hardware with any other business...ever!!

As others have said, Google Apps is good, but nothing quite like having your "own PC" which you can get at from pretty much anywhere, the office, home, your hotel - it's true mobility. So there is an argument for hosted solutions in the cloud more than ever now.

Alongside all of this we have also started hosting IP telephony for clients out of our datacentre & people are already showing great interest in pulling together the hosted desktops \ servers & phones in one package - this kind of technology makes home working \ virtual offices affordable & in actual fact, more cost effective than a physical office for most small & medium businesses. The process is streamlined too for new starters - you simply provide us with their details, a thin client & phone are shipped out ready configured & hey presto, they're working!

If anyone is interested in the ideas above, I'd be only too glad to work on something for you.

[leemason]

It you just want to share Onenote information here are some suggestions that don't including using a server: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/chris_pratley/archive/2005/06/25/using-onenote-on-two-or-more-machines.aspx