Might needs a Dedicated Window Server, any recommendations?

[TotallySport]

Hi

I might need a Dedicated Server does anyone have any recommendations:

Windows Server 2008 R2
IIS 7 (or 7.5)
ASP.NET 3.5 or 4
SQL Server 2008 with SQl Server Manager
hMailserver

The better the spec the better, although i would prefer no resellers (but how am I going to know, but I will do a few simple checks), budget is upto £200 but the lower the better, depends on the offer etc.

Don't need a firewall or antivirus yet but will do in about 6 months, I would need some help setting it up, with nameservers, contecting the database up etc, but after that I should be fine.

Thanks

 

[Dominic Taylor]

If a virtual server is ok we can provide this for you on high-end Dell hardware. £109/month +VAT for Windows Web 2008, MS SQL Web 2008, 4Gb RAM, 80Gb disk space and plenty of bandwidth.

Full management (setup, backups, 24/7 monitoring) included and hosted in our private suite in Bluesquare, Maidenhead.

Alternatively we can provide a full dedicated server with 8Gb RAM, quad core CPU, 2x146Gb RAID 1 SAS disks (and the same software spec) for £249/month +VAT (£199 +VAT setup fee).

Feel free to contact us on 0800 047 0417 or [email protected]

 

[TotallySport]

PM sent....

 

[Sparx]

I've dropped you a PM.

 

[DotNetWebs]

I have tried many Windows hosts over the years and the only one that has lived up to my expectations is:

Netcetera

Have been using dedicated servers with them for about 6 years now.

Regards

Dotty

 

[Optegris]

Hi

I might need a Dedicated Server does anyone have any recommendations:

Windows Server 2008 R2
IIS 7 (or 7.5)
ASP.NET 3.5 or 4
SQL Server 2008 with SQl Server Manager
hMailserver

The better the spec the better, although i would prefer no resellers (but how am I going to know, but I will do a few simple checks), budget is upto £200 but the lower the better, depends on the offer etc.

Don't need a firewall or antivirus yet but will do in about 6 months, I would need some help setting it up, with nameservers, contecting the database up etc, but after that I should be fine.

Thanks

OK based on those sort of requirements, the lowest specification you could get away with really with us is one of our VPS2048 servers with the following spec:

VPS based Server
Windows Server 2008R2 Std. Edition x64
195GB Hard disk
2GB RAM
2,400GB monthly bandwidth
2 User Windows SQL Server 2008R2 license (Std. Edition)
£80 + vat per month

Now we would be able to install the excellent Website Panel for you to manage the server which is an open source panel backed by Microsoft and would make your life easier. We could also give you the options of using our DNS servers or you could install DNS on your box.

As for mail, a choice of using our SmarterMail server or installing your own. I have found that SmarterMail does outperform hMailserver to be honest.

If your budget allows though I would have said to go for a VDS or Virtual Dedicated Server. Unlike a VPS where you share the host hardware, a VDS allows the control of virtualisation without sharing the hardware with others.

They are slightly more expensive but you could get the following

Windows Server 2008R2 Std. Edition x64
500GB Hard disk (Hardware RAID)
3GB RAM
5,000GB monthly bandwidth
2 User Windows SQL Server 2008R2 license (Std. Edition)
£110 + vat per month

You can find out more about our Standard VPS servers and Premium VDS boxes on our site but do give me a call on 08456 445 789 if you would like to have a chat about your options

 

[TotallySport]

Sorry, I did reply to this, this morning but I think there was an issue, anyway there are so many issues.

Why do some peoples dedicated hosting vary so much in price, and I don't mean comparing manager and unmanager, I mean the spec on servers.

We need a platform to allow us to finish building our system, then we need to make it live, my worry is migration costs from virtual servers to dedicated, will end up costing a fortune every time we need to upgrade, and also create downtime for our clients.

OM can you explain further smartermail outperforming hmail, there is also a big difference in price. And there are alot of good reports to hmail, plus it connects to MSsql easily (or so the docs say)

I am massively cofused on what to do....(although it is confirmed I do need something)

 

[Optegris]

Just from experience I have found that SmarterMail uses less resources, has better handling of spam email and simply runs better on the server.

I know it's not the cheapest out there but considering they do a single domain/10 mailbox version to get you started it's pretty good pricing....

 

[Dominic Taylor]

I don't think moving from a virtual to a dedicated would be too difficult as we're on-hand to assist but agreed, it's a decision to make - whether to save cash and have to upgrade later or just pay up-front. We handle migrations almost every day so assist and make it as straightforward as possible

In term of pricing - our primary costs are the equipment (we buy all servers new from Dell and don't use tower hardware, only proper server equipment primarily R210/R310/R610/R710s), DC costs (physical space in a Tier III / Tier IV DC, power, high quality transit, high-spec Cisco network) and then the cost of 24/7/365 management and backups which we include with all virtual and dedicated servers.

We also don't resell, so can't take advantage of the economies of scale of larger companies - but equally don't use low-end hardware so a 2Gb or 4Gb VDS with us will probably outperform / be more reliable than a low-end dedi (due to the SAS RAID 10 disks, dual PSUs etc).

Licensing costs are another biggie - Win 2008 + MS SQL cost a pretty penny

 

[TotallySport]

Are they any obsticles that would make me not use a virtual server (for Testing)? eg are there things I won't be able to configure, or add? I only really need someone to monitor the server, to make sure its online, and working, and not doing anything silly, software and updates etc we can do.

 

[Dominic Taylor]

No - it's identical to a dedicated for this purpose.

 

[Optegris]

There aren't really a tremendous amount of obvious differences between a VPS and a dedicated box aside from the resources available to you. Any decent host will offer some kind of round the clock monitoring...

 

[TotallySport]

Thanks for the info, we think over it tonight and get back tomorrow.

 

[Dominic Taylor]

Great - just to add we can do a 2Gb VDS too, £79/month +VAT with £29 +VAT setup

 

[webhostuk]

Thanks for the info, we think over it tonight and get back tomorrow.

If you are still looking for managed dedicated Servers you can take a look at :
http://www.webhosting.uk.net/windows_dedicated.html

 

[TotallySport]

Just thought I would put a quick update, we decided to go with Vidahost, and so far have been very impressed. (sorry Openmind but thanks for the help)

 

[Optegris]

No problem, glad you got sorted **unclenches teeth**