Need Help Buying A Server For Small Business Running Application Software Only, ES4
 

Hello- This will probably be the easiest question ever asked here-

I am a fish dealer in a small company who is additionally responsible for computers servers etc. We run one application on the server with a maximum of four users at one time. My software supplier (niche distributor software) is impossible to deal with or to get information from- especially hardware info. I need to replace the server and will be changing to Linux Enterprise ES 4. Can someone please give me a straight answer for purchasing a server? I am looking at a Dell brand just to keep it simple (we have bought all of our Computers from Dell).
How much memory and what type is best? SCSI vs SAS? What type/size processor? Other considerations? Any help or direction would be appreciated. I have gotten different info from software supplier, Dell and HP. I really do not know what to do.
Thanks in advance.

well you really haven't said much about what you're actually doing here, but anythign with only four users can't be that intensive... I'd imagine that if you do want a box with "server" formally written across the side, then just about the lowest spec server dell do would be fine really. these days the average spec outperforms what most people need. One thing to mention is that you probably don't *need* to use RedHat at all, id' suggest you think about CentOS instead if you'd like *exactly* the same operating system (apart from logo's) and save money to put onto a better machine if you want.

You would probably want to look at doing raid 1 for data integrity on the box and all that though, which would increase the hardware requirements, but only nominally so. i'd still just stick with a standard sata drive now though.

btw, do you actually *need* your own server? what if you used an online hosting company to host it? totally depends what it actually is, but there are plenty of *very* well priced linux server hosting companies which can take all the hardware concerns away totally. jsut buy a bog standard PC and off you go on the client side.

acid_kewpie: Thanks.
 

The Red Hat is actually required by and supplied by my software supplier. I will find out about on-line hosting- New to me but could be a good option. Any you would recommend?

Memory: The software people specs: "512MB Memory DDR2/667 ECC" Which
HP declined to quote on and my Dell Salesperson is still trying to figure things out. Should I insist on this type of memory?

The software people are also specifying: "Seagate 73 GB Ultra 320 SCSI Disk, 10 K RPM" Isn't "SCSI" older technology? Both Dell and HP are talking "SAS" or "SATA", but not "SCSI". I am confused.

Thanks for your help. It is tough to source components with so little knowledge. (If you have any questions about seafood- I am your man!)