file server - small office

[khushy]

Hi

I want to build a small windows server for my office - got hold of all the hardware - just need to get the right software - windows is key - which version would be best for a small office and one small client server application - always on!

[Bikerjon]

My advice is don't. Unless you have a really specific requirement for a full blown windows server in a small office environment then just use cloud storage (or a NAS if it has to be kept local)

[khushy]

the problem with the cloud is our database, which we use all the time is slow over BB as we can only get limited BB speed in the country!

We backup to the cloud and have tried a virtual server offsite - but it was way too slow

REALLY need to sort our small office server out

[geeks]

Server 2012 R2/2016 etc will be fine. What sort of Database are we talking?

[feef]

Any reason or it having to be Windows?

A NAS would fulfil many of your needs and they pretty much all support AD authentication, Synology also offers Directory Server for Windows Domain which turns it into a domain controller. They can also push stuff to the cloud too if needs be. I find these 'appliances' to be far less hassle than a full blown server

[Ransoman]

Windows server essentials

[captain_cynic]

khushy said:

Hi

I want to build a small windows server for my office - got hold of all the hardware - just need to get the right software - windows is key - which version would be best for a small office and one small client server application - always on!

Server 2016 Essentials.

If you feel adventurous enough, go virtual (ESXi/AHV are free, so is HyperV but I don't hate you enough to recommend that ). It'll make backups much easier.

[captain_cynic]

feef said:

Any reason or it having to be Windows?

Says in the OP that he wants to run an application on it.

[khushy]

geeks said:

Server 2012 R2/2016 etc will be fine. What sort of Database are we talking?

I have used cardbox for over 20 years - its BOMB PROOF - www.cardbox.com and now free of charge too

Simple client server

[khushy]

feef said:

Any reason or it having to be Windows?

A NAS would fulfil many of your needs and they pretty much all support AD authentication, Synology also offers Directory Server for Windows Domain which turns it into a domain controller. They can also push stuff to the cloud too if needs be. I find these 'appliances' to be far less hassle than a full blown server

but you cannot run a windows program on a NAS

[khushy]

I dont want database recommendations - as I am happy with what we are using - there is nothing I have seen that comes close to cardbox - I was asking for windows server recommendations - please focus on the request

[WinstonWolf]

Ransoman said:

Windows server essentials

This, it's designed for small businesses and does the job a treat.

[khushy]

WinstonWolf said:

Ransoman said:

Windows server essentials

This, it's designed for small businesses and does the job a treat.

cheers everyone

[feef]

captain_cynic said:

feef said:

Any reason or it having to be Windows?

Says in the OP that he wants to run an application on it.

Ah missed that bit

[crowfield]

khushy said:

cheers everyone

Except Sage Accounts is not supported on Essentials

[ging84]

what a quaint piece of software
If i'm ever in the market for a database that misses out on a decade and a half of developments in performance, security and resilience i'll definitely consider it.

[Ransoman]

khushy said:

WinstonWolf said:

Ransoman said:

Windows server essentials

This, it's designed for small businesses and does the job a treat.

cheers everyone

Sorry, I had to nip into a meeting as soon as I typed that so my message was a bit brief.

Server essentials is designed for small businesses and replaced windows small business server. If your database is small you should be able to run SQL server express.

I would recommend virtualising the server if possible (Install vmware ESXi (Free), then create a vm using your computer to manage it and installing windows server onto that VM. This way, should you need an additional server in the future, you can run it on the same hardware.

If your budget can stretch, get Windows server standard,it costs a little more and you need to buy CAL's (Client access licences) for each user. This allows you to run 2 visualised instances of windows on 1 chassis under the single licence. This way you can create a domain controller under one instance and then have your SQL database and file server running under a seperate instance (best practice). I understand we are getting into specialised territory here but these are fairly straightforward to do and there are plenty of guides on the internet.

[Australiam]

Ransoman said:

Sorry, I had to nip into a meeting as soon as I typed that so my message was a bit brief.

Server essentials is designed for small businesses and replaced windows small business server. If your database is small you should be able to run SQL server express.

I would recommend virtualising the server if possible (Install vmware ESXi (Free), then create a vm using your computer to manage it and installing windows server onto that VM. This way, should you need an additional server in the future, you can run it on the same hardware.

If your budget can stretch, get Windows server standard,it costs a little more and you need to buy CAL's (Client access licences) for each user. This allows you to run 2 visualised instances of windows on 1 chassis under the single licence. This way you can create a domain controller under one instance and then have your SQL database and file server running under a seperate instance (best practice). I understand we are getting into specialised territory here but these are fairly straightforward to do and there are plenty of guides on the internet.

I agree with this.....

plus.... although slightly off topic, make sure you consider Security & DR for the new server. At a very least you should consider:

How & when Patch management takes place
Do you have Anti-Virus you can trust
Are you following policy and best practice around svr & db privileged user access
Make sure your backup is watertight, and you are religious about following process and keeping backups offline (protected from Ransomware).

Last week we had to completely rebuild a (new) clients network (svr and all workstations) following a nasty Ransomware attack on their server. This was a small company with 1 server and approx 20 endpoints. They were not good at any of the above except the backups, which in this case has probably saved their business.

[WinstonWolf]

crowfield said:

khushy said:

cheers everyone

Except Sage Accounts is not supported on Essentials

True, but you can still get it to install if you're devious and it runs perfectly well. I believe it's a throwback to SBS2011.

[kev1974]

WinstonWolf said:

crowfield said:

khushy said:

cheers everyone

Except Sage Accounts is not supported on Essentials

True, but you can still get it to install if you're devious and it runs perfectly well. I believe it's a throwback to SBS2011.

It works fine on Essentials, you just have to go to the Temp folder where the installer will have extracted itself to, and manually run the three "sub-component installers" one after the other. They even tell you how to do it on the Sage support site, in a rare example of Sage actually being helpful. I believe it is indeed a throwback to SBS and underpowered servers back then.