Hi all,

I work for a small company where about 7 to 10 PCs are exchanging
files between each other on a p2p layout.

As the IT guy there, I am constantly being asked to provide solutions
to the users where only on a server based network this would be
possible to deploy such as shared contacts, calendar, CRM, etc...
there are other obvious reasons why the move is required.

So I've made a decision to go with dell and chose a well spec'd
Poweredge 2900 for the job. It will come with SBS2k3 standard with 4
GB RAM, good processor, 2x 146GB Hard drives on RAID 1 etc...

Our current backup solution is simply portable hard drives (120gb
each), 3 on rotation... etc... this works OK for us. When I asked dell
for a server solution I was quoted the above server with a tape backup
unit which took the quote up quite a bit and for other reasons we
would prefer not use tapes to backup.

I was thinking in using DAS (direct access storage) or NAS (network
accessible storage) for backup purpose. I have been looking into DAS -
the enclosure costs about £150 then I would buy the SATA drives for it
and set either JBOD, RAID 0 or RAID 1
So my question to you guys is: What is best to use - DAS or NAS - on a
server based network that would be used for backup and possible direct
access by the users connected to the server?

I guess what I want to be able to do is to use this DAS or NAS
solution (whichever is suggested as best for my needs) for direct
access and/or my daily server backup.
My off-site backup would then be done by connecting my portable hard
drives onto this DAS or NAS and sync the data - this is done weekly!

Please let me know if my idea is not feasibly and if I should rethink
my storage/backup plans for the server based network move.

Many thanks in advance for your views!

Tony

mastertony@gmail.com wrote:
Software or hardware RAID, and what kind of drives? I use SCSI or SAS - no
IDE or SATA. I would see if you can include a global hotspare, too.
4GB RAM is probably overkill.
As long as you're storing backups offsite, that's fine. I do suggest you use
the 'wrapper' SBS puts around NTBackup....

I'm just curious - if you already have your removable hard drives, and like
'em, why not keep 'em? Or use tape (I prefer tape, but I'm old-fashioned).
Backups across the network are usually sucky.
I would invest more in disk drives for the server itself rather than go this
route - it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Do nightly full backups to your backup medium of choice....I can't see any
reason not to. It shouldn't take that long. Do *everything* - system state,
online Exchange databases, and your users' data files - using
NTBackup/SBSBackup. It really keeps things simpler.

Hope the above helps even though I haven't specifically answered your
NAS/DAS questions - but for SBS stuff, you might post in
m.p.windows.server.sbs. It does a lot of things its own way, and I suspect
you'll get a lot of help in there. Also, if you haven't worked much with AD
& Exchange before (or, even if you have, if you haven't worked with the SBS
incarnations of same), make sure you follow *all* the myriad setup wizards
to a T, for both the server install *and* the client configs - or you'll end
up with a real mess. I speak from experience.

I am sorry to but in on your thread but I cannot post a new question or
comment to save my life. Here is my 'delimma'. I have an interview tomorrow
with a web hosting company and I really need and want the position. I was
hoping the community might point me in some direction or any kind of pointers.

Please help!!!!
--
Matt Lee


"mastertony@gmail.com" wrote:

Matt Lee <MattLee@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
Here's information on Usenet and using a newsreader, cribbed shamelessly
from MVP Malke Routh:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page3.html#12-09-02 - a brief
explanation of newsgroups
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlo...ssnewreader.htm
http://rickrogers.org/setupoe.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...wto/default.asp
- Set Up Newsreader

http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
http://aumha.org/nntp.htm - list of MS newsgroups
microsoft.public.test.here - MS group to test if your newsreader is
working properly
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm - how to munge email address
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm - multiposting vs.
crossposting

Some newsreaders for Windows
http://www.forteinc.com/agent/index.php - for Forte
http://www.mozilla.org (Thunderbird does newsgroups)
http://gravity.tbates.org/


Dilemma, actually. Yes, it's true - spelling counts.

Be honest about your skills and experience. That's all I can really advise.

Depending on your internet connection, there is one solution you haven't
mentioned, but which might be worth considering.
Namely backing up to an on-line back-up solutions provider.

That way you know that the files are always available and you wouldn't have
to worry about off-site back-up.

Some of them are reasonably cheap and aim specifically for smallish company
like yours.
PC PRO in England reviewed some of them a little while ago, but I can't
remember any company names right now, sorry.
--
Cheerio,
Lars Petersson
MCSA: Messaging
mr-eleganza.livejournal.com


"mastertony@gmail.com" wrote:

I think I didnt expain correctly. I have a job interview with a web hosting
company and was wondering what kind of questions I might get. I really want
the job
--
Matt Lee


"Lars Petersson" wrote:

Matt Lee <MattLee@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
Perhaps you didn't notice that Lars' reply was to the OP who wants help with
backup. Not a response to your unrelated reply.