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 choosing appropriate database server

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smjones
Starting Member

2 Posts

Posted - 2006-06-04 : 22:47:38
Greetings!

I am purchasing a new/first server and could use some help with the details.

I am purchasing the server with the intent of managing a large database that will be quite extensive and requires a good amount of processing power. I have decided to go with windows server 2003 and SQL Server 2000 as a database. Within next year I hope to have this database directly flowing to a website that I could possibly be hosting as well as 2-3 offsite employess logging into the system remotely.

I would say my biggest question is whether or not to choose the raid 1 configuration or the raid 5. I want to be able to have the Hard drives mirror eachother. I was thinking of going with three hard drives but im not really sure if I would even need that setup. With that, I will just show my current system:

Dell poweredge 1800

3.0 ghz xeon
2 gb memory
sata 1 raid
cerc 6-Channel sata raid controller
160 gb hd x 2
onboard NIC network adapter

Im going price savvy on this one so no ups redundant, power supplies, or tape backup. Although I am open to any suggestions.

Definately appreciate any help with this as I have been hard pressed to find some quality reseller help. They just want to throw the biggest and baddest thing at me.

Thanks!

-Shawn

cmdr_skywalker
Posting Yak Master

159 Posts

Posted - 2006-06-05 : 02:20:20
"I would say my biggest question is whether or not to choose the raid 1 configuration or the raid 5. I want to be able to have the Hard drives mirror eachother. I was thinking of going with three hard drives but im not really sure if I would even need that setup."

Hardware implementation of RAID 5 requires at least 3 drives. RAID 5 performs well on data files. RAID 1 on SQL logs (sequential writes).

Buy a APC-UPS, its cost is $100 and it will be a good investment on servers (goto sam/bj wholesale stores).

May the Almighty God bless us all!
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smjones
Starting Member

2 Posts

Posted - 2006-06-06 : 01:09:29
Amen and thanks for the advice!
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Kristen
Test

22859 Posts

Posted - 2006-06-06 : 01:38:50
"a large database that will be quite extensive and requires a good amount of processing power"

2 x CPUs then !

We had a drive failure in RAID5 that trashed the database ... RAID1+0 might be better.

"no ... tape backup"

Where are you going to store your backups?

Kristen
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derrickleggett
Pointy Haired Yak DBA

4184 Posts

Posted - 2006-06-06 : 08:16:37
Price savvy at the cost of redundancy isn't savvy. It's stupid. Invest a little money in a tape drive, UPS Power, and redundant parts. The redundant fans, power supplies, and a UPS all combined will cost you less than $750.00. If you want a good reseller, talk to Quentin Thomas at Zones. He's will give you good support. I've had good luck with him anyway.

zones.com

Also, you can run RAID 5 with three drives. It runs like badly though. I would want at least four drives, and preferrably five. Sometimes resellers do try to oversell. Other times, they're just trying to make sure you don't come back in a month complaining about their service and you not being warned your configuration wasn't quite "optimal". That's just something for you to consider.

MeanOldDBA
derrickleggett@hotmail.com

When life gives you a lemon, fire the DBA.
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