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Posted By: kamikazi Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 5:42pm
Hi I have recently set up a small home office for my new business, we currently use a laptop and a desktop, does anyone have any cost effective options or advice to set up a small business server, emailing files 2 foot across a room isn't the best way to share files or documents I could also do with using Outlook with a shared calendar etc.

Any (cost effective)advice greatly appreciated

K
Posted By: ITbear Re: Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 5:58pm
Kam,
Are you currently using a server, or just want anetwork setting up?
If your just wanting shared files and folders, and outlook shared callenders I could set that up for you.
Posted By: kamikazi Re: Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 6:03pm
Thanks for a quick response, Its the server we need unfortunately, its having a single space to store clients stuff when we are developing projects, we have been using Dropbox which is great for sharing, but its my Luddite side that likes to know that we can access and work on stuff even if Broadband goes down.

Ta K
Posted By: ITbear Re: Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 6:07pm
Right ok. So what kind of spec you after? And are you planning on expanding your office in the near future?
If its just the laptop and the pc I don't see the need in a server.
Posted By: kamikazi Re: Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 6:15pm
Fingers crossed that we expand in the near future! we have only been trading for six weeks. My last business we used small business server and had stacks of storage. The ability to share and access files is paramount and due to file size, it can get quite laborious emailing or uploading larger files, especially design work or images that may need to be kept in several formats.

In terms of spec, more space and better ability to share. (I do have access to a largish 500gb USB hardrive not sure you can network that though?

K
Posted By: Mark Re: Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 6:22pm
ive sent you a private message.

You could just set up a workstation with a VPN now you have your own storage space from anywhere.

lots of options available.

Small Buiness Servers can be costly. You should only go down that road if you have software that requires a small business server as your desktop computers have more grunt than you will ever need. (Providing there new lol).
Posted By: ITbear Re: Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 6:24pm
Kam,
2 choices really.
1, New server, not quite sure on prices.
2, network desktop and laptop, plug your ext HDD and share it, map it on laptop and desktop. And use that as a central file storage.
Shared calender can be set up quite easily.

I'm happy to come and do it all for you.
Posted By: little_pob Re: Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 6:40pm
HP are offering £100 cashback on their ProLiant Turion II N40L MicroServers again (still?).

Available from Dabs, ebuyer, amazon etc for about £220 before cashback. For the OS, throw on a copy of ubuntu.
Posted By: EvilCycle Re: Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 7:10pm
Another option could just be get another cheap desktop PC fitted with a few TB of hard drive space, connected up to a network with the other pc and laptop, it is almost like having a server on the cheap, it would just lack the extra functions a real server would have, but it doesnt sound like you are all that bothered as long as you have somewhere to store and share files with.

Or you could even buy an external network hard drive as that would be faster for moving large amounts of data than sharing a usb drive.
Posted By: kamikazi Re: Server advice - 4th Dec 2012 8:54pm
Thanks for great advice, seems there is more than one way to sort this, Reckon I will be going with that cheap server option, this gives me the option to grow the network at a later date.

Lots of knowledge on here!

K
Posted By: Gibbo Re: Server advice - 5th Dec 2012 12:49pm
An entry-level HP server should do you. Fill it with RAIDed hard drives and setup some sort of off-site backup.

To save OS licensing costs you could use FREENAS.
Posted By: DeanoBirko Re: Server advice - 5th Dec 2012 1:34pm
Could you not just use a small, low spec PC thats always on connected to a network. I cant see the need for an expensive workhorse, for a few documents.

SERVER
¦
¦
----------------¬----------------¬
¦ ¦
PC 1 PC 2

You can set this up really easily, without paying for extra software. For what you requirem that would work fine.
Posted By: kamikazi Re: Server advice - 5th Dec 2012 6:26pm
Thanks Gibbo and DeanoBirko and evryone for advice and support, am investigating one line of enquiry - cheap server with a local network.

Will let you know how I get on

Thanks

K
Posted By: SilentReader Re: Server advice - 5th Dec 2012 6:38pm
I have a qnap 210 turbo network attached storage with to 2tb drives, the NAS comes with a DHCP server file server, webserver, ftp server, anti virus scanner, you can even set it up as a cloud server, media server, you can use raid in mirror so if a HDD fails no data is lost, create user accounts, folder permissions, there's even back up software that comes with it to back up files off local pc's, mine even has the function of a vpn connections, total rocksolid and never let me down, I've even got it attached to my windows domain and active directory.

really easy to setup unbox install your drives(I would get 2 of the same) plug in connect to the network, open a webbrower and you can log in to the management page and set the services up you want to use, there's no additional software needed, but QNAP do have some extra bits of software you can download if they fit your needs.

I really can't rate this high enough
Posted By: Gibbo Re: Server advice - 6th Dec 2012 8:43am
Have a read at this too:

http://www.reghardware.com/2012/11/17/ten_four_bay_nas_drives/
Posted By: richiemuk Re: Server advice - 6th Dec 2012 1:49pm
A NAS (Network Attached Storage) is your best bet as that will allow you to share files and can act as a server for a lot of functions. The honest answer is it depends what functionality you are after. Decide what you want/need then you can buy a device that is fit for purpose. From what you have so far described a good NAS will more than suffice. A server is only really required if you are running a client/server application. Dont get blinded by the fact you need a server more than what you need to do...Good luck
Posted By: AX_125 Re: Server advice - 6th Dec 2012 9:27pm
Google drive
Posted By: TheComputerLab Re: Server advice - 8th Dec 2012 9:21am
Hi mate everyone has had a say so I will join in!

Email.
Either office 365 or google apps mate. No brainer. Full exchange cloud based. Very little outlay.

Storage.
Dropbox still works if you have a network outage, has LAN sync feature so should still work if you are both in the same network (which you are) failing that buy a buffalo linkstation or similar.

Backup.
Get your self a carbonate subscription or similar to backup the NAS to the cloud.

Total cost for all this is about 200 quid and about 5 quid a month for the email. No worrys about server outage or similar
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