Server vs Desktop?

[BlueZero]

What's the difference?

At the office where I have been working it's time for them to replace their server. There are 4 computers and 1 server. All the programs are installed and run from the individual computers. The sever hooked to 2 printers. Other than that, it's just used to store the files in one place so everyone has access to them.

Servers seem so expensive compared to a normal desktop computer. So my question is... Would it be beneficial to get an actual server or will a normal desktop work fine?

Thanks in advance! I told them I knew some real computer geniuses I could ask!

[Megafast13]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

Hey okay,

There is really no difference between the two except the purpose that they serve.

Ideally, a server has a much, much larger Hard Drive than a Desktop and it has a server-made CPU, like a Xeon. Not a basic Dual Core Processor.


Servers can be updated easier as well. Just slide in a "Blade" in some and it increase speed, size, memory, etc.

Desktops are made to carry out multimedia and user activities.

A Server is the core if you will that holds all of the data from the computers you have it hooked to.

You should tell them to get a new server, not just a basic desktop.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

The server does provide enhanced security, backup, and takes the processing load off the workstations. But for a 4 computer environment, a server borders on overkill, especially if all the workstations are in the same location and it's just for file and print services. A peer to peer network would actually suffice for such a small network. If the server also handles DHCP and DNS, then you probably want to keep it.

[BlueZero]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

Hey, thanks guys!

I'll have to do some more digging and see what I can find.

[yalerd]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

Two very different things.

A server is a machine that is design to be constantly working, always turned on unless you are doing some kind of maintenance. Also the hardware is very very very very different compared to a desktop, for example almost if not all servers have hot swap hard drives, this means you can remove/install a hard drive without turning the server off. Also another thing that most servers have is that they usually have two power supply, they can work with one, and you can change a damaged one just by swapping it, without turning the server off. Network and RAID configuration is much more sophisticated.

Megafast13 said "blade", that's a type of server that you have like a CPU Case (bigger) with a couple of thin thing "cases" and in each case is a server (processor, memory, network adapter) and you can just like slide on in and you have a new one and take one out but this is mainly for BIG businesses not to manage 4 desktops. HP has one, very nice indeed, I've managed it and that's just out of this world. When you turn it on it sounds like a plane

Usually the servers needed depends on how the business is configured and how big is it. For example, where I work, we have about 6 servers and each one manages one things (ISA Server, email, antivirus, domain controller, applications, storage, and so on)

You can link them easily to storage devices, put them in RAID (depending on the configuration you are looking for) and just put as many hard driver as you wish.

Do the research, but you just can't compare a Desktop with a Server, two very different things, technologies and principles.

Good luck

[BlueZero]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

Thanks Francis!

I'm a desktop guy, I've never worked with servers. They don't have an IT guy so they looked to me for advise. I've been surfing Dell and there are some cheaper servers that would probably work good. I would think for about $1000 they would get something. The one they first looked at was over $2000.

If they end up getting one, I might be the guy hooking it up. Learning on the fly is always fun! lol

[wyseilmykkar]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

If you're not running any server-based shared software, like Microsoft Outlook, or hosting a website, for a 4 workstation based installation I would say that a server is overkill.

You can easily add a second hard drive to any of the desktop PCs and use it for file sharing; compact print servers can be had cheaply enough and only require a network jack to operate (each one gets assigned an IP address)

For example, we have a server at our main Burlington office, but it is only used to run Outlook and for file storage.
Our remote office in Waterloo can connect to it, however for speed they use a secondary hard drive in one of the desktops for all of their file sharing. We used to host our own website therefore the necessity of the server, but now it hardly breaks a sweat.

It really comes down to what you're looking to do, and from your post you run individual software on each machine so I would say save your money.

[Mikejl]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

First I want to say that I agree with Yalerd. But, if you can be without your data for a day or so in the event of a disaster, then maybe you don't need the fault tolerance (raids, redundant power, cooling fans, etc..) that a server provides.

If all you need is a file sever then you can also skip a Server or PC and buy a NAS. Network Attached Storage. They can cost around $400 to $2000 depending on how much storage you need. They are easy to setup and will provide faster access to your data.

Just one more option to consider.

Mike

[ColonelCash]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

I agree with many of the comments above. Have you looked at a LAN based storage unit? They can run up to a few terabytes of data, kinda acts as a server.

Side note: We have a Teradata V2R7 database and it runs our company $35 million. 1500 users, 45,000 reports per month. How about that for a capital expense!

[yalerd]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

First I want to say that I agree with Yalerd. But, if you can be without your data for a day or so in the event of a disaster, then maybe you don't need the fault tolerance (raids, redundant power, cooling fans, etc..) that a server provides.

If all you need is a file sever then you can also skip a Server or PC and buy a NAS. Network Attached Storage. They can cost around $400 to $2000 depending on how much storage you need. They are easy to setup and will provide faster access to your data.

Just one more option to consider.

Mike

I would recommend with this as well if it's just file sharing.
The printers can be shared through a normal desktop without any problems.

If the desktop's on your company run individually (users are created in each machine/programs are installed in each one/and so on) then I would just get a desktop or workstation because in that situation you are just sharing files and printers.

I would consider on looking what Mike said, the NAS or you can get a Workstation, comes with Windows XP Pro or Vista (you decide) and basically is a more powerful desktop that has the ability to multitask better and support heavier loads of work.

Why I would go with it?
Well it's a computer for the same price as an expensive NAS, so if on desktop gets damaged to any of you guys then you can just jump into this "spare" one and continue working

[MikeEast]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

I have several 'desktops' and an HP Proliant DL360 'Server' that I can't run anywhere in the house without going insane.

The desktops are just 'regular' pc's with one-each lowest cost components and last about as long as well, a regular pc lasts.

The server is a 4 cpu 8 gig memory deal with 4 SmartArray storage controllers in it that could potentially handle a whole buttload of terrabytes of data. It's all heavy duty, totally redundant everything, even the fans are paired, total of 8 high speed air movers. It freaking howls, even at idle. I have 5 36 gig drives in a raid-5 set (lose one, no big deal) running Linux at the moment.

The fun part is that the Proliant cost me $160 - less than I paid for the disks in this desktop...

For a small office setup, buy two desktops, keep one as an online backup, mirror the data to it nightly and do your backups from it.

Mike

[BlueZero]

Re: Server vs Desktop?

Great information guys!

We talked a little bit about it today but didn't have time to price any. That's a really good point about having it as an extra computer too. Never know when something might happen to one.