Server suggestions

[mrbojangles9211]

Hi all:

To start, I did search the forums for answers : ) That said:

I am new to computer networking, and I am designing a computer network for a class. It must be able to handle at least 120 users, and I am running strictly LAN (no wireless). I have done some research on servers and found out alot, but I can not find any info on the number of users a certain set up supports. Any suggestions and or guidance would be awesome. Thanks for taking the time to help!

 

[cohen]

You need a PC running some server software, either MS Server 2003 or MS Server 2008.

Do you want it, so people can log on from any PC and have access to a network drive or what??? or just a server where files are stored???

 

[Black6]

It depends entirely on what services the network will be providing. If you are setting up a file server, email server, or web server you can run pretty old basic equipment however, if you are running a database server, application server, terminal server, or anything else that requires some computing power, look at Xeon class multi cpu commercial servers with hot swap hard drives. See proliant servers on the HP site.

Use commercial servers for commercial applications as the hardware is much more robust than consumer hardware.

You should also take a look at clustering servers as the boss will not be happy if the database server dies and 120 people have nothing to do for the day.

You need a UPS that can handle the server load.

Keep switching hops to a minimum as too many can cause problems on the entire network. i.e. don't go from one switch to the next switch, an so on.

If you want to learn more about networks and servers than they will teach in you class, pick up a used server on ebay. They tend to go cheap and are fun to play with. Be sure to set it up in the garage or basement- they are LOUD and generate a lot of hot air.