Server Recs

[bash]

Need to build a server for a friend's business. He's a photog that moves alot of large files (192 megs per image) so I'm thinking I need gigabit connects, gigabit switch, raid, ups and a system with bulletproof drives. Recs for parts or an off-the-rack solution? Also would XP Pro suffice? This is a small studio (single user/multiple workstations/printers) whose primary concern is large capacity safe online archival storage of his photos. Budget is around $1,000 (although he'll pop for whatever is required). Any suggestions appreciated.

[CDN_Merlin]

ASUS has good MB's with Gigbit onboard LAN. Make sure you buy Cat 6 cable for gigabit.
Also, max out the ram on the board.
If he does video editing, then you'll need the ATI fireGL card I think it is.

Does he need security for the workstations? Like would he need to login a domain or just a workgroup?

Get SCSI for the drives, 10,000RPM for best performance using RAID 5 for best protection.

[bash]

He's the single user and 10 should stay under his available connects (a laptop on the studio floor, a couple of printers connected to other workstations and a graphics workstation upstairs). As far as storage he wants as much as he can get so I was thinking of two 400 gig drives. I was hoping that would hold him for a while and being raid (the mirrored flavor) there would not be a need for offline tape backup to ensure he doesn't lose any images. Maybe I'm wrong but he wants his entire archive available and he doesn't really have the savvy to operate tape retrieval. He's just getting into digital in a big way so there currently doesn't exist an archive. He's looking down the road.

Good to know about the low CPU requirements because he has a few vintage systems that could be used to save some cost.

Back to specifics... good raid card? Solid gigabit NICs and switch recs?

[bash]

Good to know. I guess we're going with a tape backup in that case.