Re: PC Server Suppliers?

[Philip Coombes <philip.coombes@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the suggestions. I should have mentioned that I had
considered growing my own but I am so out of touch with all the new
processors, socket types, ram and disk access interfaces etc that I
would be extremely concerned that I'd probably end up with a load of
bits that didn't fit, or if they did that I'd then spend the next few
weeks tracking down odd corruptions and reboots etc. It seemed that a
somewhat customised off the shelf model might be a bit more reliable.
And I thought basic PC architecture because it is much cheaper than
server architecture and I don't really care if the disk fails or I have
two weeks of downtime while waiting for new bits as it will all be
backed up anyway and it doesn't need to be a 24/7 machine.

Your point about workstations is a good one and I will look there if I
can find any more builders. There used to be loads of systems builders
around but I went through the pages of Computer Shopper last night and
there were only a handful, mostly offering 'ultimate gamer' type machines.

Cheers

Phil

Paul Gordon wrote:
> What you're asking for, I believe, falls into the gap between the
> product offerings of the commercial vendors such as the Dells and
Mesh's
> of this world, in as far as the distinction between their
"server" and
> "desktop" ranges goes.
>
> Predictably, the server ranges tend to be classic server designs,
using
> server design principles (and with server pricing to match), and the
> desktop ranges quite the opposite, with everything designed and built
to
> a price (and usually the lowest price they can manage to accomplish)
>
> In your own words you've said you want a "high spec server type
machine
> but based on regular PC components"... - for many commercial
vendors
> this is going to be a contradiction of terms (as I believe you may
have
> found out!)
>
> You may get better luck if you can go to one the vendors who'll let
you
> design your own spec online, and seeing if you can start with a
server,
> and deselect some of the features you've mentioned you don't want.
> Alternatively, try looking for "Workstations" rather than
desktop PC's
> which may well fit into the area you want mid-way between a desktop
and
> a server.
>
> My only other suggestion is to build your own, which of course gives
you
> the ultimate level of control over exactly what features &
components
> you end up with..
>
> Paul G.
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
>>
> Of
>
>> Philip Coombes
>> Sent: 21 February 2007 15:36
>> To: UKHA_D Group
>> Subject: [ukha_d] PC Server Suppliers?
>>
>> I don't _think_ this is off-topic but it may be borderline so
>>
> apologies
>
>> in advance if so.
>>
>> I am looking to get a new server to be my ZoneMinder dev box
rather
>>
> than
>
>> developing on my live system, which can get a bit hairy!
>>
>> Whilst I can visit the Dells and Meshs of this world and get a
super
>> shiny loved up super-graphics Vista system I cannot seem to find
>> anywhere that will do server style machines without necessarily
>> requiring hotplug SCSI storage and remote management. Basically I
am
>> after something with a couple of dual core processors, lots of
RAM,
>> decent disks (perhaps with hardware RAID) and not much else
besides at
>> least two basic PCI slots. I don't need XP or Vista, I don't need
a 3
>> inch thick water cooled graphics card, 7.1 speakers, monitor or
>>
> keyboard
>
>> or anything like that. Just a basic high spec server type machine
but
>> based on regular PC components.
>>
>> Does anyone have any recommendations for suppliers or even better
are
>> there any members of the list who do such things? I am always
getting
>> asked this kind of thing by users as well so however comes up with
the
>> goods can also expect a bunch of referrals and follow-up business
in
>>
> the
>
>> future!
>>
>> Many thanks in advance!
>>
>> Phil
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>


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