Best place to get windows server?

[Turbo]

Go to a McDonald's drive through and you'll find a windows server.

 

[northwest]

Windows server will be just fine for the environment you are going to use it in, just don't expose it to the outside world 24/7. If you do, install a proper firewall between it and the router. Look at TightVNC for internal PC to PC monitoring.

as above, hard drives should last for years,

Bit late now but never use two hard drives the same for a RAID pack. Ask me how I know this :-(

 

[Jack_K]

Windows server will be just fine for the environment you are going to use it in, just don't expose it to the outside world 24/7. If you do, install a proper firewall between it and the router. Look at TightVNC for internal PC to PC monitoring.



Bit late now but never use two hard drives the same for a RAID pack. Ask me how I know this :-(

Where I work, the others try to make all the drive models the same. I've tried to tell them. I don't pay any attention to the models/makes as I believe it is better to have a mix like you said.

 

[Jack_K]

2.5 sadly. I have 6 x SAS 3.5 inch drives i had hoped to fit but I have been told it's not easy. So just purchased 4 x 2tb drives for now.

Changing to 3.5" requires replacing the whole case. The 3.5" versions are much rarer. If it was an R730xd you could add internal and rear 3.5" bays but getting the parts isn't cheap. The usual solution is to connect up an external drive shelf and install a RAID controller or HBA with external SAS ports.

 

[northwest]

Where I work, the others try to make all the drive models the same. I've tried to tell them. I don't pay any attention to the models/makes as I believe it is better to have a mix like you said.

It will end in tears. Guaranteed.

 

[ukracer]

I sell heaps of server HDDs that are well over 10 years old and even though we provide a 12 month warranty we rarely get any claims.

I know a LOT about these. I work on them every day although they are getting old so now it is mainly R740s instead.

The OS can be installed onto the HDDs or internal SD cards the same way as a desktop computer. You can also log into the iDrac and install the OS using the virtual media by mounting the ISO.

The RAID will need to be configured first unless it has a HBA which passes the drives to the operating system.

Most of that went over my head sadly.

To start with I have the server with me. Fitted with blank replacement drives.

I am.not sure how this all works but my theory is to utilise 6TB max so if a drive fails the other 3 can pick up the data whilst I fit another drive.

Is that even possible?

Then what is the best way to access the server to install the OS and create a raid array? Or is that another bad idea?

I have a desktop here and my laptop. But the only leads I have are hdmi not vga which is on the back of the server a PER730.

 

[gaz1]

vga being the blue socket but do you have the white dvi socket as the white socket can be pluged into hdmi socket

 

[bletchmonster]

Read this thread right though as it was fascinating just how little I understood

 

[ukracer]

vga being the blue socket but do you have the white dvi socket as the white socket can be pluged into hdmi socket

No DVI but possibly a serial port.

 

[ukracer]

Read this thread right though as it was fascinating just how little I understood

You and me both lol

 

[Kayos]

I know I'm the one who sent you Windows Server, but honestly, Linux over SSH is pretty easy. Most have an ncurses installation so it's not all command line

 

[knighty]

You should have onboard gfx, tgere will be a vga port on the back, its not very powerful gfx wise but its fibe fir server stuff

Do you have 1 power supply or 2? If 2 plug them both in, it'll run quieter and doesn't use any extra power

With 4x 2tb drives in raid 5 youll have 6tb usable space

Raid 5 means you can lose 1 drive abd still be fine


BTW windows server will require a 16 digit login password

 

[ukracer]

I know I'm the one who sent you Windows Server, but honestly, Linux over SSH is pretty easy. Most have an ncurses installation so it's not all command line

I might end up going that way. But just getting the damn thing connected will be a start.

 

[ukracer]

You should have onboard gfx, tgere will be a vga port on the back, its not very powerful gfx wise but its fibe fir server stuff

Problem is I don't have a VGA cable at the caravan . Lol

I have a router, a desktop and a laptop.

Do you have 1 power supply or 2? If 2 plug them both in, it'll run quieter and doesn't use any extra power

2 supplies.

Raid 5 means you can lose 1 drive abd still be fine.

That is what I am looking to do short term.

 

[ukracer]

A lot of you tubing later I found my way round what was a new experience for me. Its was a lot simpler than I expected SO FAR. Not easy but very enjoyable for a change.
Anyway I have managed to connect via IDRAC to my laptop and has created a raid 5 array (I think) but I cant find out how to obtain a iDRAC Enterprise license. it seems I need this to install an OS.

Any suggestions ?

 

[daleyd]

BTW windows server will require a 16 digit login password

Not sure that’s correct, I have a server 2016 machine at home and that’s got a (counts password on fingers…) 10 digit password, and I’ve used customer machines that don’t have 16 digits. I think it’s up to what password policy you have set rather than an inbuilt thing.

 

[ukracer]

Not sure that’s correct, I have a server 2016 machine at home and that’s got a (counts password on fingers…) 10 digit password, and I’ve used customer machines that don’t have 16 digits. I think it’s up to what password policy you have set rather than an inbuilt thing.

I cant comment as I have not got that far yet. I need an iDRAC Enterprise license. SO I am trying to establish if thats true or not. lol It seems they are block of machines specific but not sure yet.

 

[northwest]

iDRAC Enterprise license

I wouldn't have thought so. Pretty machine/manufacturer specific that.

 

[ukracer]

I wouldn't have thought so. Pretty machine/manufacturer specific that.

I am sort of guessing that its only required to install the OS remotely. and if I hook up a monitor and mouse and keyboard I will be able to install the OS without one.

 

[ukracer]

Learnt a hell of a lot and not one manual in site.
Not finished yet but feels pretty good so far.