Desktops & Servers > Less than 100 GB Desktops & Servers > Intel Xeon > by OS Provided

Advantages: Very versatile mid range server
Disadvantages: support web site can be awkward to navigate

...(with the addition of an IBM 7k RAID card) with a hot spare. This gives a 73GB OS partition which should be ample for most SBS installations including the exchange store. I tend to find that most SBS base builds come to about 20GB once everything is installed. This leaves just over 50GB for the exchange store and page file. The data partition would then be about 250GB which should be ample for most SMB's. Inside the server is just as good and as ...
...one). As with all IBM servers it comes with the ServerGuide startup CD which allows you to quickly configure your disks, create a utility partition (containing all the relevant drivers) and automatically install your OS. The only thing that takes a little time is synch'ing the arrays but I normally kick it off then go and do something else for a couple of hours then come back and do the OS setup part of it. You also get the IBM Director CD (see ... Read review

Advantages: Slimline, only takes a few U's in the Rack. very reliable.
Disadvantages: The new HP Smartstart is not as easy to understand as the original version.

...of you who aren't aware HP have taken over Compaq and rebadged compaq Servers with the HP badge. This is just an upgrade to the Compaq Proliant DL380 G2. You are still getting one of the most reliable servers in the industry for the right price. They have also rectified the problem on the last model where there was only 4 bays for hard disks , there are now 6 bays, a FDD and a CD drive. The server is a slimline model and for those of you who ...
...these servers, has been rebadged, HP smartstart and given an overall and so far im not impressed, the screens don't flow as they used to and it seems to take a long time to figure out what's what in the configuration menus. All in all, still the best servers to buy for small/mid cricitical systems. ... Read review

Advantages: reliable, customer service,expandable
Disadvantages: price,accessory

...we have as accessories are: IBM ServeRAID-6M Ultra320 SCSI Controller( around £500) 3x146.8 GB 10 000 rpm Ultra320 SCSI hard drives( around £300 each) and a Remote Supervisor Adapter II card ( around £300 ). Packaging and User manual: The server comes with a very good package.User manual ( CD)and IBM Director software included. keyboard and mouse included.The user manual is very good and include details about connections,set up and enviromental ...
...but i suggest to check IBM website for newer version .The Installation of the RSA card is a bit more tricky. You need to double chek if the BIOS of the card is compatible with the BIOS of the server, because the same card can be installed on several IBM server models, and the BIOS has to be adjusted consequently. Daily Usage: I am not usually a great supporter of mono-processor servers, but i have to say this machine made me change my mind.The hardware ... Read review

Advantages: Takes 6 disks in a 2U package
Disadvantages: Not a great deal

...slots. ********** Manageability************* HP have a device called the Integrated Lights-Out Standard, this is a device that is integrated into the server and allows you to power off and restart the server as if you were stood in front of it, you can also watch and interact with the boot sequence, load virtual CD's and Floppy disks into the server from anywhere. With the purchase of an additional licence the ILO can provide keyboard and mouse ...
...areas where the manageability of HP servers shines through is the ability to carry out system firmware upgrades when the operating system is loaded, ideal if you have servers that are not close to you. HP also provide various means of configuring your server with the operating system you can use either the enclosed Smart Start CD or if you have a lot of servers to deploy there is a scripting tool kit, and for the very large enterprise there is the ... Read review

Advantages: lots of storage
Disadvantages: Slow when starting up

This is a new server from compaq featuring its fast intel xeon processors which are both quad pumped meaning they can run multiple programes at the same time and also its ultra scsi harddrives featuring less access time to improve performance of the overall server. The compaq proliant ml320 server is very interesting to use as it comes witha range of instructions to guide you on how to setup the server and a range of utillities to guide you through ...
...the operating system of your choice. A number of operating systems can be installed on this server. The one ill recommend is windows xp 2003 server as it has many reliable server features and performance improvements. Another improvement is the security features and the new firewall built on the system. ... Read review