IBM ServeRAID 7k

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

...and and 4 143GB 15K disks for the data configured as RAID5 (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 this model has the dual power supplies installed I would imagine it also comes with 6 cooling fans. If you see a cheaper price for the same model make sure it has dual supplies. There is a thick perspex cover directing air from 2 of the fans over the CPU and memory slots whilst two fans at the bottom suck air through the hard drive bays... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

...The particular model my company own is an 8648-4AY It comes with: 1x Xeon 3.0GHz/800MHz (2MB L2 Cache), 1x 512MB PC2-3200 ECC DDR2 SDRAM RDIMM, No disks,1x Broadcom NetXtreme 5721 Gigabit Ethernet, 48x-20x IDE CD-ROM , 1x 530W Power Supply, SVGA (16MB) . What 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 set-up ( noise generated,heat and cooling requirement) Set-up: For our particular configuration , we had to create the disk... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: good value for money
Disadvantages: non SCSI , non hot swap disk, No DVD writer/reader

...If you need a low-traffic server this is the machine for you, but do not expect miracles.It feature 2-way memory interleaving , and Hyper threading on processor helps, but upgrades are quite pricy, and it is missing a DVD-RW. It features same BIOS standard for x-server family ,and it comes with good documentation and IBM director CD( at least here in UK) Hard disk included is 80Gb ,quite small but it has a fast access rate. ServeRAID 7 controller is a must if you install database, but it come pricy .Support is on fee bases, there are no more the 30 days " up and running" as it used to be .If you run into trouble during installation ( quite common with Serveraid 7 controller) and you phone helpline , you have to pay. On the bright side in case of hardware failure( i burned a Power supply unit, my fault...)you have a technician onsite... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful