Setting up a server - what do I need?

And all of the above costs money and time to implement.

I'm surprised that nobody has even mentioned stuff like Google Docs:

Free web-based word processor and spreadsheet, which allow you share and collaborate online.

Job done - no need for a server or any understanding of routing / VPNs etc.

[Jon T]

On-line solutions are fine.......until you lose your internet connection.

Originally Posted by Jon T

On-line solutions are fine.......until you lose your internet connection.

Yeah it happens. But most of the time, internet connections these days are fairly stable...

And if the server was located on one of the offices and that net connection went down, the others would be offline /not accessable anyway!

Just think of the money saved - and it is a charity!

[Jon T]

Regarding the charity side of things, there is help available for charities to advise, setup and support all things IT.

There's also a cart load of massive reductions from the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, HP, Dell.....etc.

Anyone working for or on behalf of a charity really needs to start looking into these things. Also, depending where funding is coming from there maybe certain data storage/privacy requirements.

I used to work for a small charity based community group, managing their IT at the resource centre that they ran. I then moved on to a Groundwork trust(later to merge with a second). Charity IT isn't straightforward, there are so many variables that it really does need the wider picture taking into account.

I'd really recommend going here: http://www.navca.org.uk/about/staff/, look up the contact details for the IT Support officer, he's at the bottom of the list. Really freindly chap that knows his stuff......used to be my boss!

[Caspar]

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

And all of the above costs money and time to implement.

I'm surprised that nobody has even mentioned stuff like Google Docs:


Job done - no need for a server or any understanding of routing / VPNs etc.

Google Docs is poor compared to Microsoft's version over Live.com, but it really depends on a few other factors...just because something's free doesn't make it better! Online cloud type services, at the moment, are fantastic for version 1, or beta. However, they're very limited compared to locally installed Office products. Limited in terms of functionality and features.

The other side is privacy and international storage of your files... both Google and MS both store your files in the US... you may have to register and acknowledge with the IC that you're exporting your files!...plus US government may take a look at your files too! Also, there's talk that online office providers will scan your files and deliver advertisements based on your file contents! cheeky!

Yes, your connection to the Internet and then the cloud and then the files now becomes the critical components, you're balancing your business/charity on your ISP's SLA, and then of Google's/MS' SLAs.


If you're ok with the risk of 'sometimes I won't have access to my files', and that the FBI can read all my documents, and that Google only allow me to format text and that's about it (). Then go Cloud!...but until these things are sorted I wouldn't risk using it for business, waiting 1 to 2 years

Originally Posted by Caspar

...and that the FBI can read all my documents...

Proof??

[Caspar]

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

Proof??

Maybe I watch too much Jack Bauer!... but picture the pot of 'privacyloss' - ingredients include 1) your info 2) stored on US based servers 3) the FBI/NSA 4) anything in the name of anti-terrorism!

Sanity - check! or is should that be cheque, I'm confused now!





oh I did try and Google for proof and found some interesting results! ... I'm now wondering if becuase of my google string that I may now be on FBI watch list!.... Admins! please delete my IP!!!

[murfitUK]

Thanks for all the replies - certainly given us a lot to think about. I have been looking at a virtual network with something called Ultracloud at melbourne.co.uk and think that is the way forward for now. At least then if any problems arise the staff have knowledgeable support techs they can call.

[Caspar]

Originally Posted by murfitUK

Thanks for all the replies - certainly given us a lot to think about. I have been looking at a virtual network with something called Ultracloud at melbourne.co.uk and think that is the way forward for now. At least then if any problems arise the staff have knowledgeable support techs they can call.

murfitUK - this is just a virtual server and at £35 seems expensive... check out 1and1 from £20. but as you say it's all about the after-sales support I've used 1and1 in the past and they are pants!


Anyway, how does a virtual server solve your problem? Are you planning to VPN into it, from all 4 locations? What about central user management? It doesn't seem to answer the questions you posed in post #1?

[jem]

Actually a better solution would be a SBS 2008 (Small Business Server) installation at head-office or wherever the majority of the users are and a Windows 2008 server running terminal services (TS) in application sharing mode, loaded up with the Office suite and any other software they use. That way you don't have to worry about flakey internet connections corrupting open documents, you only have to worry about one set of software being installed and you can use any old PCs at the satellite sites running any version of Windows (or not even Windows if you really are feeling brave as long as it has an RDP client). People can also work from home without you having to bother about what the state of their home PCs are viz-a-viz antivirus, patches etc because all these client machines are not actually connected to the office network.

If you want, you can use VPNs to connect the remote offices and home machines to the TS box but it's not too unsafe to not bother and just connect via SSL-that way you don't have to bother about VPN configurations at the remote offices

Charities can get some very nice software deals from Microsoft, (I know because I set up a similar arrangement for a charity only a few months ago and they could get licences for Office and Windows for a fraction of the normal cost).

You won't need anything stupidly powerful for the SBS but I'd recommend a 64-bit server platform for the TS box with as much RAM as you can stuff into it (and as budget allows). How many users and how much data are we talking about at each site BTW?

Unfortunately none of this is very easy to put in and configure, but it pays dividends in simplified support costs after. Oh and don't forget a really good backup system. Tape drives are the best in my opinion (not cheap though although the tapes themselves are reasonable) unfortunately MS in their infinite wisdom have taken support for tapes out of SBS2008-madness I call it.

Good luck.

[idi banashapan]

4 different offices connecting to 1 TS server???? this is a charity we're talking about - unless they have stack loads of cash for either 1 MONSTER server or stackloads of cash for a few G5s or something....

[smee init]

I have a HP g5 server if your looking for one.