Can someone help me out there? I'm wanting to have a centralized computer with all our business files on it and have it set up so we can log into it from any where. Please tell me what I need. Thanks in advance.
server software
- Thread starter fishsmith
- Start date
If it is a reasonably small shop, you might consider GoToMyPC software and subscription. It's a software based solution that allows you to act like you are at work, but from home or anywhere. If you can access the server at work, you can do it on the road.
Also there is VPN (Virtual Private Networking). This requires a firewall with that feature, and software for each remote client. Sometimes it requires a Fixed IP address to use, but not so much today. A VPN firewall is about $200 and clients are $50 IIRC.
Also there is VPN (Virtual Private Networking). This requires a firewall with that feature, and software for each remote client. Sometimes it requires a Fixed IP address to use, but not so much today. A VPN firewall is about $200 and clients are $50 IIRC.
I don't know what would work better Mike. There will be a total of about 7 different computers logging into the server from time to time if that makes a difference.
FTP is accessible with a internet connection. You can log into it anywhere and it is 1 pc that will have to be running during those times, and the files can be added to it from anywhere, removed from anywhere, whatever you wanna do. The speed will be up to the pc running, and the connection speed. With 1 or 2 people downloading or uploading to it, it wouldnt be a problem, if 7 people are accessing it at the same time it could be a bit slow.
The great thing is that it is cheap. Also the station where you keep all the files can still be used as a normal PC by someone.
When you say anywhere, are you saying out of the shop, like across town/country/world, or in any room?
Cause if there in the same building you can just setup a small network. Even use wifi to access it from the laptops connected to the wifi.
Cause if there in the same building you can just setup a small network. Even use wifi to access it from the laptops connected to the wifi.
We used both GoToMyPC and VPN, and for ease of use, GoToMyPC is probably the best answer. VPN requires some computer networking and IT skills, as does FTP. VPN or FTP is the ticket for large companies, but there are security and maintenance issues with FTP if not set up solid. Many of my customers have stopped their FTP sites.
The beauty of GoToMyPC or VPN, is that you can access your old emails, private files, etc, just like you do at your desk. FTP is like a master database that everyone shares on the server via the internet.
The beauty of GoToMyPC or VPN, is that you can access your old emails, private files, etc, just like you do at your desk. FTP is like a master database that everyone shares on the server via the internet.
It isn't necessary that the server be setup to use as a normal pc. It shouldn't have all 7 logging on at once also just around 7 different computers using it at different times. What would be the best software to run on a setup like that? I mean any where in the United States.
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Best bet: Get a real server (Dell poweredge) with some kind of hardware RAID array (Probably SATA or SAS nowadays) and Windows Server 2008 or Server 2008 R2. Set up an AD domain and make sure all the workstations are running 2000 Pro, XP Pro, Vista Business or 7 Pro. This way you have an Active Directory Domain handling user authentication, so there's ONE user account, and it'll work on all PC's. Just walk up to it and log in. Store ALL data on the server's RAID array (so if one drive fails, it'll yell at you to replace it but you'll keep working). Have some kind of backup (Mozy offsite, Iomega REV, LTO tape drive, etc). If you want remote access, two best options are either VPN, which can be accomplised using the Windows server or LogMeIn (It's like GoToMyPc, but it's free unless you want to upgrade tot he "pro" features). The server should NEVER be used as a workstation. EVER.
I see WAY too many people running their businesses with thier "Server" a Windows XP Pro workstation with no backup, no RAID, and users use it as a workstation; makes me shudder to think about it. Then they wonder why they have authentication issues, can't log into other PCs, only 10 connections to the "Server", etc. one HDD fails: POOF - business gone. malware/spyware on the "Server" - hours of downtime...
I see WAY too many people running their businesses with thier "Server" a Windows XP Pro workstation with no backup, no RAID, and users use it as a workstation; makes me shudder to think about it. Then they wonder why they have authentication issues, can't log into other PCs, only 10 connections to the "Server", etc. one HDD fails: POOF - business gone. malware/spyware on the "Server" - hours of downtime...
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Having an AD Domain Controller to handle everything and store all data will work FAR better than cobbling things together with a bunch of workstations, as long as it's done right 
. Storing all the data in one location on a server makes it accessable to all workstations without issue (and backing up data from one location is much easier than backing up from several workstations), and having hard drive redunancy (RAID) protects your data from all but the most catastrophic failures, which are rare. In my ten years of being a network engineer, I've only had one such failure (and that was MY array about six months ago :spit::rofl without other "intervention".
A new Dell Poweredge T310 with Server 2008 R2 Standard, 4GB RAM, 2.4GHz Xeon, 3 250GB SATA HDD's (would give you 500GB of storage and fault tolerance) and a hardware RAID controller is about $2000 ($800 of that is the OS and 5 Client Licenses!). Whatever you do, I HIGHLY recommend hot swap hard drives. MUCH easier to identify and replace a failed drive.
. Storing all the data in one location on a server makes it accessable to all workstations without issue (and backing up data from one location is much easier than backing up from several workstations), and having hard drive redunancy (RAID) protects your data from all but the most catastrophic failures, which are rare. In my ten years of being a network engineer, I've only had one such failure (and that was MY array about six months ago :spit::rofl without other "intervention".A new Dell Poweredge T310 with Server 2008 R2 Standard, 4GB RAM, 2.4GHz Xeon, 3 250GB SATA HDD's (would give you 500GB of storage and fault tolerance) and a hardware RAID controller is about $2000 ($800 of that is the OS and 5 Client Licenses!). Whatever you do, I HIGHLY recommend hot swap hard drives. MUCH easier to identify and replace a failed drive.
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Windows 2008 Small Business Server or Windows 2003 Small Business Server. A little bit of everything. Including Active Directory. And you can set up an e-mail system with it. And it gives you between 50 and 75 Client License. Good for expansion later. In case your business gets bigger. Just finished that class.
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SBS08 SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STAY AWAY!!! SBS03 isn't great, but it's not as bad as 08...
I agree with you on 08. Based off of vista with even more problems. But it is an option. I don't mind 03 as much so far. But I'm still learning the server stuff.
For local networking, after 17 years in a small business that is primarily selling data, and using many different configs, here is what we run today on the network:
10 computers and 1 network printer, Computers are Win95 up to Win7, mixed.
One computer is a $190 (new cost, TigerDirect) running Vista. This is our "server". You cannot run the server from somebodies workstation without hassles. It will work, but you'll eventually grow frustrated. If he crashes, you lose files, and lose time. It has a UPS, 1000T ethernet, and SATA drive. It has an external backup drive (Costco Seagate = $90) plugged into a USB port. There is a good UPS (battery backup system) on this unit.
There is a 16 port 1000T router and a DSL VPN Firewall for the internet. There are no other hubs or switches. This will make the connections fly. Using more than one router/switches slowed things down a lot. This is also on a UPS.
External access is done by GoToMyPC and has worked flawless.
I have less $1500 into the whole networking setup, (minus workstations and printer) and it truly rips with 10 computers. There is no special software used, just Windows peer-to-peer networking. But I probably went through twice that much trying to figure out what the problems were.
10 computers and 1 network printer, Computers are Win95 up to Win7, mixed.
One computer is a $190 (new cost, TigerDirect) running Vista. This is our "server". You cannot run the server from somebodies workstation without hassles. It will work, but you'll eventually grow frustrated. If he crashes, you lose files, and lose time. It has a UPS, 1000T ethernet, and SATA drive. It has an external backup drive (Costco Seagate = $90) plugged into a USB port. There is a good UPS (battery backup system) on this unit.
There is a 16 port 1000T router and a DSL VPN Firewall for the internet. There are no other hubs or switches. This will make the connections fly. Using more than one router/switches slowed things down a lot. This is also on a UPS.
External access is done by GoToMyPC and has worked flawless.
I have less $1500 into the whole networking setup, (minus workstations and printer) and it truly rips with 10 computers. There is no special software used, just Windows peer-to-peer networking. But I probably went through twice that much trying to figure out what the problems were.
Thanks Pat That will probably be the route that I go. I can use one of our other computers just to run as a server and set everything up like that.
It's not the "Based off Vista" that's a problem. Frankly, there's nothing wrong with Vista. The problem is management. You MUST use their stupid wizards or some things don't work right, and the "SBS Setup" disables the Administrator account and creates an alternate admin account. Well, some things you MUST do from THE Administrator account, and no other account will work
.Pat, you just sent a BIG shudder up and down my spine.... That is NOT the way to do it and and avoid troubles.... You get what you pay for
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Pat, you just sent a BIG shudder up and down my spine.... That is NOT the way to do it and and avoid troubles.... You get what you pay for
For a small business which relies on computers for everything we do, it has worked well for quite a long time in various configs. I still have the first report I ever did in 1993 on the server. DOS, Netware, arcnet, BBS transfer, FTP, etc, were all steps along the way, and today it is more stable than ever.
The only major calamity was when Hewlett Packard Engineering sent us an Excel report that had a virus embedded in it. But even that was recoverable.
Things to note about a small business:
You cannot afford an IT professional, nor can you afford to keep all machines the same. You cannot trust Microsoft support, or most other support. If a OS/machine/hub/firewall, etc acts up, it's cheaper to throw it in the trash or return it, than figure out why it's not doing what it's supposed to.
You always make the assumption that anything you attach to the network might have to go into the trash tomorrow. You never trust anything Microsoft claims is "better", and run the old stuff as long as possible.
Critical computers should stay off the network/internet entirely. Accounting or machine controllers should be "sneaker net".
What some folk don't get (Microsoft, are you listening?), is that a computer is a necessary evil. It is not something you really want. What you want is SOFTWARE to process WORK faster. It would be nice if no O/S, networking, internet, or hardware was needed. None of them actually do any work, so you want them to be as simple and cheap as possible.
Windows Bloat and deliberate holes in their O/S has cost the US more money than 9/11 ever did. While having a My Little Pony desktop layout is interesting, it's probably not a necessary feature for a business computer.
Here's a little blasphemy:
All the computers in the world do NOT have to be linked together to conduct business. You never really have to run two primary apps on a computer at the same time either. Most tasks required to make money don't even need color monitors or a mouse. A trained operator will get more work done per hour with a black and white monitor, no mouse, and no internet. I know this from experience, and back then Lotus 123 was 98,000 bytes ran on a 4.77 mhz 8088 with 128k ram.
But the simplier things are, and the less components and software involved, the more robust the system is, the faster you get work done, and you have less downtime. If there is a .001% chance you will encounter a bug that crashes the system, running 200 different apps in a day (this computer is running 77 right this minute that I know of) instead of 1 or 2 improves your odds.
My business dream world is one where you have an Accounting Appliance. It does nothing but run accounting software. A Report Appliance, A CAD Appliance, A Programming Appliance, etc.
But that's not the Microsoft vision. They want every computer everywhere to run everything. That is fine for a home computer. But it is not what is needed for business. Their "Professional" software is pre-loaded with games, has 20 different screen savers, and must be hooked into the internet to work (actually you can call them up and get a keycode, but they don't want you doing that).
It is truly a joke that hundreds of patches a year need to be loaded on your computer JUST TO KEEP THE O/S running correctly! Keep in mind the O/S does not make you money. It's something you have to have loaded on your computer for it to turn on.
Some might call me an alarmist or a technophobe, but think about this. It is the year 2010. If Microsoft or a hacker with MS inside knowledge wanted to, they could shut down over 50% of the computers in the US at any time. They can send a message to your computer in the background that is the "unauthorized O/S software" message for XP and newer platforms.
I believe the person who authorized that risk should be put in jail. It's kind of like a Weapon of Mass Destruction produced by a non-military entity.
Cliff Notes: I use the simpliest system possible, and it has done me well.