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Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 - what are you using?

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Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 - wh... - 23.Jun.2005 10:56:00 AM   
dfosbenner

 

Posts: 116
Joined: 14.Nov.2001
From: Maybrook, NY USA
Status: offline 		I'm looking at buying two new, inexpensive servers for small remote offices [ <15 users] to run ISA Server 2004. Presently these offices run ISA 2000 on their only server, which are domain controllers. We have no problems with this configuration, but I'd like to avoid the security risk. [They don't have static IP addressing, web, email or server publishing, so their internet is outbound only].

Tom, if you're listening, you've even recommended against installing antivirus and backup software on ISA servers in other posts, which has me thinking about simplicity for these servers.

I'm thinking about dual SATA drives, perhaps 80GB each, and mirroring them using Windows 2003's software mirroring. Ordinarily I'd go with RAID 5 SCSI drives, but that will double the price of the servers. I'm concerned about the performance of the SATA drives.

What are others using? Between server hardware, OS, and ISA itself, a simple ISA server can get expensive pretty quick.
Post #: 1
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 23.Jun.2005 12:05:00 PM   
tshinder

 

Posts: 47659
Joined: 10.Jan.2001
From: Texas
Status: offline 		Hi David,

1. What is the line speed at the branch offices?

2. How many users at the branch offices?

3. Will you be publishing anything?

4. Will VPN into the branches be allowed?

5. Will site to site VPN to main be done?

6. How many rules do you imagine creating at the branch office ISA firewalls?

Thanks!
Tom

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 2
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 24.Jun.2005 10:46:00 PM   
dfosbenner

 

Posts: 116
Joined: 14.Nov.2001
From: Maybrook, NY USA
Status: offline 		1. What is the line speed at the branch offices?
1MB internet access line at each site.

2. How many users at the branch offices?
15 users

3. Will you be publishing anything?
No publishing

4. Will VPN into the branches be allowed?
No VPN

5. Will site to site VPN to main be done?
There's a separate frame-relay connection for site-to site comm.

6. How many rules do you imagine creating at the branch office ISA firewalls?
Probably only 5 rules per site.

Thanks !

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 3
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 25.Jun.2005 9:38:00 AM   
tshinder

 

Posts: 47659
Joined: 10.Jan.2001
From: Texas
Status: offline 		Hi David,

Those a very small offices for the ISA firewall. A single proc P4-3GHz and a Gig of RAM with the disk setup you have will barely scratch the surface of the ISA firewall perforamnce capabilities.

HTH,
Tom

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 4
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 25.Jun.2005 3:05:00 PM   
bas

 

Posts: 89
Joined: 14.Sep.2001
From: The Netherlands
Status: offline 		I have done some installs with Dell PE 750 they do the job pretty well.

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 5
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 25.Jun.2005 8:14:00 PM   
dfosbenner

 

Posts: 116
Joined: 14.Nov.2001
From: Maybrook, NY USA
Status: offline 		bas, what kind of disks, config'd how?

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 6
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 26.Jun.2005 7:25:00 AM   
bas

 

Posts: 89
Joined: 14.Sep.2001
From: The Netherlands
Status: offline 		The PE 750 can have as much as two drives.
So its either a raid 1 config or 2 separate drives.
I prefer the raid 1 config for safety.
I you need the cache separate use two disks you loose the safety of Raid 1 then though.

If you realy need the cache on a separate drive because of performance issues you are probably working for a bigger company anyway, buying a bigger machine that can handle more drives is most of the time not an issue for those company's.

So in my opinion a PE 750 with raid 1 config (OS + APP + CACHE on the same drive) and plenty of RAM wil do for < 100 users.

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 7
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 26.Jun.2005 9:59:00 AM   
Rickymag

 

Posts: 509
Joined: 26.Nov.2003
From: SA
Status: offline 		Hello dfosbenner,

I understand the budget restraints if it is a critical server spend a little more. I always make sure I backup the server incase i loose it and if I have shady hardware installed.

You can get away with a 750p3 chip and 256 meg ram
and a small 4gig HDD these specs are minimum and I usually double up the spec and add another HDD for mirroring incase something goes wrong.

Just some thoughts

RM

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 8
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 27.Jun.2005 8:05:00 AM   
dfosbenner

 

Posts: 116
Joined: 14.Nov.2001
From: Maybrook, NY USA
Status: offline
quote:
Originally posted by tshinder:
Hi David,

Those a very small offices for the ISA firewall. A single proc P4-3GHz and a Gig of RAM with the disk setup you have will barely scratch the surface of the ISA firewall perforamnce capabilities.

HTH,
Tom
Tom, are you suggesting that ISA 2004 may be overkill for an office this small?

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 9
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 27.Jun.2005 8:28:00 AM   
tshinder

 

Posts: 47659
Joined: 10.Jan.2001
From: Texas
Status: offline 		Hi Dave,

Not at all. What I was trying to say is that you could run a PIII-1GHz and you won't tax the system.

HTH,
Tom

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 10
RE: Selecting inexpensive server hardware for ISA 2004 ... - 27.Jun.2005 5:49:00 PM   
bas

 

Posts: 89
Joined: 14.Sep.2001
From: The Netherlands
Status: offline
quote:
Not at all. What I was trying to say is that you could run a PIII-1GHz and you won't tax the system.
Not that I'm that kind of expert especially not compared to Mr. Schinder, but that's basicly what I and RM say as well....
Get yourself a new up to date machine with enough RAM and a disk configuration you are comfortable with.....

(in reply to dfosbenner)
Post #: 11

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