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Hi Guys,

I trying to set up my first network for my business. We have about 20
computers who each need access to an Access database. (This database
will hopefully become SQL soon.) We currently have our Email and Web
space hosted by another company. My question is what sort of Hardware
do i need to set up a dedicated server. I currently have a hub/switch
which links all the computers together.

What i would like to have would be:

1) A mass storage device
2) An email server [I don't exactly know who this works. Would we keep
our current email provider but have all mail routed to the emial server
which would then pass them on the the approriate address??]
3) Some where are SQL database could be stored, with the opportunity to
have this accessable over the internet at some stage.

I don't want to spend £1000's on the setup as its really a test to see
if i could do it myself, so i am looking at second hard network
hardware.

My main question is:

1) What is the lowest speck i could use to fullfil my requirements [are
PIII servers ok?

I do hope you can help me on the rather long question?

Regards,
Anthony

first off, if you are going to be making this thing live and internet
addressable, easiest way is to get a static ip from your provider.
second, get a switch NOT A HUB, as you will be pulling the crap out of
your server with the SQL if 20 users are hitting it at once with a hub.
third, if this machine is also going to be serving up email... 1- buy a
domain name and then 2- get a good firewall/antivirus, finally 3- get
good email server software. your host cannot get the email and then
pass it to another server for your server to hand out to individual
employees easilly. it is easier to go direct and have your own server
do it itself if you want to control the emails. either that or just
continue having the host do it for you. ...though, if this machine is
going live on the web, you'll already have to have a firewall and
antivirus and will already own your own domain as that would be a must.
third off, a Pentium III should be sufficient as long as it is a
higher-grade one and has plenty of RAM/storage.
final word to the wise: don't try serving up sql on the web if your
server is low-end or you have a dial-up connection. you will get drop
issues, long load times and lots of cursing later.
-John Boffemmyer IV
Systems Technician, Network Engineer, Consultant