w00t!!! System Upgrades!

[Dominus]

This is a long an convoluted post. You were warned.
--------------------------------------------------


Ok, here's the scoop:

My dad has finally decided to network the system at his office. Therefore, he now needs a server for this new LAN. He proposed that he allow me a (very) limited budget to get a new system, and modify the one I have into a suitable server. Here's the specs:


Server (Mainly old system's parts)
----------------------------------------

----
PII 333 mhz SL2KA (not overclocked)*
128MB PC100 SDRAM (2x 32mb & 1x 64mb)*
ASUS P2B rev. 1002*
Generic ATX Mid-Tower (modified)*

Cards
-----

AGP
---
ATI Xpert98 8mb AGP vid card

PCI
---
Generic 100mbps NIC (suggestions?)

Drives
------
Generic 1.44MB Floppy*
8.4GB Maxtor HDD*
40x Kenwood CD-ROM*
Seagate TapeStor Travan 20GB ATAPI Tape Drive

Other
------
15' monitor 1024*768 resolution*
Generic PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse*

Will be running NT 4.0 Server w/ 5 clients


My New System
----------------------------------

----
AMD Athlon 600 (w00t!!!)
Asus K7M (if available at time of purchase, otherwise MSI-6717)
128MB PC133 SDRAM (1*128)
KS-180 ATX Full-Tower w/ all the bells & whistles

Cards
------

AGP
---
ATI All-in-Wonder Pro 8mb *

PCI
----
Diamond Monster2 12mb V2 *
MEGAMonster2 12mb V2
D-Link 528 10mbps NIC *
Micronet SP2500SR 10/100mbps NIC*

ISA
---
SoundBlaster AWE64 Gold *

Drives
-------
Generic 1.44MB Floppy *
IBM DeskStar GXP 22GB ATA/66 7200rpm HDD
52x Kenwood CD-ROM
HP8100i CDRW *

Other
------
Not sure on monitor ($$$ big factor)
Mouse & keyboard *

Will be running some form of *NIX, most likely RH6.1, and Win9X


* - from old system(s); everything else is new.


I managed to find all the stuff I had to get for less than $3000 CAN which is a bit over budget, but I can shave off a few bucks hopefully by going to some business contacts.

I just want some opinions on the system, and info on any incompatabilities or options that I should consider.

note: I know the vid cards are lower end, but they're good enough.

[This message has been edited by Dominus (edited 10-23-1999).]

[CMonster]

i NV u!

I would go with either an Intel or 3com NIC, just the software utilities that usually come with these make them the better choice.

personal note: never plug a phone line into the RJ45 jack of a NIC /forum/frown.gif

[Nathan]

I guess I'm not understanding what is staying or upgraded. OK. What equipment are you getting and how many of each?

[Dominus]

I guess it's hard to understand without visual aid. Anything marked in a * if from my old system. Anything not marked in a * is being purchased new.

I'll *try* to edit the original message to clarify.

[Nathan]

1. Why not use the monitor that's there also? You aren't going to be looking at it hours at a time.

2. Does this need to be a high security? Can you get by with a peer to peer?

3. Why not use the 40X CD-rom? Do you really need the 52X?

4. I would use Intel. Are the apps going to be running off the network, or is it going to be a file server? Or both? I would consider putting in 256 MB of memory. It all depends on how memory intensive the apps are.

[Dominus]

1. The monitor I have is going to go to my dad's office along with the server.

2. The system needs to run NT, as part of the requirements set by the company. I will need to be high security eventually once they get perm internet connection.

3. True, I don't really need the 52x, but I'd only save $10 or so getting a 40x.

4. The server *is* using an Intel PII 333, as I said. My new system will be home; the server is going in the office. The server will be for both files and apps, and I will have to judge how the system performs when it is in place. I believe that 128MB will be enough because it'll only have 5 clients.

The specs are rather preliminary, and there are some things that I will have to judge after it is all in place, since I'll be the one installing and administering the network.