Home / server / Questions / 175031
In Process
Josh
Asked: 2010-08-27 15:19:19 +0800 CST

I need to lease a high capacity storage server

  • 772

I appologise if this is the wrong site to post on, but it seemed the most relevant in the Stack Exchange.

I run a small time file host and we're quickly expanding. Because of this, I'm looking to buy two new dedicated storage servers, and I could use your help to find a dedicated server that suites the bill.

For a start it needs a 1Gbit unmetered connection. This is a must so I can still provide a good download service. The next thing it needs is 3TB+ of storage space. I don't mind if it isn't in RAID, but it would be nice so I can always keep a backup of everything. I'm a little bit clueless on the CPU and RAM though. I was aiming for the cheapest CPU the provider supplies, something like a P4 single core and 2GB of RAM. Do you think this is enough to satisfy multiple users running downloads at the same time?

I contacted FDCServers for a quote and this is what they quoted me:

  • Dual core Intel ATOM CPU
  • 2GB RAM
  • 2 x 2TB HDD
  • 1Gbit unmetered

The best we can do is $375/mo.

Do you think this is a good spec for the price? I could always go to something like 500Mbps peak time to 1Gbit off peak in terms of bandwidth to make it cheaper I guess.

Suggestions are welcome, as well as companies that you know offer a good deal for this kind of stuff. By Budget is around $350/m.

Thanks. :)

bandwidth storage-server

2 Answers

  1. 1) RAID is not a backup.

    2) Do the servers need to be colocated? What is the media you will be hosting?

    3) Would a colocated Drobo (with maybe a Mac Mini or other 'nettop' as the head) fit the bill?

    • 1

  2. I know what RAID does. You're right - a RAID1 setup will mirror the contents of one disk to another. In real time. It also replicates when someone deletes a file. Which means the file disappears from both (or 'n') disks.

    RAID is great for high availability, but it does nothing to prevent loss of data from accidental deletion, malware, or corruption. RAID is simply not a backup.

    As far as your requirements - 1Gbit unmetered handoff, 3TB of storage at $350/mo - I'm not sure are reasonable. I found a place that does 350GB of transfer at 100Mbit handoff for $299/mo, but it's still BYOS.

    Best of luck.

    • 0