Non-profit infrastructure upgrades
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Continuing from my other thread. Here are the recommendations from the new IT company --
Security appliance
- Meraki MX84 (option 1)
- Cisco MX64 (option 2)
New server
Poweredge R530
Dual E5-2609 v4
32GB Ram
PERC H730 1GB NV
(4) 1TB SATA HDs in Raid 6
Dual SD modules (Hyper-V)
5 year NBD pro-supportManaged Switches
Cisco SG200BC / DR
Siris3 B2000 Business Continuity Appliance
2TB offsite cloud storage -
Are there other security appliances that should be considered here? I should know more about their usage, but honestly I don't. They have 100+ employees. Based on the quote, it appears that there is some VPN / RDS usage, but I don't know how many employees actually access their systems remotely.
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The server is ~$5400 with another $5000 for server licenses. I know they could likely save some money with refurbed equipment. I also think they may be able to get some of the licensing through TechSoup.
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I think they are overdoing the number of licenses required. The quote is for 32 2-core packs for a total of 64 cores. They have two servers, so if you assume 16 cores each, then that would mean they only need half of the proposed licenses.
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@Danp said in Non-profit infrastructure upgrades:
I think they are overdoing the number of licenses required. The quote is for 32 2-core packs for a total of 64 cores. They have two servers, so if you assume 16 cores each, then that would mean they only need half of the proposed licenses.
Nope, that is the correct amount of licensing to have mobility.
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Horrible server spec.
4x1tb in RAID6?
32gb RAM?
Hyper-V does not go on SD.
5year NBD is a waste if you are solidly virtualized and replicating the workload to a second server as it sounds like. -
What is with all the Cisco networking. Ton of waste there too.
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@Danp said in Non-profit infrastructure upgrades:
The server is ~$5400 with another $5000 for server licenses. I know they could likely save some money with refurbed equipment. I also think they may be able to get some of the licensing through TechSoup.
NFP != 802(c)
Lots of NFP are not.
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@JaredBusch It's 501(c)(3), which they are.
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@JaredBusch Agreed on the server specs, although I'm unsure if they are replicating the workload. I'll have to try to get more details.
Nope, that is the correct amount of licensing to have mobility.
Can you elaborate or refer me to another post for me info?
Hyper-V does not go on SD
Ok... I was thinking that it could, but I guess I was confusing it with ESXi.
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@JaredBusch said in Non-profit infrastructure upgrades:
What is with all the Cisco networking. Ton of waste there too.
Appreciate the feedback. Any alternatives that you would recommend?
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@Danp said in Non-profit infrastructure upgrades:
Continuing from my other thread. Here are the recommendations from the new IT company --
Security appliance
- Meraki MX84 (option 1)
- Cisco MX64 (option 2)
Fire them. That's a sales guy with dollar signs in his eyes. Guarantee you are talking to a VAR salesman, not an IT guy.
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@Danp said in Non-profit infrastructure upgrades:
Poweredge R530
Dual E5-2609 v4
32GB Ram
PERC H730 1GB NV
(4) 1TB SATA HDs in Raid 6
Dual SD modules (Hyper-V)
5 year NBD pro-supportFour SATA in RAID 6? They don't know RAID very well, that's one you can memorize it's so easy. That should never happen.
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@Danp said in Non-profit infrastructure upgrades:
The server is ~$5400 with another $5000 for server licenses. I know they could likely save some money with refurbed equipment. I also think they may be able to get some of the licensing through TechSoup.
What is any of it being used for? Not knowing the use case, all we know is that this feels wrong and the type of equipment is clearly someone looking to milk the non-profit because they think that they can pull a fast one on them - and they are probably right. The last guy did, they probably can too. Non-profits rarely take money seriously and are great targets to take advantage of. I can't tell if the hardware is spec'd well, but I can tell that the drives are ridiculous, the memory and the storage don't match the procs for normal usage and that the networking gear is clearly inappropriate.
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@Danp said in Non-profit infrastructure upgrades:
I think they are overdoing the number of licenses required. The quote is for 32 2-core packs for a total of 64 cores. They have two servers, so if you assume 16 cores each, then that would mean they only need half of the proposed licenses.
Core packs for Standard or Datacenter?
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What are the actual workloads?
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We need to know what load the server will be under to provide a better solution. It already right off the bat feels all wrong. But we need to know what the server and network will be doing.
You could be much better off with an R730 and some SSDd with some Ubiquity networking gear. But again, need lots more info.
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If you have not, take a look at Tech Soup.
My last physical server I bought I bought from dell directly, but I got the server os from TechSoup and with software assurance, got it at extremely discounted prices.
I picked up two 48 port Cisco managed smart switches for about $300 each,..
As for the server,.. RAID 10,...
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I rather enjoyed working the NFP/ NPO angle,.. a frustrating yet satisfying challenge
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@Danp said in Non-profit infrastructure upgrades:
Cisco SG200
That's not a managed switch. That's a POS entry level Linksys smart switch. That's below the home line IMHO.
