I adopted a real low availability network. I have 3 physical "servers" (actually desktops): one mail, one a CentOS proxy/dns/dhcp server, and the other an application host hosting a 4 application VMs one application being a document management system with shares a Drobo also being used as a file share to some extent..

A Dell R730 was recently purchased (before I came in) with 3x 480GB SSD. The current systems as a result are suffering performance issues, and despite their crappy old hardware, the company can't tolerate much down time. The business lacks centralized management of ICT systems. I seeking some recommendations on the best way to increase performance, reliability and simplify management. Thanks.

@scottalanmiller said:

R730xd: 24x2.5" or 12x3.5"?

I spec sheet stated R730xd motherboard, but it looks like it's a R730 It only came with 8 hot swappable bays.
Looks like this http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net/art/TRBC/Servers/Dell/Dell PowerEdge R730/PE R730 disk detail-420-90.jpg

@hubtechagain said:

Though segmented and long winded... Scott is right.

You need to establish the need for a backup. I'd use the drobo for a backup target. consolidate the other server functions on your actual server hardware using a hypervisor. ESXi, Hyper-V, XenServer etc... whatever flavor you like.

That is what I am considering at the moment, the problem is the current setup already has the data stored on the Drobo, so while it's already there, it isn't a backup as it's where the data actively resides.

@scottalanmiller said:

@whizzard said:

That is what I am considering at the moment, the problem is the current setup already has the data stored on the Drobo, so while it's already there, it isn't a backup as it's where the data actively resides.

That's going to be very tough. And backing up a SAN is dramatically harder than backing up other storage types as you cannot back it up directly but only through the systems that are attached to it. You can't simply buy another B800i and replicate or get backup software that can back it up. It takes a lot more resources and effort to back up.

The first step, I think, would be prepping the R730 for use for "everything" and migrating that huge B800i workload over to it ASAP. Once that is done, repurpose the B800i as the backup target ASAP.

If the capacity of the B800i is not enough to handle all of the backups once there are versions and whatnot, you can get bigger drives for it to handle that. Or if necessary, a second B800i is not a massive investment.

I like that idea

@Dashrender said:

@scottalanmiller said:

@Dashrender said:

Good to know.

Hmmm... While I appreciate the anywhere access to systems like this, there are times I just prefer an app instead of a web interface - frankly sometimes if only because the icon in the start menu is dedicated to function (though I think on Windows now, if you launch a site from a .website shortcut it does create it's own icon while running on the start bar).

Web applications have had the ability to have their own icons going at least back to Windows 98. You can even make them look so much like a normal app that the users can't tell. In fact that's all that your local Outlook is now, that's HTML5 and Javascript coming from a local webserver, you know!

You can do this on your phone too.

I know you can do this on your phone - how do you do this on Windows and not have it mixed together with the other browser icons (all merged) that are running? I'm not talking simply the icon on the desktop.

I believe he's referring to a web shortcut for the mail page. It will capture the favicon from the site, and use it as the desktop icon so it looks like an application. A pain in the butt when ppl actually believe it's an application and can't navigate to the email without the shortcut being present (even those "familiar" with web mail)

Upgrading the storage of the R730 to house all VMs and data, would it be advisable to leave the current 480s for hosting the VMs and buying 5 10K SAS or 7.2K NLSAS to use as storage? I want to achieve about 6TB of storage.

How does the licensing work with multiple UPS?

In scenarios such as these what would be the recommended backup approach: DAS, NAS, Backup Appliance, lower end server, removable disk storage, tapes (intentionally left out cloud)?

@scottalanmiller

@scottalanmiller said:

@whizzard said:

So you'll suggest getting all SSDs? or still some HDDs for the OS?

All SSDs to keep things simple. HDs to put OS and applications to save money. It's all about the value of the potential cost savings if you want to shave a few bucks at the cost of performance at boot or load time. If you have just tons and tons of capacity needs, this can make sense pretty easily. If you don't, normally the OS files are pretty small and it is very hard to get this value.

Well I was watching the cost to achieve the 6TB storage via SSDs and it's significantly more. and if going all SSDs I'd replace the 480s and get all even disc for simplicity (which seems like a waste of 3 relatively new SSDs). The document management application has an indexer that constantly reads and writes as documents are scanned, created, accessed or saved. It also has the option to save emails as well to keep all related documents together and easy to find.

I apologize if I am not explaining clearly

@scottalanmiller said:

@whizzard said:

It is, but I'm thinking loading time for the OS and application in the event of a reboot.

OS always goes on the slowest storage possible. How many seconds at reboot is it worth having a slower system all the time? How often do you reboot when people are in the middle of using the system? Is saving one second or two every couple of years valuable compared to much faster systems every day?

So you'll suggest getting all SSDs? or still some HDDs for the OS? But wouldn't installing the Application on the slower disc, slow down performance of the application even if the application stores or databases are on the faster discs?

@whizzard said:

@scottalanmiller said:

Not sure what you mean by "hosting the VMs" as opposed to "use as storage."

Well the VMs would be installed on the SSDs and the application data would be on the other

It is, but I'm thinking loading time for the OS and application in the event of a reboot. For approximately 100 users, and the most intensive application being document management software, I think the SAS should suffice.

@scottalanmiller said:

Not sure what you mean by "hosting the VMs" as opposed to "use as storage."

Well the VMs would be installed on the SSDs and the application data would be on the other

Upgrading the storage of the R730 to house all VMs and data, would it be advisable to leave the current 480s for hosting the VMs and buying 5 10K SAS or 7.2K NLSAS to use as storage? I want to achieve about 6TB of storage.

@Dashrender said:

@scottalanmiller said:

@Dashrender said:

Good to know.

Hmmm... While I appreciate the anywhere access to systems like this, there are times I just prefer an app instead of a web interface - frankly sometimes if only because the icon in the start menu is dedicated to function (though I think on Windows now, if you launch a site from a .website shortcut it does create it's own icon while running on the start bar).

Web applications have had the ability to have their own icons going at least back to Windows 98. You can even make them look so much like a normal app that the users can't tell. In fact that's all that your local Outlook is now, that's HTML5 and Javascript coming from a local webserver, you know!

You can do this on your phone too.

I know you can do this on your phone - how do you do this on Windows and not have it mixed together with the other browser icons (all merged) that are running? I'm not talking simply the icon on the desktop.

I believe he's referring to a web shortcut for the mail page. It will capture the favicon from the site, and use it as the desktop icon so it looks like an application. A pain in the butt when ppl actually believe it's an application and can't navigate to the email without the shortcut being present (even those "familiar" with web mail)

@whizzard said:

SSD

@scottalanmiller said:

@whizzard said:

Is it advisable to mix HDD types in a RAID? i.e. SSDs with non SSDs?

It is not advisable to mix drives in any way if possible. You want absolutely identical drives in every way for optimum value, wear and performance. Even two drives of the same basic specs (size, spindle speed) is not as good as totally identical drives. You want all spindle and arm movements to align whenever possible.

I assumed it was a best practise to mix drive brands or models for HDDs in case of manufacturer defects, all you drives wouldn't suffer from the same issue which otherwise may make them likely to fail at once. I thought the firmware issues and other shortcoming of SSDs would have cause for the same rational.