Comments 1) Buying Server 2) Building Server 3) Linux Webserver --What is.. --Location --Tech Talk --Reseller --Router --Switch --KVM --Firewall --Power |
Colocation,
building a server, and installing Linux OS. |
Colocation....The Project
Welcome to my project.
Overview: To build a webserver in a 1U case. A quality one in the $2000 USD range. Install Linux as an OS. Install server in a colocation unit, learn how to easily manage and service your system and OS.
Objective: To make a step by step consultation sheet for anyone wanting to do any of the overview items.
Future: When this project is completed the next step will begin. Adding multiple servers and/or mirror sites to the webserver that exists, set up a cluster or load balancing system and eventually lease a full rack at a colocation site. This last step will also have basics of routers, switches, power strip, external mechanisms of a rack.
Date: Project started around 22nd of november, 2007 and is under construction still.
UPDATE: I just built the computer, look in the 'Putting it together' link at the left.
The difference in pricing of colocation of your 1U server versus Dedicated is ENORMOUS. The computer I build is going to be around 2k in cost. The colo will be at 100 dollars a month. Total of $3200 the first year. With this project you will learn that managing the server yourself is easy as well as dealing with mechanical failures.
Comparative analysis of Dedicated vs Colo, first year and second.
Challenge:
If you are a web host company, please send me your specced out computer
that comes close to what I have, with set up fees, monthly costs, software
upgrade costs, and a small list of hardware upgrade costs. If you can
even come close to my 2 year Colo plan and computer build, I will POST
IT HERE. |
||
Average good dedicated |
Colocation |
|
| Startup costs | You may get woodcrest quad cores, unknown
RAM, and no way you are getting Enterprise drives. About $1000 for set up fess, depends on how close to my build you want to get. |
$2000 for computer Dual Harpertown Quad Core, 3 250GB Enterprise sata drives, FBDIMM 4 GB |
| Monthly | $800-1200 for this build |
$100 for colocated rack
space |
| 1st Year cost (no start ups costs) | $9600-14,400.00 |
$1200 |
| 2 Year Cost (no start ups costs) | $19,200-28,000.00 |
$2400 |
| Notes | You will have to pay big time for a raid
card or even more for a software version set up for raid. |
Not much to say. You are incharge. Any
upgrades you can buy very cheap and do yourself. Software upgrades are
free and easy to do. Add 'webmin' as a control panel and you are set. |
| Final 2 year with start up | $20,200- $29,000 |
$4,400.00 |
| Summary | You are gonna be paying alot of money for little in the way of services, poorer quailty system (motherboard, RAM, etc). You could hire someone for $10,000 just to put it all together
and admin the colocated server..and still have enough left over to pay
for hourly services from a local tech. (I would never pay that much, just
saying you could). |
The cost difference is not even funny. It makes you want to go into the dedicated service. Most systems you will get with dedicated are gonna be built under $1000 and probably use refurbished parts. (who would know). A little tech support for a dedicated server and you could make 20-30 grand over two years. Get 10 servers rented and that is 200-300k for two years. See, it is cheaper in every respect to go colo. |