The ERP or database of a small company should use PC or server

The customer is very poor or the boss is very stingy. Can the company's website, ERP or database replace server with PC? Large enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and the financial industry do not have the above problems. However, you must be able to evaluate a large number of small and medium enterprises and projects. You are also welcome to share your experiences and opinions.

Directory:
(1) comprehensive concepts
(2) The ERP system should use PC or server
(3) database server: whether the PC or server is used

This article can be seen as an extension of the following posts:

(1) earthquake, lightning strikes, and Personal Data Backup (IDE, SATA, SCSI, and SAS)
Http://www.cnblogs.com/WizardWu/archive/2008/07/24/1250836.html

(2) 30 minutes Happy Learning SQL Performance Tuning
Http://www.cnblogs.com/WizardWu/archive/2008/10/27/1320055.html

(3) What should I do if the website performance is getting worse and worse?
Http://www.cnblogs.com/WizardWu/archive/2009/01/03/1367527.html

(4) using IIS 7, arr, and velocity to build high-performance large-scale websites
Http://www.cnblogs.com/WizardWu/archive/2009/05/16/1458108.html

(5) website performance optimization-database and server architecture
Http://www.cnblogs.com/WizardWu/archive/2009/09/22/1571499.html

 

(1) comprehensive concepts

Generally, server applications are mostly used for website services, such as various services on the Internet, such as online games, portal websites, shopping websites, music downloads, and so on. Each user clicks the Mouse gently in front of the computer, representing that hundreds of backend servers operate at the same time, and presents the user's needs through a series of complex computations. General categories and recommended specifications of application servers on the network[1]Is as follows:

1.Email server:Basically, the application of the mail server is very simple, and the CPU and memory do not require good specifications. What is more important is the hard disk selection. The mail server software is relatively simple, so you can use a single CPU machine, with 4 GB of memory, RAID card, and four hard disks to create a raid to save data. We recommend that you increase the CPU and memory specifications unless the number of users reaches a certain level, for example, more than 500.

2.Anti-virus and anti-spam email servers:Basically, this type of server will not be installed by users. Generally, software companies develop their own software, and then install the software on the server, providing a complete set of servers to customers. Such a machine is not the focus of hardware, and the performance of software is the main consideration. In general prices, hardware accounts for less than 1/3. The requirement level of the hardware is similar to that of the email server.

3.Website Server:Website servers can be divided into "internal company" or provided to "external users 」. For "internal use of the company", the hardware is also basic. Of course, if a large company has more than one hundred people and is using the company's internal portal website (EIP, let alone. However, for "external users", the architecture will be different. Assume that the company is a shopping website with tens of thousands of visitors every day. At this time, we should consider not the specification of a single server, but the overall architecture. The hardware of the server is generally dual-CPU, with 4 GB or 8 GB memory, you can simply create a hard disk, or create a simple mirror raid for the two hard disks. However, website services should be served by an entire server cluster (server farm). At the front end of these Server clusters, one server must be used as the load balancing device, monitors the loads of all servers in the server cluster to determine which server to direct when traffic enters, therefore, each server does not need redundant specifications such as dual-power supply. Even if the server stops running, because the Front-End Server Load balancer is still operating, the traffic will not be directed to the server without response. In other words, what is important about a website server is the number of servers, rather than the capabilities of a single server.

4.Database Server:The most important thing in the server is the database server, which is the lifeblood of the company and the most important asset of a company. Dual CPU or even 4 CPUs are recommended, and the memory should be more than 32 GB, or even 128 GB or 256 GB, depending on the data size. The hard disk part is even more important. The highly stable SAS hard disk is a good choice and must be used with sas raid card. On the one hand, it increases the stability of data storage and accelerates data processing. However, based on security considerations, the concept of data backup is absolutely necessary, because the data is priceless, it is safer to back up multiple copies. The database server is the only server that I think requires dual power supply.

5.Proxy Server:A proxy server uses a large amount of memory as a cache server to speed up webpage access. Generally, it uses about 32 GB to 64 GB memory. If it is a dual-CPU host, a hard disk is enough.

In general, the selection of server parts, the CPU rarely uses a high level, the entry is generally enough, the memory depends on which type of server is used to decide. Hard Disk, because sas still features high speed and high stability, it is more important to work with SAS hard disk, Sata is the capacity to win. As for power supply, a single power supply is generally enough, but in fact many people on the market like to use dual power supplies, think that dual power supplies with a layer of protection, in fact, not all of them. The double power supply is generally more expensive than the single power supply. In fact, the failure rate of the power supply is generally around 2%, and even the dual power supply, where the power supply is connected to the machine, there is still only one group, which does not necessarily provide much protection. In fact, the overall architecture of a large website requires a lot of attention, and each server must be able to tolerate errors (HA, high-available; failover ), this will not cause the entire service to stop due to a single point of failure. If 20 servers use a dual-power architecture, the cost will be at least about 0.2 million RMB (RMB, enough to deploy around 4 to 5 servers. So the use of dual power supply is sometimes a waste.

6.File Server:As the name implies, the file server is usedCompositionStorage and sharing of parts, so focus on data security, should consider the use of hard disks, and data backup, CPU and memory is the second.

 

(2) The ERP system should use PC or server

Problem:

The number of ERP systems with a small number of users is less than 50 (there is a possibility of simultaneous online use). The number of servers is ap server + SQL Server. What specifications should we pay attention?

Survey's result is that workflow is a system with heavy system resources. What is the CPU level of the AP server? Do you need to plan SSD?

When SQL Server is used for databases, four hard disks will be used for RAID 0 + 1 in terms of storage. The hard disk level is still being evaluated. Is there any suitable suggestions?
In addition, the boss of a small company ordered that a self-assembled PC could be used.

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Answer 1:

Some people often compare self-built PCs with brand servers.
In terms of performance alone, the 40 thousand yuan PC is about the same as the 10 million Yuan Brand server, but how long can this performance last?
Because the server requires 24 hr boot, how long does it take for a self-set PC to start up 24 hr?
Brand server can ensure 24 hr boot 5 ~ In seven years, the performance is still the same as the beginning!
Not to mention the brand server has good after-sales service and stability!

The AP server is used for computing, so the CPU level is sufficient!

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Answer 2:

In my personal experience, I would like to give you some suggestions.

SQL Server CPU, we recommend that you do not use a high "Frequency", but the more cores, the better. The memory should be added as much as possible. The disk array card must be used to make full use of the memory management capability of the system x64. The network card is better.

The CPU of the AP server is recommended to be dual-core. The frequency can be high, and the memory can be 2 GB. The capacity of a single SSD on the disk is not too large, and the network is better.

In the end, we suggest that the brand server should be honest, so if you purchase a price, it will not be expensive. What's important is that the system components are highly compatible with each other's "Electrical" components. Otherwise, the system may not be able to see them at the early stage. However, it would be no good if an inexplicable hardware error occurs one or two years later.

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Answer 3:

Although most senior IT experts do not agree with the landlord's practice, people only take money to handle the affairs. The boss who really wants to be educated should pay for it. what we can say will not change the boss's mind if it is already done. however, I would like to remind the landlord to think about these things:

1. How to clarify the division of responsibility between software and hardware?

If ERP went online today, the performance would be far worse than expected. You asked the software company to improve, but the software company said, "This is a problem with your hardware. Otherwise, you see our other customers are running well... what do you do?

Generally, when importing an unfamiliar system for the first time, you must have an experienced consultant to provide a recommended scale for your software and hardware combination, that is, sizing job (SERVER + storage sizing spec ). this consultant is not necessarily who you are. If you have experience, you can estimate it by yourself. If you have no experience, you can ask a software company to estimate it. If you do not dare to estimate it on either side, you can ask a third-party consultant to estimate it.

However, the estimated person must take down this responsibility. In the future, the hardware will not be able to run, it will be responsible for adjusting it to the operational level, and it cannot spend more money.

According to the author's current description, I don't know who is responsible for it? In this case, if the Import fails due to hardware factors in the future, can you say "I don't want to accept" to the software company?

2. How long does your company allow downtime after importing ERP?

The ERP of the "big company" may be 24 hr and cannot be stopped at all. The landlord's boss made a self-owned "small company" and did not know how long it would take to stop?
The general condition is: How long is the ERP downtime and how long is the production line stopped? So I ask the boss: How long can you tolerate the production line downtime?

If you use branded servers, there is a hardware on-site repair warranty. You don't need to pay for the replacement, or the service personnel are on-site services. You don't need IT personnel to buy them by themselves. The three most important aspects are: the repair time can be guaranteed. whether the warranty you purchased is 5x8 or 7x24, four hours or the next day of the NBD event, the operation can be resumed within 24 hr.

If you are in your group, you have to shoulder the maintenance responsibility. If something is broken, you need to pay for it first. if you want to deliver the repair service, you have to wait for at least one week before you can return ..... can the production line be stopped for one week ?.... If not, do you have the right to purchase urgently ?... If you can't, do you have the guts to persuade your supervisor to sign an emergency purchase ?....

Even if it is true, how long does it take from your urgent purchase to the finance department's approval of the fund? How much is your explanation wasted?

If I bought the urgently purchased parts, I found out after loading them: Um? It turns out that this is not just a bad thing, but other things are also broken ?...

The biggest problem is: usually the same type of inventory of DIY parts, the factory will only prepare 1 ~ 2 years (at least five years of server spare parts inventory, and your warranty will be retained). If your motherboard fails, you cannot buy the same motherboard, and you must change it, can I still get your old ram/CPU specifications? Even if you get it, can your OS boot normally?

3. What is a reasonable hardware investment?

The boss uses a "small company" as an excuse to lower the IT budget, which means that the boss still cannot fully understand the improvement in it efficiency.

Take my "small" customers as an example:

* A trading company on songx Road, 30 ~ 40 people, all servers are IBM.
* A logistics distribution dealer in box, 40 to 40 ~ 60 people, most of the 10 servers are Asus, but the software for core business uses IBM
* An electronic OEM company in beixian, with 100 people, several DIY hosts, and one HP, bought four more Dell servers last month.
* An Electronic Maintenance Company in area X, with 40 people and all ERP/SQL hosts using IBM
* A design and decoration company in beixian, with 20 people, used to use two IBM hosts and bought another Dell host last year.
*......

There are too many "small" companies, although they will also mix DIY hosts, but as long as they are the key business of the company, they must use brand servers.

Generally, if the customer has no idea about ERP, I will ask the customer to estimate the cost as follows:
1: 2: 7 = hardware: Software: Consultant

Some software companies may include all-inclusive software and consultants, or the degree to which the consultants are less important:
3: 7 = hardware: Software + Consultant

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Answer 4:

Add a few ~

Generally ~ After the company introduces ERP, ERP will become the cornerstone of the company's operation.
You should first think about it and estimate how many forms ERP will run in a day.

If ERP is down due to a fault, all these forms may be converted to manual operations, which can be solved within normal time?

What happens on the eve of shipment? You are responsible for the shipment but the customer has not yet transferred the order?
What happens at the end of the month?
...
Do you want to explain that the system is suspended because the boss wants to build ERP in diy pc mode?

All in all ~ It's strange that you are not hacked!

We recommend that you do not use the "experience and Experience Learning mentality" to deal with ERP.

 

(3) database server: whether the PC or server is used

Problem:

The company's current DB server is installed on a PC, which is not very powerful at present. The boss asked me to buy one. What bothers me is, should I choose a high-end PC or a so-called server? I have been to the Dell website and feel that if I don't have to choose Xeon, the price for PC and server is similar ?) Can you give me a suggestion?

The requirement is that the RAM should be at least 8 GB and the hard disk should be at least 1 TB. Of course, the faster the CPU is, the better, but I don't know whether it is faster than i7 or Xeon 5500? Or is it incomparable? What's Dell's server comment? Do you have any other options to buy a server online?

Also, the backup solution seems to be mostly using tape, but it is difficult to restore it. My boss asked me to buy a Blu-ray Burner for backup. Does this solution have any disadvantages? Are there any other suggestions?

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Answer 1:

When the server has several necessary conditions:

1. ecc ram (memory errors can be automatically corrected)
2. redundant power supply (backup power supply)
3. Remote KVM Console (Remote BIOS operations and Remote Boot)
X 24 or 5x8/4 hours on-site repair service (new products can be changed free of charge on the spot within the warranty period)

The above conditions are met first, and then the other things are selected: CPU is not fast enough, hard disk is not big enough, and so on. The details are ....
The CPU is faster, and the hard disk is larger. If it doesn't move, you will be given a host, or you may have to change it. The company's business will still be suspended.

The backup problems should be discussed from a long perspective:
Do you want to back up online? Or stop backup?
How do I back up a database? Online snapshot backup? Or is it possible to generate a. Bak file and back up it? Or is it necessary to stop the backup?
Which backup software do you want to use for backup? Does it support device backup with BR-ROM Blu-ray?

Backup the simplest way, someone is to use ms SQL server itself backup to BAK files, and then RAR compression, and then manually burn into a CD.
If the data volume is small, this job mode can still be used. You just need to pay attention to the database growth speed at any time and think about filing in advance.

In addition, there is a big difference between PC and server: the inventory cycle of spare parts of the manufacturer.

Generally, server parts must be kept in stock for at least five years. You don't have to worry about changing parts of different models. however, if it is a PC, the replacement cycle is too fast, usually only 1 ~ If the same parts cannot be obtained due to a fault within two years, the maintenance personnel shall bear the risk of software and hardware incompatibility.

If you want to purchase a server from a large manufacturer, as long as you have a hardware warranty, No matter a few years, the original manufacturer can ensure that there are spare parts that can be replaced during the warranty period, even if the spare parts model is different, the factory will also ensure that you can change it, or tell you how to adjust it (the factory engineers will come to the site to help you change it ). this saves you a lot of time and money spent on your own trial and launch.

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Answer 2:

Both the server and PC have backup solutions.

If the budget is sufficient, it is better to select the server, at least there is still after-sales service. Selecting the PC does not make it operational, but MIS should have enough capacity to DIY various settings and hardware repair.

My younger brother and friends are working in companies. Because of budget issues, do some systems buy servers, some buy PCs, and buy servers? Are they really cool?
The individual's answer is not necessarily, but it is more systematic in terms of future expansion and integration.

In addition, if you have a good maintenance vendor, you can find someone to help solve the problems of server.

No matter what machine you bought, the boss only needs to ensure that the service should not be interrupted. Once the server takes a long time to reply, you must consider this.

The performance of personal PCS is also good, And Ram can be up to 12 GB. The General Service is enough, but how many years can you buy a hard disk support? If something goes wrong, how does data rescue work? All situations must be handled by yourself.

We do not recommend that you buy a PC unless the budget is too low.

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Answer 3:

Buy server to buy peace of mind ....
There are several reasons why PC cannot match server...

1. I/O, server I/O design considerations are different from PC. For the same applications, server-based response speed is faster than PC.

2. the system architecture is designed differently. If a PC is a computer, it will take a long time to reboot. If a server is a large computer, a small number of IT personnel will be hacked, and the heavy load will cause operational losses to the company. some companies are also suffering severe losses due to server failures, which is very serious to the close of the door...

3. The server focuses on continuous operation, so the design considerations are different.

Although some servers are said to be low-priced, they do not differ much from the PC Price, but these servers can only be used as high-end PCs at best. If you really want to launch servers, you still need to consider the server with a reasonable price.

In addition, the backup mechanism is not just about the storage capacity of Blu-ray discs.
Now there are a lot of solutions, the tape method is not necessarily high C/P value. SATA hard disk is very cheap, to save money to use NAS, expansion is also very convenient.
Blu-ray discs are not cheap, but focus on backup speed, security, and cost.

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Answer 4:

Database, I suggest a better server. It seems that you should not be large in size, a single CPU should be enough, with 8 GB ECC memory (can automatically correct memory errors), a RAID card.
A 500 GB hard disk can be used for RAID 5. Otherwise, SAS 300 or 146 GB is used for the hard drive. In addition, buy one more 1 TB hard drive for a simple backup.
In fact, it depends on the amount of data you have, it should not be big, back up to the hard disk for a while, and then burn the disc for a while, in fact, it is almost the same.

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Answer 5:

Select servers, especially databases, for services to be launched.

Although the PC is cheap, it only has one year of warranty and may not be able to find the same parts in less than one year.
When it fails, you need to change a part of different specifications. Maintenance personnel should be crazy, for example, RAID card fault or master version fault. The same model cannot be found.

At present, all the servers in a large factory are guaranteed with a three-year warranty. At least you don't need to worry about parts in the past three years.

The boss will not thank you if you spend less money, but when there is a problem, you will spend a lot of time solving the problem. Maybe the boss will blame you for not buying a better one.

Related information:

[1] iServer xinjie information technology company:
Http://www.iserver.com.tw/

[2] ithome-it help Forum:
Http://ithelp.ithome.com.tw/
Http://www.ithome.com.tw/

[3] zixiang Technology (data backup ):
Http://www.estorage-isb.com/

[4] serverbank-it direct channel and hardware procurement expert:
Http://www.serverbank.com.tw/

[5] website performance optimization-database and server architecture:
Http://www.cnblogs.com/WizardWu/archive/2009/09/22/1571499.html

[6] others:

Load-balanced cluster (Load Balancing cluster ):
Http://msdn.microsoft.com/zh-cn/library/ms978730.aspx
Http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms978730.aspx

Server clustering (server cluster ):
Http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/ms998414 (En-CN). aspx

Installing network load balancing (NLB) on Windows Server 2008:
Http://blogs.msdn.com/clustering/archive/2008/01/08/7024154.aspx