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monkpea · May 7, 2009, 11:13 AM

G'day,

I've been tasked with setting up a file and print server on a small (4 users) office network that currently runs XP and vista. Files are often large and there are many off them and there is also a likelihood of at least one leopard mac joining in soon...

Currently all that is required is:

*A raid 1 file server accessed by everyone in the workgroup with something like timemachine back up onto an external drive.

*Print server

*Fast ability to search files from pc's and macs in a manner similar to spotlight or copernic etc.

*Virus scanning of the server from a pc perspective.

I had a copy of tiger server and a mac mini to experiment with and have quickly managed to set up file sharing across the pcs to a firewire disk attached to the mini. This is making me seriously consider buying a mac pro and leopard server for the job.

Am I being sensible? Should I just buy windows server? Particularly with regards to virus and searching. I have made progress with linux but it would take me months to feel I actually knew what I was doing.

Any experience and advice of dealing with windows server, samba, leopard server greatly appreciated!!

All the best.

besson3c · May 7, 2009, 11:17 AM

Have you thought about adding some sort of revision control ala GIt or Subversion into the mix? It can get hairy having several people potentially edit the same files at the same time.

monkpea · May 7, 2009, 05:49 PM

Actually... No. Thanks! I was hoping to rely on continuous and comprehensive backup to cover this, hadn't really thought along these lines. However, I really don't want to add too much complexity as far as my users go, they've managed with separate computers for 8 years.

I've got some reading to do... on the subject, can anyone recommend some quality literature on network security?

All the best.

olePigeon · May 7, 2009, 08:14 PM

May I ask why you need a Print Server? You only have 4 people.

monkpea · May 8, 2009, 04:28 AM

olePigeon: Probably because I don't know what I'm talking about, I'll have a play around with windows networking/sharing printers this weekend. Although I've used larger windows networks lots, I've never set one up.

ghporter · May 8, 2009, 07:06 AM

Sharing printers on a small network works just fine, and it doesn't take a server at all. On the other hand, I have a couple of wired routers that feature a wired print server (parallel only) so I can print to my one parallel port-equipped printer from any computer on the network. USB wired and wireless print servers are available for not much money and they typically take about 5 minutes to set up and NO management after that.

Network storage on my home network is handled by a Network Attached Storage device (Ethernet) that currently has a modest-sized drive in it, though I could put the biggest IDE drive available in it if I wanted.

In short, what you probably need to examine is how your users will interact with each other and each others' files, and decide if you need a dedicated "server" for anything at all. If you do, for the scale of your installation, that Mini you have played with is probably the heftiest machine you need. If I were in your position and needed a server machine at all, I'd set up a low-heat, quiet PC running some flavor of Linux server, and equip it with a massive hard drive or three. Low cost hardware, free OS, established capability to handle server duties, and did I mention "free OS?" Lots of good things there.

OreoCookie · May 8, 2009, 07:34 AM

You don't need to buy Windows server to do what you want to do. As a matter of fact, you don't even have to buy Leopard Server, OS X can do what you would like to do out of the box.

As a matter of fact, you could even do what you would like to do with a Mac Mini and some external harddrives (use a RAID1 enclosure or something like a Drobo for storage). These mild server duties don't require serious hardware. What a Mac Pro would give you is a more robust machine (ECC RAM, more robust cooling system) that is easier to expand.

(1) RAID1: you can use the built-in software RAID1 or an external RAID1 enclosure. Time Machine can be used to back up your data.
(2) Print Serving is as simple as ticking a check box in the system preferences. Although many printers come with built-in print servers so that this may not even be necessary.
(3) Fast search is problematic if it needs to be cross platform.
(4) ClamXav is a free antivirus scanner for OS X. You can schedule regular checks of your files.

One nice thing Leopard Server does have is VPN. That way, people can securely access the company's network when they're away.

besson3c · May 8, 2009, 08:35 AM

I agree, this doesn't really call for a server. These tasks do not sound like they are very mission critical, so if it were me I would not spend the money on the sorts of redundancies that you pay a premium for with server hardware. As OreoCookie pointed out, using the server software doesn't really seem to buy you much in the case of OS X, can't speak for Windows. If you really wanted a VPN you could run OpenVPN on any Unix based OS included OS X Client.

What it sounds like you need is simply spare commodity hardware to provide these utilitarian, non resource intensive services. This would be Windows or OS X, whatever is easiest and cheapest for you (which may depend upon what spare hardware you have lying around or how much money you are willing to spend on a new PC of some sort).

As far as searching, one of the reasons I suggested a revision control based system is so that you can run local searches, and so that there is a way for others to be able to check out your work either via Subversion's centralized model or Git's decentralized model of version control. There is no client/server based standard file repository type system that is searchable from both Windows and OS X, unless there is commercial software available for this sort of thing.

olePigeon · May 8, 2009, 10:58 AM

I'm thinking you could buy a networked storage box for the HDD space. Get one with 4 drive bays and fill it up as you need more space.

VPNs can be managed either by a computer or by appliance. You could get a Cisco PIX. They're pretty cheap. Under $150 most places. It'll work as a hardware Firewall (which is a good idea anyway) and a VPN gateway.

For $100 you can get a 4 port USB print server. Plug any USB printers in there and it'll put them on your network.

Also, you might want to look into a networked laser printer. Unless you're printing photos or doing posters or whatnot, inkjets are a huge waste of money. You can get more bang for your buck with a color laser printer that will not only hook directly into your network without the need of a print server, but will be a lot faster and cheaper than multiple inkjets. They'll also look great for printing color reports, charts, brochures, invoices, etc. Some models will double as a photocopy machine.