Hi everyone,
I am looking for suggestions as to what I could look for with buying and deploying a new server.
My dilemma is with the fact that we currently have SBS 2011 Standard, and I know at some point I should get rid of this but the initial cost of moving away from it may be hefty. So here's my current setup. Perhaps you can give me some suggestions if you feel like it.
I have one physical server that is running VM ESXi (free version) and has 3 servers within it. The server's specs are: HP Proliant DL380 G7 with 2x Xeon X5680 3.33 40GB (barely 2 years old). Here's what I have on them:
1- SBS 2011 Standard; DC, AD, DHCP, DNS, DFS (between 2 other remote sites), MS Exchange, WSUS and is is also our File and Print server. Has about 1TB of disk and is filling fast.
2 - Windows 2008R2 - BES server, as well as our SQL server
3 - Windows 2008R2 - Terminal server for remote users to get to our accounting program.
The 2 remote locations have BDCs and DFRS where local users pull their files from.
I have some budget for a new server, and a better backup solution but I am not sure where to start from. I was looking at Veeam backup solution, but it won't run off VMware free license, so I would have to invest in the paid version no matter what I do. As far as a new server goes, I am wondering if the cost is too high to get licenses switched over from SBS what would be the best approach to take? Do I make this new server my file server only, and free up the load on my SBS server? Or do I create virtual servers and have exchange on them?
I am not sure what would be the best approach to be honest.
My goal is to not have all our eggs in the same basket, and to also make sure we have a fast way to recover from failure. Right now our data is being backed-up (on days where backup exec feels like working), so I know rebuilding would take me a long time as it is. We are in the construction business, and to be down for several hours (or days) would be very costly.
Thanks for your ideas and input.