Server Recommendations

[wurzel]

I want to get a server that I can use as a test platform. It's not going to have a huge amount of load - just needs to be able to run Win2003 Server & Sql Server really. As I'm going to have this at home, the most important thing is its size as space is limited. Also something that's not going to make a racket.
Any suggestions appreciated.

[DimPrawn]

I've said this before but I'll say it again.

A cheap laptop makes a very good home server.

Very small, very quiet and uses low power, has a built in screen and keyboard for quick admin at the console and has effectively a brilliant built in UPS that keeps the server up for 2.5 hrs on power loss.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/179792

4GB RAM , dual core Intel and only £399 inc VAT.

Just scrub the OS, put on the server OS and install all the bits you need.

[wurzel]

I've said this before but I'll say it again.

A cheap laptop makes a very good home server.

Very small, very quiet and uses low power, has a built in screen and keyboard for quick admin at the console and has effectively a brilliant built in UPS that keeps the server up for 2.5 hrs on power loss.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/179792

4GB RAM , dual core Intel and only £399 inc VAT.

Just scrub the OS, put on the server OS and install all the bits you need.

Just a bit short on disk space. Forgot to mention I'm going to stick all my music and films on there too so the more the better.

[DimPrawn]

Just a bit short on disk space. Forgot to mention I'm going to stick all my music and films on there too so the more the better.

Just buy a cheap USB 2 2TB external disk. That's what I did.

[doodab]

I use VMWare workstation. My 4GB ram, dual core laptop happily hosts 3-4 windows & linux servers at once.

[doodab]

Just a bit short on disk space. Forgot to mention I'm going to stick all my music and films on there too so the more the better.

Get a NAS box for this perhaps?

[wurzel]

Ever had any experience of one of these bare bone Shuttles?

[Bright Spark]

you need one of these , cheap as chips if you ask me, probably worth changing the
hard drive though as most of them are nackered, i've got three running in the
loft, use them for storing data I am scraping from websites .

[DimPrawn]

Ever had any experience of one of these bare bone Shuttles?

Yes, use more power than a lappie, take up more space, noisy, run hot, cost more, drops dead if the power fails.

[DimPrawn]

you need one of these , cheap as chips if you ask me, probably worth changing the
hard drive though as most of them are nackered, i've got three running in the
loft, use them for storing data I am scraping from websites .

Very noisy, power hungry, not much ram, tiny HDD, no UPS, no wireless LAN, no screen, no keyboard, no built in DVD RW, 2nd hand, no warranty.

Yeah great choice.