My company has an older Dell 2650 server running ArchLinux x64: http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/pedge/en/2650_specs.pdf (2 x 2.4GHz Intel Xeon w/around 3287 RAM according to "free -m")
We use it to host our internal company site and to post some information from our orders to and we'd like the ability to keep it up as much as possible.
What we require:
- It needs to always be functional from 8am to 4pm for our data entry person to use it and others to do other things required on it.
- If it goes down, we need a quick way to get the machine running again.
- If it goes down, we would like to have the data backed up.
Some of the major problems include:
- The servers old and it may have memory issues
- We don't know when one of the hard drives could fail
- Our power goes out here once in a while
We have a battery backup, but that's pretty much it and it's not for long term. If the server does go down, we have another system in place to store order information that comes in while it's down and repost it when it's back, but we need it up during the day.
So we're wondering, what should we get for options? These are the things we thought of, sort of:
Setup RAID 1, but that would involve wiping everything right? If we do that, how would we transfer the data over without messing up the server?
We could buy an extra server or 2 off eBay for $100, the same model, is that practical or should we get something else?
Should we buy a PC or another better server and host off that because it is if anything easier to exchange parts?
Should we keep extra parts handy incase it implodes?
Should we buy/use backup software? We hear drobo's are cool, but suck.
Perhaps there is a software solution to this problem that backs up to another machine or gets us up and running again quickly. Also, if we are to purchase hardware, what is decent? Does anybody know of one for ArchLinux/Linux? We both know a ton about computers but we're kind of unsure what step to take with this, especially with this type of server.
Thanks
