Need some serveradvice

Lyngaa · February 13, 2016

Hello guys!

Today is the day where i'm going to take a deeper look into the server universe.

I have an "old" pc with a 200gb hdd. I have installed Windows Server R2 2012 (I believe its called).

Would it be worth to use it as a NAS?
As far i am now, i know i'm going to use it for printserver and domainserver.

Here's my questions:

1. Would it be worth using it as a NAS. I know i'm going to use it as Domain- and print- server.

I want to get a proper server to summer that can do all the things i want it to do.

I want to have a server with two mirrored hdd's.

2. Is there any minimum specs for a server?

3. Is a raidcontroller needed?

4. Is it possible to get a ATX case with place for a server?

Thank you & have a nice day!

Altecice · February 13, 2016

1. If you need a NAS then sure why not.

2. No, it really depends what you want to do with it. a Domain Controller + Printer Server are not resource hungry roles for Windows Server... Why do you want a Domain?

3. That depends on the number of drives you want to have. For example if you have 2 and you just want a simple RAID1 then Windows CAN software RAID that for you.

4.Yes. A server is just a normal PC with a different OS on it (and sometimes not even, you can have a NAS run Windows 10)

Lyngaa · February 13, 2016

3 minutes ago, Altecice said:

1. If you need a NAS then sure why not.

2. No, it really depends what you want to do with it. a Domain Controller + Printer Server are not resource hungry roles for Windows Server... Why do you want a Domain?

3. That depends on the number of drives you want to have. For example if you have 2 and you just want a simple RAID1 then Windows CAN software RAID that for you.

4.Yes. A server is just a normal PC with a different OS on it (and sometimes not even, you can have a NAS run Windows 10)

So a 400$ server pc is good enough?