Difference between revisions of "SME Server:Documentation:Administration Manual:Chapter4"
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When you consider the requirements, please be aware of the following notes: | When you consider the requirements, please be aware of the following notes: | ||
* The server ships with the remote access services disabled by default. Enabling webmail will increase the resource requirements of your server, in particular the memory requirement. Other remote access services, such as SSH and PPTP, are also processor-intensive. You should consider a fast processor speed if you intend to make significant use of these services. | * The server ships with the remote access services disabled by default. Enabling webmail will increase the resource requirements of your server, in particular the memory requirement. Other remote access services, such as SSH and PPTP, are also processor-intensive. You should consider a fast processor speed if you intend to make significant use of these services. | ||
| − | * The server should work with any i686 compatible CPU that can run Centos 5 or Centos 6 for Sme Server 9 | + | * The server should work with any i686 compatible CPU that can run Centos 5 for SME Server 8 or Centos 6 for Sme Server 9 |
* The amount of available RAM is one of the most important considerations for server performance as it reduces the load on the disks. If a tradeoff is required, extra RAM will usually be more beneficial than a faster CPU. | * The amount of available RAM is one of the most important considerations for server performance as it reduces the load on the disks. If a tradeoff is required, extra RAM will usually be more beneficial than a faster CPU. | ||
* For a dedicated connection in server and gateway mode, your server requires two ethernet adapters (also called network adapters or network interface cards). For a dialup connection or server-only mode, one ethernet adapter is needed. | * For a dedicated connection in server and gateway mode, your server requires two ethernet adapters (also called network adapters or network interface cards). For a dialup connection or server-only mode, one ethernet adapter is needed. | ||
Revision as of 15:51, 28 August 2014
Hardware Requirements of the SME Server
The hardware requirements of the SME Server are modest compared with other server software available today. However, because of its critical role in your office, selecting an appropriate host computer is important. The hardware requirements of the host computer depend on such things as the number of users on your network, whether you plan to use the proxy server on the server, and the speed of your Internet connection.
When you consider the requirements, please be aware of the following notes:
- The server ships with the remote access services disabled by default. Enabling webmail will increase the resource requirements of your server, in particular the memory requirement. Other remote access services, such as SSH and PPTP, are also processor-intensive. You should consider a fast processor speed if you intend to make significant use of these services.
- The server should work with any i686 compatible CPU that can run Centos 5 for SME Server 8 or Centos 6 for Sme Server 9
- The amount of available RAM is one of the most important considerations for server performance as it reduces the load on the disks. If a tradeoff is required, extra RAM will usually be more beneficial than a faster CPU.
- For a dedicated connection in server and gateway mode, your server requires two ethernet adapters (also called network adapters or network interface cards). For a dialup connection or server-only mode, one ethernet adapter is needed.
4.1. Minimum Hardware Requirements
The following information outlines what we consider the bare minimum system that will function as a basic file/print server and network gateway. Note that we do not believe such a system will provide satisfactory performance for features such as webmail, remote access via PPTP, Virus and Spam Scanners, which are cpu intensive will not perform well on this platform. To utilize all the features of SME Server 9.0, please have a look at the 'Recommended' Hardware Requirements.
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Architecture | PCI-based i686 compatible processor |
| Processor speed | 1800 MHz |
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Hard Drive | SATA/PATA or SCSI - at least 10/20GB (or 2 TB disk) |
| SCSI adapter | SCSI adapter must appear on the supported list (only necessary for SCSI systems) |
| Ethernet adapter(s) | The ethernet adapters installed on your server must appear on the supported list. |
| Modem (for dialup only) | Only modems that are Linux-compatible may be used. WinModems are not supported. |
| CD-ROM drive | SATA, ATAPI or SCSI |
| Monitor | any |
| Graphics card | any |
4.2. Recommended Hardware Requirements
The following information is what we would suggest is the recommended minimum to utilize all the features of SME Server 9.0. How many users this configuration will support depends on how heavily the server will be utilized, but should be sufficient for at least 25 users.
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Architecture | PCI-based i686 compatible processor |
| Processor speed | dual Core 2GHz |
| RAM | 1 GB (or more with Sme Server 8 64 bit) |
| Hard Drive | One or more SATA/PATA or SCSI - at least 40 GB and more with the space needed by your data (or 2 TB disk) |
| SCSI adapter | SCSI adapter must appear on the supported list (only necessary for SCSI systems) |
| Ethernet adapter(s) | The ethernet adapters installed on your server must appear on the supported list. |
| Modem (for dialup only) | Only modems that are Linux-compatible may be used. WinModems are not supported. |
| CD-ROM drive | SATA,ATAPI or SCSI |
| Monitor | any |
| Graphics card | any |
4.3. Hard Drive Configuration
- SME Server 8 introduces a new feature - Automatic configuration of Software RAID 1, 5 or 6. RAID is a way of storing data on more than one hard drive at once, so that if one drive fails, the system will still function. In the case of RAID 6, two drives can fail and the system will still function. We highly recommend that at a minimum you utilize 2 identical drives in your system to take advantage of the redundancy provided by the RAID configuration.
Your server will be automatically configured as follows:
- 1 Drive - Software RAID 1 (ready to accept a second drive).
- 2 Drives - Software RAID 1
- 3 Drives - Software RAID 1 + 1 Hot-spare
- 4-6 Drives - Software RAID 5 + 1 Hot-spare
- 7+ Drives - Software RAID 6 + 1 Hot-spare
4.4. Supported Ethernet or SCSI Adapters, or Tape Drives
Either one ethernet adapter (in the case of dialup connectivity or server-only mode) or two ethernet adapters (for dedicated connections in server and gateway mode) must be installed on your SME Server. Your ethernet adapters must be supported by Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.
If the computer you plan to use for your server has a SCSI hard disk, your SCSI adapter must be supported by Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5/6.
If you intend to use the tape backup capabilities of the SME Server, you must have a tape drive that is supported by Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5/6.
4.5. Virtualisation requirements
- Virtualbox
You can virtualize the Sme Server on any computer when your processor have amd-v or vtx instructions. You need this instructions for using more than one core in the virtualised guest. The amount of memory is near of 1GB for the guest to be comfortable, and at least 2 GB with a lot of contribs installed, or more.
- KVM
Sme Server 8 supports most virtual hardware, IDE or VirtIO for disks, and any virtual NIC that KVM supports, but VirtIO gives better performance.
- Proxmox
Has had limited use, SME worked fine for tests - only in server only mode
- Xen,
At this time no information available.
- Vmware
ESXi 5.1 SME 7.6, 8.0 and 9a1 all installed limited testing however appeared OK
The followings NIC are known to work in in a Virtual environment for the Sme Server.
serveur pro/1000MT (82545EM)
virtio.net
See Bugzilla:7200 Patch to add dummy network adapter
