Server Requirements?

How robust of a server should I be looking at in order to run HQ alongside file/print sharing and Quickbooks data on the same box? For the time being we've just got one remote store with 4 lanes but we expect to have two additional stores (with 4 lanes each) in the next few years. How fast/big do I need to go so I don't shoot myself in the foot by being 'cheap' now?

Thanks,

Johan

Is a 1066 FSB, 1.86GHz, 2mb cache (costing ~$50 more) going to be better than an 800 FSB, 3.2GHz, 4mb cache in this case? I'm planning on running Server

2003 with either 2 or 4 gb of ram. What's the best combo going to be, performance and cost wise, now and in to the future? I'd like to 'future-proof' myself as much as possible, with an expected 20 lanes total (over 5 locations) and HQ having ~10-15 machines on the system in the next 4 years, for a total of ~30-35 connections. I know one server will suffice for now, but am I better off having dedicated servers (one for RMS and another for file/print sharing including Quickbooks data?) further down the road?

Johan

"Jeff @ Check Po> Johan,

connecting to the machine. XP Pro and Vista Business/Ultimate allows for up to

10 connections at a time, Windows Server 200x allows for thousands. We are not recommending Vista yet for any installation, give it another 3 to 6 months.

one store connecting to it at a time is only 5 connections. XP can only use

3.25 meg of RAM, so don't bother with 4 gig.

configuration (80 gig x 2 drives)

we sell and are plenty fast.

might think about using SQL2k5 Workgroup Edition for growth as the SQL2k5E that comes free with HQ can only allow for 4 gig size. We have plenty of small chains that haven't come close to that yet, You just have to watch it and be prepared to purchase it.