>What is the percent increase in cost for the same system, but rack mountable?
Well, for this new server we're about to install, it's about 8 to 10% more if I recall correctly. The design for rackmount is quite different and quite heavy too. But, it brings many advantages when being stored in a cabinet and it allows a better layout of your entire hardware structure.
>For 2 CPU systems, it is necessary to move to the XEON or can you can 2 processor Pentium 4 systems?
>Do you have to recompile your code to run on a XEON, or is this invisible to your app?
I can't exactly about that one. What I have is XEON and I'm not aware of something different we have to take care of in our apps.
>Does having RAID5 configured drives mean that the drives are hotswappable by default? If they aren't hot swappable would the OS inform you that a drive was bad, then you would bring the server down to replace it?
If you install a RAID solution, I would always recommend you go hot swap. Trust me, when something happens, you don't want to have to stop your server. But, again, it's more expensive. As any other additional advantages it would bring, the cost will climb.
>Not sure what you mean. Each hard drive has a dedicated fan for it?
I mean the server fans. The one I have came with 3. If something happens with one, again, it's hot swappable and you just replace it.
>Is VPN built into Windows 2000 server, or do I have to buy extra software to enable a VFP connection?
All that is in Windows but usually with the firewall, you will also get the VPN client that you have to install. I don't remember exactly how it went but I do have a CD for that here that we also applied on the new one.
>I am not sure what you mean. Are you suggesting that with RAID, I don't have to keep spare parts? Instead just wait for a failure, then buy a replacement? I am worried that I wouldn't be able to buy the exact same hard drive 2 years later. Apparently for RAID5 the hard drives must be exactly the same.
When putting it in production, go with at least 3 drives. Then, if something happens, you won't have to worry that much as the other two will keep your server running. You would just remove the failed drive and put a new one assuming you have one that you kept in spare. Otherwise, you can still remain with two. But, I would also suggest to have at least 3. If the market is not having them in a year for example, then, it's not that much you could do about it. That's why it's always good to buy one spare that is off the server. We usually put that one in the safe at the bank.
