New Server Hardware Configuration suggestions needed

[el235]

Hi All,

Let mw give you an idea of the current configurations:

Intel Quad Core 2.6 Ghz (Normal Desktop processor)
3 GB RAM DDR2
2 Hard drives - 160 GB Each
OS: Win server 2003
SQL: Sql 2005

Databse: 5 Lac records (will add 5 Lac every 3 Mths)
Size : 25 GB
Client MAchine: 40 Desktop access this database.
Client OS: win XP pro.
Connectivity: Front end application access thru ODBC drivers
Network: 100 Mbps LAN; Two D-Link switch to support this. Normal LAN wire.

Now my company does not want to spend huge amount on new hardware, but is interested in cost effective solution which can support for another 2 Years.

Any suggestions wherein we could change the hardware or software configuration.

Thanks a ton for all your valuable comments.

EL!

[skhanal]

In capacity planning, number of records or database size are less important than number of concurrent users accessing the database and expected response time.

Nobody can recommend a configuration required by your application without more detail.

First start with a server class hardware, with RAID devices. Add more memory. Consider using 64-bit OS and SQL Server, it does not add anything to cost.

[rmiao]

Going to 64-bit may need new machine, can start with adding memory.

[el235]

but adding memory is not possible! I think someone told me that my system will not pick more than 3 GB of RAM.

Also in the current scenerio, my RAM usage does not show more than 2.3 GB and remains almost constant.

The CPU Usage history does show a lot of 'V' shape graph.

At times the server CPU is not too loaded even then sometimes my client machine will hang and goes not responding due to non-retrieval of the data from the server.

{Any suggestions on this}

Also please suggest me what kind of server class hardware i can start with.

Thanks a ton again!

EL!

[rmiao]

If os on server is win2k3 server, it can have more than 3gb memory. To let sql use up to 3gb memory on 32-bit machine, you have to put /3gb in boot.ini file. If server has more than 4gb memory, you have to put /pae in boot.ini file and enable awe in sql.

[el235]

Hi RMIAO,

Thanks for the input!.

Can you please guide me exactly how i can do the same.

Awaiting your quick response.

Thanks again!

EL!

[rmiao]

Did you put /3gb in boot.ini file on the server? That will let sql use up to 2.7gb memory.