Am I steering this new client (business) in the right direction?

[thecomputerguy]

I just picked up a new client that has the potential to be a REALLY good client.

Heres the situation:

• Previous tech/company isn't giving them the attention they want (which isn't much to be honest). It seems like since they moved offices to their new location the previous tech has a hard time getting out to them.
• Their office is two doors down from my office (Amazing potential).
• Previous tech didn't assess their needs properly and got them a Dell Poweredge T320 in 2012 (not bad) but with only about 1 TB of space.
• They work with VERY large satellite images as a core of their business.
• They quickly outgrew 1TB in just a couple years and recently purchased a Business grade Synology 412+ as a place to be able to put the data overflow from their server.
• 412+ is configured in RAID5 with 6TB of space (WD Reds) - they did this on their own without their previous tech.
• Current server is a DC with AD, DNS, DHCP, and File Sharing (all the usual).
• Mix of MAC and PC.
• NO Folder Redirection
• Everyone is very familiar with how to put and keep data on the server, and understands that if it isn't on the server consider it lost, gone, deleted.
• VPN setup on a TERRIBLE 10down/1up backbone

They brought me in to assess everything and to fix an issue with the MAC disconnecting from the server map using SMB nightly at almost the exact same time every night. I'm currently looking into this issue.

I told them that we need to look at the bigger picture and the reality is that they are out of, running out of, and will always be out of storage space on their server. Per dell prosupport and the configuration of the server (which I haven't inspected) the only option would be to pull all drives, and perform a clean install with larger drives, or to install an add-on card into the server for more drives at a cost of roughly $5000 just for parts (per dell).

The types of data they are using is all dormant type data, i.e. Word, Excel, PDF, JPEG, some proprietary satellite files. NO DATABASE TYPE DATA.

My contact asked me about moving half of their data to the NAS (the most active data), and the other half would be left on the server.

I told them I think it's a bad idea to have multiple points of data, in two different locations and it would open up the possibility to saving something improperly, losing data, not knowing where data is, and thus creates multiple points of backup as well.

I told them that given that they are running out of space, they don't use folder redirection, everyone already knows if it ain't on the server its gone, they it may be a better plan to jump 100% into the NAS and slowly move away from the server.

Any thoughts, and/or recommendations?

 

[kwest]

I would suggest a second file server for all sat images. Use the first for everything else and start backing up the desktops to that as well.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Is the data mostly being stored or is much of it frequently accessed? If they just need to archive data I would think shoving it out to Amazon S3 or even glacier would be better then trying to store in locally. If they need it frequently then you ought to be looking at some kind of SAN device like a Dell powervault.

 

[allstarit]

I would recommend a second server for data storage. Keep current server for ad, dns and dhcp. As nlinecomputers suggested too if its just archived data maybe a hosted solution would be good but if you go down that road recommend an upgrade to internet with better uploads.

Also what are they doing for a backup? Does backup go offsite via internet or usb drive? If internet you would definately need better internet. Also check time of backup to see it its interfering with the Mac or it might be antivirus doing scan at that time or a scheduled task?

 

[thecomputerguy]

I would recommend a second server for data storage. Keep current server for ad, dns and dhcp. As nlinecomputers suggested too if its just archived data maybe a hosted solution would be good but if you go down that road recommend an upgrade to internet with better uploads.

Also what are they doing for a backup? Does backup go offsite via internet or usb drive? If internet you would definately need better internet. Also check time of backup to see it its interfering with the Mac or it might be antivirus doing scan at that time or a scheduled task?

Thanks for input guys, that $5000 quote for a Powervault, which they weren't too accepting of.

A hosted solution for archive data may be a good option. Backup occurs onsite and offsite, thanks for the advice I just remembered their offsite kicks in at 7PM and that is around the same time every night the guy gets booted.

Better internet is not an option, all they and I have available at my office is 10down/1up ATT dsl.

 

[allstarit]

I bet the internet cops a hammering at 7pm and the guy drops off due to internet slowing to a crawl.

Id see how long it takes to go offsite and then if it fits push it back a couple of hours to see if it makes a difference. Also see what time client is working till at night to work around him. I hate it when clients say they need to work till midnight but causes backups to go into business hours in the morning.
If this starts to become an issue look at a second internet connection for backups and setup a second subnet and switch for backup if that makes sense. Keep it off the main network.

 

[Mick]

Is a bonded broadband solution available to you? I've recently installed one for a client with truly dreadful internet speeds, which it has turned into 'liveable with'. That might make an off-site solution for your back-ups a more practical solution.

 

[BrentfromZulu]

One thing I'm noticing is the T320 has 8 bays with 1TB installed. Why not use the last 6 bays and throw in 6 3TB Drives and go with either Raid 6 or Raid 10. That will be 9 to 12 TB of data, and backup to the Synology NAS?

The terabyte will be fine for WSUS and the basic stuff, then all of the other data can go onto the other array.