Chapter 4. Hardware Requirements of the SME Server HostComputer

Version 6.x of SME Server is based on RedHat 7.3 and uses the 2.4 series Linux kernel. This combination supports a wide variety of hardware, but it is important that any hardware chosen for the server has been tested for compatibility before deployment. We expect that all hardware which is marked as "Certified" or "Compatible" for Redhat 7.3 on the RedHat Hardware Compatibility web site, located at: http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/, will function correctly with SME Server version 6.x. We do not recommend the use of server hardware which is not listed as "Certified" or "Compatible". .

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.

Because the SME Server software relies upon your computer meeting the hardware standards noted in this section, Contribs.org cannot support a server installed on hardware that does not meet these standards.

Before you consider the requirements in the remaining sections of this charter, 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 Pentium, Celeron, AMD or Cyrix processor that can run Red Hat Linux 7.3.

• 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.

• SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) is a system for adding peripherals to a computer which enhances performance, reliability and scalability. If you are using a SCSI system, you will need a specific adapter/driver (installed similarly to an ethernet adapter) and will need to purchase SCSI-enabled peripherals. These tend to be more expensive than their non-SCSI counterparts but the tradeoff is often worth it if the system will be under heavy loads.