Equipment Needed for Server

[fec]

Currently I have CrystalPM installed at both my offices on off-the-shelf consumer machines:  one HP running WIn7 HomePremium 64bit with an i5 processor and one running Win8 HomePremium 64 bit with a much less robust processor.  Both currently have a single internal hard drive.  The fundus photos, the visual fields and all the old scanned in paperwork are hosted on three separate computers (also inexpensive consumer grade machines).

We'd like to put on both a belt and suspenders to better protect our data and ensure fast access.  Also, we'd like to automatically back up the data (Crystal, images, fields and scanned documents) to other office (x2) each night.  The IT guy I've hired has recommended getting The Dell PowerEdge T420 servers with 1 TB RAID 1 drives and Windows Server 2012R2 software.  $2800 for the server, $200 for the firewall VPN equipment and a UPS.  So about $3200.....for each office.  I know the Crystal PM doesn't require a enormously robust machine but if we're moving large images around (fundus images) I suppose a fast machine would be helpful. 

Is this overkill?

[Kraig]

IMHO, yes, this is overkill. With the proper backup, there is no need for a RAID 1 configuration. Off-site backups are great, and recommended, but if you’re backing up lots of images as well as a large database, the likelihood of your backup completing every day are slim, unless your using a fiber optic network on both ends. I would recommend an off-site backup as well as a local backup to either an external hard drive or a slave drive. If he still wants to do a RAID configuration, I would do that, but on a much less expensive machine. The only reason I would go with Windows Server is if you’re trying to configure multiple remote desktop sessions. If you’re not using multiple RDPs, I would just go with Windows 7 or 8 Professional.
While you can definitely store images in Crystal, we are not an imaging software. To get full use of the photos, along with better resolution and management, I would probably continue using the proprietary software.

The short of it, we have offices using old Dell boxes running Windows XP as servers (NOT RECOMMENDED!). A good desktop with a quad core i5 from Best Buy is more than plenty. IT guys are always going to recommend the best of the best, but if it was my dollar, I’d take it to the local computer store or Newegg… just my 2 cents…

[vaderkty]

We built our own server in a couple of hours running windows server 2008 (now). We have 3 drives mirrored but I do most of my back ups on a terabit passport removable drive so I can easily remove in case of fire. You only have to back up SQL data file. We did have our server set up that task but I also run one myself on the passport every time I make any major changes...just to be safe. They are cheap and easy to build. Find a kid in school that would love the practice. The software will cost the most and you can find lots of different priced server software.
Just ask Kraig which one is the most compatible with your current set up.
I did this for my company for the cost of $400.00 for materials and glasses for distance and polarized sunglasses...

[wally]

Once I get the server, how do I go about migrating from the old to the new? Thanks!

[Kraig]

I've got you on the list for a tech to give you a call... should be any minute now... normally, transferring the server is as simple as installing the server version of Crystal, stopping the MySQL service from a cmd prompt (net stop mysql), replacing the database on the new server with the database from the old server (C:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\data\easyopti), restart MySQL (net start mysql), and go! However, there are sometimes small issues, so I normally recommend to have one of our technicians available. It's usually a pretty quick process. I do recommend having an external hard drive handy to assist in moving the database from computer to computer.

[charliedesmond]

Being an IT Guy - and for years now specifically "Medical IT" I land somewhere between these two opinions. While I agree that the DELL PCs are a bit overpriced at times the build and component quality is decent and the support alone (while not stellar) - for an office with no full time IT staff - really comes in handy. If you have a Best Buy or similar anchor store nearby - that may be a better option - with the support and all. The thing I caution is this: There is a reason for having a REAL IT Pro - they are not all created equal - and you would be surprised but it's not just the smartest hardware or software or programmer or network or applications or database guy you want. It's more a person with an array of knowledge in these areas that KNOWS when to call in a specialist AND can likely handle any issue if it came to having to put finances over manpower. That is, letting your IT pro come up with a solution that is suitable in lieu if having to shell out the big bucks. The "all around IT Pro" will have the knowledge of many of the different areas of IT that make up administering even the smallest office. More importantly in today's world, the MEDICAL IT pro has the knowledge of COMPLIANCE issues that can end up costing you a FORTUNE - if you don't get them right.

- Happy Teching!