Need hardware advice...

[marvc]

Hey I'm looking to enlist some advice from the clever minds running this forum.
I currently have a piece of a website up that I'm looking to change. I'm hosting this site on a dual PIII 512MB RAM SCSI server running windows 2000 w/apache/php4.2/mysql3.23. I've just added a nice drive array that has 6 SCSI harddrives in it that I want to use for hosting various applications. What I'm stuck on is how best to set up my server and drive array? Being that I plan on hosting atleast 2 sites on this server I'm in need of a solution that's going to accodate this. So my questions are:
1. Is there anyone here running linux on any SCSI servers? Is it, linux, hard to configure with SCSI? Is it stable? I've been using Microsoft for years, and I've had this server running without any reboots for months, so I know Microsoft is stable.
2. What would be the recommended version? I have a version of RedHat 7.3 that I downloaded a while back but I know that 8.0 is out. Should I download and play with that? Any response on this is greatly appreciated.

I currently have a Microsoft network setup on my DSL connection. I'm considering setting up a linux box to route my connection through it but Ideally I would like to be able to keep my web server(s) seperate from this configuration. I don't know much about linux other than what I've learn from these forums and sites, so if anyone care to shed some light on some of their configurations this would also be appreciated.

I also don't mind keeping windows 2000 on this server, I'm just not sure if all of the applications I plan on using will work on w2k. So can anyone shed light on some of these features?
I currently have a CMS using phpPortal and vBulletin. I'd also like to add the following:
Mailing list and/or webmail. Something like HiveMail or MailMan
MP3 JukeBox for music and videos. Something like Andromeda
Gallery
Chat Service

So my main concern is being able to install these applications on this server and manage them. Like I said I have no problem with Windows, I'm just not sure how well these apps will run on Windows, so I'm trying to avoid THOSE SUPPORT type headaches.

TIA

[ssadams]

i run a mail and file servers using trustix and slackware, both on scsi systems, one using a mylex raid controller. Depending on your cards, though most brand names are supported, you would have no problems, except like me you may never have to reboot :D
mine are running 24/7 and except for hardware upgrades have been running for two years. Much more stable than any version of windows

[Seminole]

If you're not really versed in Linux, you may find yourself frustrated trying to work with SCSI and Raid Arrays.
My suggestion would be to leave your sites running on winderz for now, but to go ahead and familiarize yourself with Linux. Play with the apache. Mirror your current site on the Linux box (seperate port and see how you like it. Granted you probably don't have SCSI and RAID on your other boxes, but it will at least give you the chance to learn the OS, lock it down, and be ready for setting up a replacement for your current winderz setup.
I would not just go straight to Linux and go live with your sites without some background. Granted it's pretty easy to get Linux servers up and working, it CAN come with a learning curve.

EDIT: BTW, I would definitely utilize the HDDs in a RAID 0,1.
That way you have the best of both worlds. Speed and the ability to totally backup your data. Trust me when I tell you that there is NOTHING worse than losing half of your RAID 0 and not having the data backed up. I lost a stripe on one of my drives before and lost about 75 Gig of personal data. The only thing I had left was my MP3s as they were on a seperate drive. It was FAST and I loved the performance, but I would not go down that road again without the backup.


Hopefully you know about the arrays. If not, read up on RAID arrays and get used to the normal configs and what you would need to do to implement it with your current hardware.