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Chapter 16:
Installing and Setting Up Windows Server 2008
Disk
A fast SCSI-based disk subsystem is important, particularly for servers
that will store a lot of data. (See Chapter 13 for more information about
choosing SCSI systems, using different RAID levels, and other important disk
information.)
Use the information in Chapter 13 to help you size your server, but remember
this rule of thumb: Get the most capable server you can afford and make sure it is
expandable to meet your future needs, through the addition of more RAM, more
processors, and more disk space. Even with all of that, it is common for servers to be
replaced three to four years from the date they were placed into service.
Testing the Server Hardware
You found all your server hardware in the Windows Server 2008 HCL, you made
sure your server is adequately sized, you purchased it, and you have your shiny new
Windows Server 2008 DVD-ROMs sitting there, all ready to be installed. Is it time
to start the installation yet? Well, not quite. Before installing any network operating
system (NOS), particularly on a server that will be used for production, make sure you
carry out hardware testing (also called burn-in) on the server before installing Windows
Server 2008.
Computer hardware tends to be most reliable after it has been running for a while.
In other words, failures tend to happen when equipment is new, and the chance of
hardware failure decreases rapidly after the hardware has been up and running for
30 to 90 days. Because of this, it`s a good idea to test new servers for at least a week
(testing for two weeks is even better) before proceeding to install the NOS. Doing
this can help provoke any early failures in the equipment during a time when they're
easy to fix and they won't affect any users or the network. Moreover, many servers
have a 30-day return or exchange policy from their manufacturer, so if you discover
problems, you'll have a chance to return the system and perhaps start over with a
different model.
You test the hardware using diagnostic software that came with the server
computer or is available from the maker of the server. Most such diagnostic software
lets you to choose which components of the system are tested and enables you to test
them in an endless loop, logging any discovered errors to a floppy disk, USB key, or the
screen. You should focus the tests on the following components:
Processor(s)
System board components, such as interrupt controllers, direct memory access
(DMA) controllers, and other motherboard support circuitry
RAM
Disk
surfaces