Small Business Server Guidance – Does this quote look reasonable? [closed]

Even though this feels very off-topic for Server Fault I will make some unhelpful editorial comments:

• You don’t want a “white box” server. Period. A name brand (Dell, HP, Lenovo) will have better parts availability and support long-term. It will cost less than that monstrosity you’ve been quoted. When your relationship with the company who installs falls apart you’ll still be stuck getting support from them, or on your own. There will be manufacturers warranties on all the parts and pieces, but you’ll have a tough time getting support as an end user. That won’t happen w/ Dell, HP, or Lenovo.

• You’re also relying on a (presumably) small company to have parts availability for that server two years from now. I worked for a small company who built PCs / servers in a “former life” and I’ve dealt with many. I’ve never seen any of them handle spare parts very well. A brand name provider will have parts availability next-day (or sooner). Good luck getting that from a small company.

• Unless you plan on scrapping that server in two years you really want a longer warranty. I advise my Customers to warrant hardware for the duration of the expected lifetime. If you’re going to scrap it in two years get a two year warranty. If not, get a longer one.

• You want Microsoft Open Licensing for Business for all your Microsoft software. It entitles you to move that software to new machines later on, and will get you more favorable pricing.

• That Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard w/ 5 CALs is more expensive than I’d like, personally. I’m unclear on why they’re selling you two copies. Presumably they plan to run three (3) or more virtual instances of the OS. Seems like overkill.

• I’d argue that you should be using Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, which will support your user count just fine and will be much less expensive. The “Essentials” version of Windows Server 2012 R2 is full-blown Windows Server. There are some limitations in the product, to be sure, but it’s not anywhere near as “oddball” as older Small Business Server versions of Windows were. (The “Essentials” functionality is an add-on feature for Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard– it’s just part of the product.)

• All the Microsoft software is overpriced, some more than others.

The proposed services don’t seem unreasonable, but I’d argue that their hours number is probably a little high. I don’t know the ins-and-outs of your environment so I can’t really say for certain.

I’d be using Hyper-V, rather than VMware, personally. There’s nothing different about the licensing necessary to use Hyper-V. If you’re going to go with VMware get the licensed version– it makes more sense than trying to scrape by with the limitations of the free version.

I see no provision for backup. That’s scary.