As platforms like Stack Overflow experience rapid expansion, the infrastructure supporting them must evolve. Initially, Stack Overflow opted for Server Rent, utilizing two identical dedicated servers from CrystalTech. This provider has proven to be reliable and responsive, effectively hosting both Stack Overflow and Coding Horror. For businesses seeking Windows hosting solutions, CrystalTech comes highly recommended based on positive past experiences.
Alt text: CrystalTech Web Hosting logo, highlighting their service as a reliable server rent provider.
While the monthly fees for server rent were initially very competitive, the increasing demands on the database server are becoming evident, particularly the need for more than 4 GB of RAM. SQL Server’s memory consumption is well-known, and with memory prices being remarkably low today, equipping a server with at least 8 GB, and potentially 16 GB or 24 GB, seems like a logical step. However, upgrading memory in the current server rent model presents a significant cost hurdle. The increased monthly cost for a memory upgrade would almost double the existing hosting expenses. This cost surge, while partly reflecting the excellent value of the current server rent agreement, signals a potential limitation of relying solely on rented servers for long-term scalability.
The current server rent approach is being reconsidered for long-term scalability. As growth continues and more servers are needed, the cumulative monthly costs of server rent increase proportionally. Therefore, a shift towards purchasing servers and opting for rack space rental is being evaluated. This strategy involves a one-time capital expenditure for the servers, while the ongoing monthly expenses for rack space and bandwidth are anticipated to remain relatively stable, primarily depending on bandwidth consumption. The Lenovo ThinkServer RD120 is currently under consideration.
lenovo thinkserver rd120
This server model, in its base configuration, is priced around $1,500 and offers:
- Dual Intel Xeon processor sockets
- Support for up to 6 hard drives
- RAID controller compatible with RAID levels 0, 1, 1E, 5, 6, 10
- Memory capacity up to 48GB DDR2-667 ECC (12 memory slots)
- Dual gigabit ethernet ports
- 835w redundant power supply
While building a custom rack mount server using commodity parts was considered, readily available consumer parts often lack the quality RAID controllers, dual-socket configurations, and redundant power supplies necessary for robust server operation. Opting for a pre-built server chassis like the Lenovo ThinkServer RD120, which already incorporates these critical features, appears to be a more practical approach. Detailed specifications can be found in the hardware maintenance manual. To enhance this base configuration, the following components would be added, based on pricing from NewEgg a week prior: Two 2.5 Ghz Xeon quad-core CPUs at $700, six 500 GB 7,200 rpm SATA drives for $450, and twelve 2 GB ECC DDR2-667 DIMMs costing $500. The total estimated cost for this enhanced server configuration is $3,150, resulting in a powerful server with eight 2.5 GHz CPUs, 24 GB of RAM, and a 500 GB RAID 10 storage array. This setup represents a significant upgrade compared to the existing rented dedicated servers, which feature eight 1.8 GHz CPUs, 4 GB of RAM, and a 320 GB RAID 5 configuration. While this robust server is primarily intended for database operations, a less powerful Lenovo ThinkServer RS110 1U, equipped with basic RAID, 4 GB of RAM, and a single quad-core CPU, is likely sufficient for the web tier.
Although the initial investment for purchasing servers is substantial, the potential cost savings compared to server rent become apparent relatively quickly. Recouping the cost of a high-performance database server could be achieved in just over a year by reducing monthly expenses by approximately $300, a savings readily attainable by transitioning from server rent to rack space rental.
The critical question then becomes: What are the broader perspectives on the server rent versus server ownership decision for hosting infrastructure? Furthermore, recommendations for rack space providers are actively being sought. Current requirements include five 2U slots, primarily for future scalability, and approximately 1250 GB of monthly bandwidth. For those with expertise in server hosting and management, relevant system administrator job opportunities are available.
