server replacement

how many years can a server stand

[ericli]

we have a server for multiple purposes: web server, email server, database server and every day's web bandwidth is about 2G. The server has been worked for more than 3 years without any hardware problem. The server's CPU speed and memory are still in good shape. We are wondering how long such a server can stand up and when we should replace it with a new one to ensure no hardware failure because of aging. What is the best strategy to replace the server? assume we have the buget to cover a completed new one.

Thanks.

[wingslevel]

If you are doing that much in bandwidth, you can hopefully afford another box or two.

You can buy a nice dell 1u box on ebay for well under $1,000. If you are using open source software, then that is your only expense (except the extra cabinet space charge). When I looked at things this way, I went from 4 boxes to 8 - now everything is running really fast and if a box quits, i just switch the traffic to another box.

[carguy84]

replace it when it dies. I'm assuming it's got redundancy built into it, when things start failing, replace the server. No sense replacing it now if it's working with no problems. It could last another 2-3 years and by then think about what $2000 will buy...

If you were considering buying used off of ebay, I'd say even more strongly to not do anything with the server until it starts showing signs of age. Nothing against used equipment, just in this case, it doesn't seem to fit well.

BTW, we have many servers that are 5 years old still running strong and don't plan on replacing them until we need to.

Chip-

[onlineleben]

We only now retired one of our old 486.
Worked for more than 7 years.

[Mr Bo Jangles]

surely it would make sense to replace the HDs!?