Setting up a server for a small business?

Question

so in the family we have a few campsites and their technical standards are not up to date. i admit im fairly young, but im into all this stuff and im looking to learn what i can about it. but to topic! we are looking to set up a "central server" and i was wondering how to go about it, i know how to shop for it, build it etc (i think). we have three campsites over about three miles, but we want all the computers to be "linked" to the central server, so this server has everything on it, and how we could have it set up so people on one site could book people for the other site and so on (have the computers work on the same file) how this would work and how to set it up. it wouldent be wired to all the PC's. and possible options for a payed wifi service for campers. i know its alot to ask, but if anyone could throw a couple links my way that would be awesome! thanks.

Answer 1

Use freenas.

Easy to set up

Answer 2

I am going to assume that each location already has web access. If you do not have access to the internet at each site, you need to get that sorted first. Then you will be ready for the next step.

Because once you have web access the easiest answer would be to skip trying to set up the physical hardware and then rolling your own software. The best way do the whole thing is to do it on the web.



Here is a rough outline of how I would see the project laying out

1. Get a domain name and set up an account with a web hosting outfit. (GoDaddy, Yahoo, Google, or a host of others).

Do your research. The company you go with should provide you with easily customizable "tools" (programs) that have all your basic features set up. You then customize the software to fit your needs.

You will want a store front, a reservation system, a secure credit card payment system, and a database to keep it organized. Look at the different offerings carefully. They will all promise to be "the best". Your job will be to find the package that is best for you.

You will not find what you are looking for at the entry level accounts. You will be paying a fee for these services. But given the hours and hours you can spend reinventing the wheel, and then debugging it, using proven software as a base can end up being a much less expensive alternative.

2. You set up the features you want on the web hosting site, separating public areas that anyone can view and secured areas were you can take reservations and accept credit cards. Another reason to go with a commercial web hosting outfit is that they have people that can help you do this. Again, it costs, but it's cheaper in the long run.

3. The biggest reason to use a commercial web hosting outfit is that they keep security people on staff, and handle the majority of security issues for you as part of the service. If you were to set up your own server, and wanted it to be accessed by potential customers (not just your campsites) you would have to set up your own web server and open it up to the Internet.

An improperly secured web server has a life expectancy of about 3.5 minutes before it is discovered. hacked and subverted. Having customer credit card data stolen is not a way to build clientele. Better to have some pros on your side.

4. With your domain up and running, you can access the system from anywhere, and do not have to worry about maintaining the hardware.



Paid WIFI is another story all together. Remember that typical residential hardware for WIFI only has a range of 300 feet and is not designed to be used outdoors. You can purchase commercial hardware, but bring your checkbook. This is where outfits like Cisco and Netgear make their money.

Once you figure out how you are going to cover the area so all the sites have a strong signal, you'll need to set up a computer with two Ethernet cards to act as the gateway for controlling access to the Internet.

There are plenty of "Internet Cafe" programs out there both free and retail for you to choose from. In general all work the same way. They monitor requests for web access coming from the campsite, and those computers that are authorized or have the password are passed through to the internet while the others are blocked.

The big deal is setting up the WIFI network. The rest is pretty cut and dried.



Hope that helps

Good Luck

Answer 3

I need more information to better answer your question. For example do you want to be able to access an accounts database from all three locations, do you want to be able to view letters sent to the campers from all three locations. In other words, its necessary to know exactly what documents you want to share between the three locations to better answer your question. From the sound of it, I don't think you need a server, as the booking system can be done online (on the Internet).



What you might want to look into if you want to access lots of files like word, access documents etc, would be to look into a vpn (virtual private network). so build a windows Server and use something like Open VPN to set up the connectivity between the server and the three campsites.



Email me if you like for more advice. The problem with your questions, is that there are so many different ways to accomplish what you want, and its dependent on what information you need to share and who needs to access this information.



But I would suggest at looking at an online database for the booking system and seeing if you really need to share the accounts database and if so, then perhaps look into a vpn. I would not ever have my accounts online for security and privacy reasons. Hope this helps

Answer 4

Sounds like you might want to setup a web server. Look into LAMP which is all free software. It stand for Linux (the operating system, such as Ubuntu Linux) Apache (the Web Server), MYSQL (the database), and PHP (the programming language to communicate with the database).



You could have this server be available on the internet (using a public IP and DNS entry, which you would have to purchase), or you could just have a LAN (local network only available at the camp sites). It is not very simple, but you have to start somewhere. The info I gave you should keep you very busy. here is one link you could use, but there are hundreds http://www.ubuntugeek.com/step-by-step-ubuntu-12-04-precise-lamp-server-setup.html

Answer 5

for this U have to put the central server in one location preferably some one who knows how to operate , secondly all the three lovations need to have a router or firewall with VPN connectivity across the central router which keeps the server. all the computers in the sites are to be connected to switches with an uplink to localised router.

Answer 6

this must be fairly user-friendly. After setting up residing house windows 2003 SBS (setting up is somewhat akin to XP and Vista), you would be brought about with a wizard which will handbook you interior the direction of the means of starting to be a "area" with a recognition of your chosing and setting up the user-friendly centers residing house windows 2003 factors. then you definately ought to create bills for each customer (bear in concepts, each customer desires an real customer get entry to License, residing house windows 2003 comes with 5 CAL, extra CALs are offered in packs of 5) Your clientele would desire to run residing house windows 2000, residing house windows XP professional or residing house windows Vista business enterprise so as to connect the area you configured. you're able to try this from the "device" component to the classic administration panel, under the "pc call" tab. while strolling interior the direction of the wizard to connect the area, enter the credentials of the account you created on the server for that customer, then the credentials of an account that's licensed to characteristic a customer to the area (via default that's the Administrator account) while all clientele are integrated into the area, you're achieved with the user-friendly setup of your server and community. After that that's advisable to study up on the reward your server and that is area grants. you could limit countless movements on the clientele like restrict them from utilising the internet or specific classes, issues like that. good success!