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Hallo,
Dit request zal waarschijnlijk eerder vervuld kunnen worden op WHT.com (waar ik het ook geplaatst heb, en daarom is dit ook in het Engels), maar voor de zekerheid plaats is het hier ook omdat ik merk dat er hier ook steeds vaker goede prijzen te vinden zijn. Daarom geef ik het hier ook een kans. Onderstaand is dus de direct gekopieerde tekst van WHT.com.
Groet,
Jacco
--- Please read this carefully before placing a quote!! ---
Hi,
I am looking for just a quote for a dedicated server combo. I am going to decide whether or not to develop my service based on the quotes I get from you. If it proves to be affordable for me, I will buy this config in about 3 months
First let me explain what my site will be about.
It will be simply said a service to send newsletters. These will be 100% optin newsletters (totally NO spam, I hate spam just as much as you do!). For this service I have a config in mind, which seems overkill to start but gives me enough power to not worry about this when I start. The benefit of this config is also that it can handle peaks, and the service won't go down totally because of 1 server falling down.
I will need a quote for 3 servers to start, since this is the minimum for me to have. Please note that you should base your quote ONLY on a combined use of 50 GB traffic per month. I am more interested in server prices than bandwidth prices, since my main concern is having a good system instead of using a lot of traffic. Below I will give you a list of how the 3 servers will be used. The required specs (these are just indications) will be at the bottom.
- Server use
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#1 - Webserver and ad-management
Used as web and ad management server. I am not hitting on traffic, so traffic will be low. This server will be used to serve the whole network, including management software for the customer to manage the tools. The ad management system will also run from this server.
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#2 - Database server and mail-composer
Used as database and mail assembler server. On this server all the customer information will be stored. This included his previous mailings, subsite, statistics etc. This server will act as mail composer, which means the following. The customer setups up the mailing he wants, including personalisation. This server assembles all the mails with the unique information into one package, and sends that to the mail server as a big package where it will be put in the queue.
This server will not be connected to the internet, only to the webserver and the mailserver.
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#3 - Mail server
Used as mailserver. This server is only connected to the database server, not to the webserver. It is ofcourse connected to the internet. The server handles all the mailing. This includes sending the actual newsletters, but also receiving bounced mails. It gets the mailing from the database server, and sends the mailings from the queue. It also handles bouncing.
- Server specifications
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#1 - Webserver and ad-management
Pentium III 1 Ghz
512 MB DDR Ram
2 x 60 GB Harddisk with Raid 1
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#2 - Database server (and maybe mail assembler, see question above)
Dual Xeon/Pentium III 1-1.5 Ghz
1 GB DDR Memory
2 x 36 GB SCSI with Raid 1
1 x 40 GB IDE 7200 RPM Disk (option)
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#3 - Mail server
Pentium III 1-1.5 Ghz
512 MB DDR Memory
1 x 40 GB IDE 7200 RPM Disk
Options to consider:
- A seperate ad management server to reduce the load on the webserver. If chosen, this server would have the config of the mailserver. This could be connected only to the webserver, or to the internet (whichever is faster)
- A seperate mail assembling server. This reduces the load on the database server. This server is placed between the database and the mail server so the database server has a backup of before assembling is anything goes wrong during assembling. The only purpose is assembling, and if chosen if will have the config of server 3.
Please note that this config is only for startup (should be able to handle 1-3 million mailings a month). If I make enough revenue, the whole site will be re-programmed, and the whole network architecture will be revised. Supposing it all goes like I have in mind, I will order like 10-15 servers in about a year.
I would also like this servers to be semi-managed. Most of the things are one-time only, like setting up DNS and subdomains. A Control panel isn't necesarry (new mail adresses and subdomains don't need to be created within minutes). Besides, some of the features will be programmed in the service itself (like automatic sub-domain and email addresses for members). So as long as you keep an eye on the servers and fix problems, it will be okey. Unmanaged servers are not wanted, I am not a system admin
Server 1 will be linked to server 2, which is linked to server 3 as well. You need to setup this linkage. Only server 1 and 3 will be connected to the internet (the database server is not).
You are preferred if you can meet the following:
- Your own datacentre, or at least have more than 1 rack so you can walk into the datacentre at any time.
- 2 hour hardware replacement
- 99.99% network uptime guarantee, please state which datacentre you are in.
- Experience with such projects, and at least be able to setup the more extensive system (hopefully deployed within a year, I keep you updated on this)
It is a MUST that your datacentre allows such a emailing service. Although I will do anything to keep my IP(s) from the Spam blacklists, there are always people who will report emails they opted in for. I will keep a confirmation of all subscribers, but it can always happen. It should never occur that my servers are closed down without that I am informed. We will put this in a contract! You should keep me updated about spam complaints so that I can take proper action (mostly closing down the responsive account or email address).
There are surely other things which will come into my mind the following days, I will post it if it is appropiate.
Please post anything which makes the decision for me to choose you easier, this is a very serious request for a quote, and hopefully I will be one of your bigger customers in the future
I don't really have a budget yet, just post your prices and I will contact you if I like it
You may send me a PM, post your offer here or mail me using the email button below.
I am really looking forward getting your quotes!
Jacco Blankenspoor
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