Server on *nix or NAS for small business. What to choose?

Question

linux

There is a dental clinic with its own software to fully ensure the work. The craftsman who installed the program put it on a regular computer with XP. 2008 SQL Server, I won't specify the version, but maybe even express. It is necessary to somehow establish backups of all this and plus a file ball for storing multimedia files (pictures, pictures of teeth, etc.). The owner does not want to buy a server + a license for Windows for financial reasons. I agree to buy a NAS for 2 disks, according to my calculations, now you can buy it somewhere for 20-25. I want to insist on building a mini server on Linux with copying the data there, and, then, in the future, promote it to buy server Windows and move the database there. I think that the server from partly used, partly new hardware will I also put in 25 now?
Can you tell me if I am right and what are the arguments? I have experience in creating such systems.

Answer 1

HP Microserver Gen8 (if there is no money, then the previous one).

Answer 2

Given your scale, on the contrary, I would try to simplify everything. :)
You can write several options on the sheet:
1) An ordinary new computer with two disks in a software or hardware (controller on the motherboard) raid + desktop NAS for two disks
2) Your option
Add to both options approximately the probability of failure in the first, the second and third years of operation, recovery time (downtime) in case of failure, the complexity of the setup and maintenance work (if someone else serves, he may be afraid of Linux), noise level (many of the "real servers" cannot be simply put under table), the probability of a complete loss of all data, well, the cost.

Answer 3

Mini-ITX machine with Atom, a couple of gigs of memory, a normal screw and Debian closes the need for a smart server for backups with a good margin. No worse than cheap NAS for sure.

Answer 4

Lenovo offers good servers in the lower price zone. And from your own experience it is better to do as the client wants.
You make a concept with a pump for two propellers.
You train the client on all the pluses and, most importantly, on the minuses. Make you subscribe. You collect. You are waiting for a call with snot-tears in a couple of months to make the server that you originally suggested.