1. Hardware and Software Considerations for Servers
Much like the brand name PC advertised on TV or in the mail, if a server has a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately advertised prices do not include necessary hardware and software configurations required for most servers.
Below is a list of some basic things to consider when purchasing a server:
- What processor and speed should you have?
- How many processors should you have?
- How many network cards do you need?
- What server Operating System do you need?
- What level of redundancy do you need, RAID1, RAID5?
- Should your hard drives be SCSI, IDE, SATA?
- Do you need redundant power supplies?
- Do you need an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?
- How much storage space do you need?
- What backup hardware and software should you use?
- How many users are on your network?
- What is the role of this server, file and print, database, application?
- How many employees do you need licenses for (assuming each employee has a workstation)?
- What software packages will you need in addition as complements to your operating system?
- RAM: Having more RAM for a server is of the essence. Skimping here will cause frustration as all the people in your office use the server for retrieving or storing information simultaneously.
- RAID: RAID (redundant array of independent disks; originally redundant array of inexpensive disks) is a way of storing the same data in different places (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, operations can overlap in a balanced way, improving performance. How critical is the data that you are storing on your server? Do you want to ensure that it will not be lost?
- Backup Hardware: Backup is the activity of copying files or databases so that they will be preserved in case of equipment failure or other catastrophe. Backup is usually a routine part of the operation of large businesses with mainframes as well as the administrators of smaller business computers. For personal computer users, backup is also necessary but often neglected. The retrieval of files you backed up is called restoring them. How are you backing up your data in the event of a hardware failure?
Please note: Most servers do not come with an operating system or other necessary software components.
2. When do I need a server?
Knowing when it's time to buy a new PC is fairly cut and dry. Knowing when/if you need a server can be harder to determine. Mike Carpenter, Director of IT Services, at Corporate Computer Services points out some indicators that suggest you may need a server:
- Do you have more than five workstations?
- Are your backup's dependent upon daily intervention?
- Are your critical Operating System and antivirus updates dependant upon daily intervention?
- Are your critical files located in different locations of your network?
- When you make network changes do you need to do this at each workstation?
- Do you want your files/data to be secure and only accessible to those whom you specifiy?
According to Kim Komando, host of the largest talk-radio show about computers and the Internet, it's time for a server when you answer "yes" to any of the following questions:
- Are there snags in your workflow?
- Do two or more people use the same database?
- Would operations slow down or stop, even for a small amount of time, if one computer were to crash?
- Do you or your employees need access to email and files on the road?
As for the advantages of a server, she highlights the following:
- Disaster Recovery, Antivirus, Email, User Administration, Data and Network Security can all be centrally managed. This makes network administration easier and thereby less expensive to maintain.
- The server can be the primary backup point. Instead of burning data files on disks, you can quickly move them across the network.
- You can host your own e-mail. This allows you to have your own domain and unique e-mail addresses. An e-mail address of john.doe@johndoeinsurance.com is more professional than john.doe.insurance@igotafreeinternetaccount.com. Also, most e-mail software allows you to maintain network-wide address books, mailing lists and calendars.
- You gain more control over all that annoying spam. An employee who opens an infected attachment could easily infect all of your computers. But when hosting your own e-mail, you can filter it so that the good stuff comes in and most of the bad stays out.
- You gain a higher level of security. By requiring computer users to log in and authenticate on a domain, the server dictates who has access to what.
- You can deploy new software applications more easily through a network. You also can standardize your applications and versions, and make better use of the software you have.
Why do I need a website?
A site on the internet is the world’s window into your business organization. Having a website allows you access to markets otherwise outside your reach. By providing an avenue for global consumers to view your products or services, your business becomes a viable option previously unknown. Currently, there are statistics stating the average monetary ROI is eight to one.
Hiring a web designer saves you time to focus efforts on your business or organization. There are many “do it yourself” web design applications on the market but all require time to learn and understand and some may provide you with a site that may not display as you’d like in various web browsers.