Purchasing a server for your business is a major decision. Anytime you make a large investment into technology, you need to make sure that you are purchasing something that won’t need to be replaced for years to come. A server is no exception and may even be more important, as it will be where you house all of your important business data and records. There are three common types of servers from which you will choose. These include blade servers, rack servers and tower servers. Depending on the space you have and the features you require, you can select from one of these categories. Here are 10 tips for choosing the right server for your office.
1. Consider using hardware that you already own – Capital purchases are expensive and if you need only a small server then a PC with even a Pentium processor can make a fine server. And, you will not have to purchase expensive hardware.
2. Choose your OS – It is essential that you decide on the operating system you want to use prior to purchasing hardware. You will most likely want to run either Ubuntu Linux or Windows Server 2008. Both of these operating systems are robust and offer many customizations designed to make the server better meet your business needs.
3. Look for small business discounts – If you decide to use Windows Server, there is a small business option for places that employ less than 25 people. There is also an enterprise version that can be used for larger companies with more staff members relying on the server.
4. Server maintenance – If necessary, hire an IT professional to maintain your server. Regardless of the type of server you decide to utilise, it is important to have an IT professional who is capable of maintaining the hardware and monitoring the software. You may opt to hire someone on-site or you might prefer to utilise a consultant, who works remotely unless needed in the office.
5. Save money with open source software – If you are trying to save money, you should probably consider using Ubuntu. This operating system is free and can be customised to work perfectly with your network. It comes with an SSH application that enables easy file transfers and networking is pre-configured for easy startup.
6. Blade servers – If you expect your server needs to grow, then you should probably consider a blade server, which does not actually contain the storage devices. Instead, you can purchase the storage that you need and increase the capacity as necessary. This may be significantly less expensive than purchasing tower or rack servers, which need to be replaced or used in addition to a complete second or additional server when you want to expand the capacity.
7. Research the heat output of servers before you purchase – Depending on where you will keep your new server, the amount of heat the hardware emits can be an issue. It is important to keep your server cool at all times and you may need a cooling solution for a server known to put off a great deal of heat.
8. Save money by staying away from the big names – It is definitely cheaper to buy a server from an off brand company than to buy from a big name supplier. It is ultimately cheapest to use hardware you have on hand or to build your own server. If you can’t do that, then look for smaller companies that can provide you with the hardware you need.
9. Investigate warranty and repair contracts closely – Most equipment will come with a several year contract for on-site repairs. What you are not being told is that you will not simply call and request service. Generally, you will be required to walk through most of the troubleshooting yourself before you ever see a repairman.
10. RAM doesn’t matter (sometimes) – If you are using a server just for document storage, the amount of memory really doesn’t matter as long as you have enough to run the installed applications. Network and hard drive speed are bigger concerns and it is far better to spend money on these two things than it is to spend it on extra memory.
Follow these ten tips for choosing your next server and you will definitely save money. Armed with this information, you will be prepared to find a server that is the best fit for your organisation.
