Action Steps for Computer Server Selection
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get news about server manufacturers and computer networking solutions

Websites dedicated to servers and networking are a great source of information. Find a site that provides up-to-date information and opinions from industry leaders in an easy to read format.

I recommend: Get all the latest news from Jupitermedia's ServerWatch, a comprehensive website. Find out about the latest networking news, including bugs, attacks, trends and products at Information Week.

Check out blade network servers

Blade servers are a growing technology. Blade servers are comprised of a low density enclosure that provides cooling, power, networking and other components to multiple servers. Each server is housed on a blade that's approximately the size of a hard drive. Because of their high entry prices and configuration complexity, blade servers aren't right for every business. However, for companies with several servers, they can help to save space, energy, technical resources and money.

I recommend: For a comparison of blade servers from Appro International, Hewlett-Packard, ION, Silicon Graphics, IBM and other manufacturers, check out Network World. Find out about news and trends in blade servers at TechTarget's SearhDataCenter. CNET provides the latest blade server news, articles and manufacturer reviews.

Find out about virtualization technology available from computer server manufacturers

Besides blades, advanced server technologies and virtualization software are other ways to consolidate space and power. Virtualization software and other technology allows you to run multiple dedicated servers on a single server.

I recommend: Virtualization offers news about virtualization companies and software. Find out more about VMWare, leading software that allows users to run several different operating systems and processes on one server. TechNewsWorld, which is part of the ECT News Network, features a virtualization section that provides information about virtualization.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you don't have the time to do your own research, hire a network consultant to give you information about computer servers news and trends. A consultant will be able to explain technology in simple terms and give examples of ways that new technologies could help your organization.

1. Provide the level of connectivity you need.
2. Provide the mix of customization versus ease of installation that meets your needs.
3. Provide the level of security that your business calls for.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Identify the features you need in a network server

File sharing is the starting point for all servers; it keeps your employees from having to pass important info around via email. Beyond that, there's a host of other features: groupware, security, support for mobile devices, an intranet. Security features vary; the more sensitive your data, the more robust your security should be. A firewall, anti-virus and anti-spam protection, and user authentication procedures such as passwords are basic elements. Begin by deciding which features are must-haves and how many users your server must support.

I recommend: Although it demands some rudimentary technical knowledge, the checklist for ServerWatch's comparison guide utility can help you make these choices. Also, Microsoft's list of its network server software's features may spark ideas.

Define your company's level of IT expertise

Take an office poll: Do your employees create networks for their home computers? Or do they belong to the 'just-make-the-darn-thing-work' group? Do they regard new software as a headache or a toy? Installing a network server can range in complexity from requiring a dedicated IT professional to nearly plug-and-play. Decide how much you want to do in the way of computer server support. If the answer is 'not much,' choose a prepackaged option with technical support included.

I recommend: This is probably best answered simply by sending out a global email asking, "Can anyone here set up a server?" However, for fun, you can ask people to take InnerGeek's Geek Test or, more seriously, you can ask if anyone holds a Microsoft certification in servers.

Choose the computer server software you want

Microsoft's Small Business Server 2003 is widely used and comes preinstalled on many PC servers, but other options are available, including a variety of Linux-based software for open-source users. Your choices regarding features, compatibility and comfort level with various platforms should drive this decision.

I recommend: Popular OS options for a PC server include Microsoft or Linux. Or peruse the categorized listings on Business.com and compare providers of mail servers or web servers.

Pick and purchase the server itself

Choosing the actual hardware comes down to price, compatibility and availability. Naturally, you can purchase servers directly from most of the major vendors or from one of the major electronics store chains.

I recommend: Some of the options include Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Sun. Or have CompUSA or a similar retailer deliver one and install it. Go to InfoWorld or ServerWatch for reviews.

Your dedicated server and you

Rather than house your own netwrok server, you may choose to rent the use of a dedicated server from a hosting company.

I recommend: See Business.com listings of providers of dedicated server hosting, Windows Web hosting or colocation hosting.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Plan for growth: buy more capability than you currently need and consider how you will add users or servers as your requirements grow (network server makers call the ability to grow 'scalability').
• •  Provide for ongoing technical support. If you're buying a PC server with a service package, consider how long it will last and how many help-center calls you get. If you're relying on in-house support, do you have knowledge management processes in place to ensure that you don't find yourself with only one employee who knows how to keep the server up?
• •  Get input from end-users when planning your purchase. Would your employees love or hate to be able to drop files directly onto each others' desktops? Would a shared calendar utility be a selling point, or would employees ignore it because the office manager handles scheduling efficiently already?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Compare computer server manufacturers and models

With so many server manufacturers and models to choose from, deciding on the right server for your business can seem overwhelming. A site that enables you to enter information about your computing needs is a great first step for choosing a server.

I recommend: The server compare feature at Jupitermedia's Server Watch is a helpful tool for comparing servers from various vendors. The Hewlett-Packard server buying guide allows you to select the right server based on the operating system, applications, number of users and level of use that the server must support. IBM offers detailed comparisons between its servers and competing servers from other manufacturers.

Organize PC servers with rack equipment

Rackmount servers are a great way to save space and organize your servers. Once you decide on a rack configuration, commit to changing over old servers and equipment to rackmount options. To make the most of a rack system, make sure you get a rack with enough space to hold present and future equipment.

I recommend: Rackmount Solutions offers a wide range of racks and enclosures from 14 to 48U. Rackmount Equipment offers rack mount monitors and drawers that consolidate a keyboard and monitor into one space. Get the right cooling, like air conditioners from American Power Conversion (APC) that can be installed in racks. 42u offers a variety of cooling and ventilation solutions.

Find upgrades and parts for new and used computer servers

One way to make the most of your server is to keep it running for a long time. Servers like file servers and database servers, where processing is done on the client side, don't require high levels of processing or memory. In these cases, you can keep older servers running longer as long as data is backed up and supplies for repairs and upgrades are available.

I recommend: Kingston Technology offers guaranteed system-specific server memory for many manufacturers and models, along with free technical support and a lifetime warranty. Newegg carries a wide variety of server memory. Drive Solutions features SCSI hard drives from several manufacturers. Server Parts Warehouse offers a wide range of parts for Dell, HP, Compaq, IBM and other servers.

Perform regular backups on small business computer servers

Reliable backup software will keep your data safe. It's crucial to do daily backups and test the backup system frequently, especially if you're running an older server.

I recommend: Backup Exec from Symantec is a leading data protection software package for physical and virtual server environments. Acronis offers Windows server backup, with application and database support, full recovery and the ability to restore data to a new server.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use a firewall and virus protection to keep network servers safe and secure.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Dedicated server

A dedicated server is one computer that acts as the server for an entire network of computers. Different computers can be set up to be dedicated servers to manage different functions of the network, such as communication or printing management.

I recommend: Learn all about dedicated servers with the handy FAQ from WestHost.

Client-server

Client-server describes the relationship between a computer (client) and a server computer, when a program from the client sends a request to a program of the server computer. Almost all transactions completed over the Internet use this model.

I recommend: The Data & Analysis Center for Software provides an excellent description of the client-server model.

Root name server

A root name server answers requests for the Domain Name System (DNS) root zone and translates host names into IP addresses to allow Internet hosts to communicate. Root name servers are extremely important to keeping the Internet running smoothly.

I recommend: Read an in-depth description of a root name server from the Internet Society.

Remote Installation Service

Remote Installation Service is a server developed by Microsoft that enables the bootable operations of one computer from a remote computer.

I recommend: Computer Performance provides a thorough description of Remote Installation Service along with directions for how to use it.

Server room

A server room is a climate- and security-controlled room that houses any number of computer servers.

I recommend: Government Computer News provides everything you need to know about setting up and maintaining a server room.

Web server

Web server describes a computer program that accepts and responds to HTTP client requests with HTML documents and related content such as images and media files. It also describes the computer that hosts such a program. When someone accesses the Internet from their office computer, they are using a web server.

I recommend: Read a discussion about the Sun Java Web Server from Sun Java Systems on the company website.