Where to get servers

Our customers range from application developers and scientists to leading institutions in healthcare and education. We make it easy to custom build servers that meet your budget, performance requirements, and lifecycle planning needs. Our advanced, build-to-order solutions are powering enterprises, data centers, universities, and government agencies. I tend to research what I want to buy pretty heavily, and then I want to order exactly the hardware I want.

They very quickly provide me with a quote for exactly what I want with very minimal back and forth. The few times when some issues came up, it was quickly fixed to my satisfaction. For virtualized servers, a dual-port or quad-port network interface card NIC is recommended for greater connectivity, and a 10 gigabit Gbe NIC boosts performance for environments with an increased number of end users.

File servers—sometimes called storage servers or Network Attached Storage NAS —have room for multiple hard drives that protect against data loss in the event of drive failure, a configuration called a RAID array.

They are meant to make available data for a pool of end users. A group of file servers configured together in as Storage Area Network SAN improves data availability across larger networks, and can improve application performance over multiple satellite office networks.

Other interfaces for server storage include USB 3. Server cases have different form factors. A MicroServer is a square-ish server box, typically used as a file server or NAS , or a low-power single use server. It supports basic RAID and usually has a low power server processor, ideal for a small home office.

Tower systems resemble full-size desktop PCs and vary in computing power and specifications; low-end models offer good value and are easily expandable—ideal for back office and retail settings. Medium and large companies usually store IT infrastructure in server racks. Rack servers have chasses designed for stacking vertically in server racks. Size measurements for standard rack servers are designated by units starting at 1U, which has a width of 19 inches and 1. Servers range from 1U-4U. The standard height for a server enclosure is 42U tall.

Server software manages user access to different parts of the data infrastructure using credentials or authentication information, and makes available data content beyond the physical LAN. Windows Server is the most commonly known administration system among IT professionals, which makes support relatively easy to procure. The value proposition to buy Windows Server licensing hinges on readily available support technicians.

Linux systems, which are popular especially for larger businesses, are managed with open source software that is free of licensing costs. The tradeoff is that Linux systems have more custom-built features, which places a higher demand on specialized administration staff that can command a higher fee for support services.

In most cases a home server is used for storing digital media and streaming files to devices connected on a home network, and offers a so-called private cloud solution for home users to store files accessible from beyond the network. This is typically done with a NAS or single use server that sits on a home network. Windows Storage Server offers value for a SMB user that uses a file server in a professional capacity for the use-as-needed Microsoft support that comes with the management software.

It also supports streaming media to Xbox and other digital display devices that can access a home network. A user may host web pages or an e-mail domain on an inexpensive home server. Apache server software is commonly deployed for web hosting management.

Everything you need to know about how to set up a network and server for your small business. From installing windows to creating a server room in your office.

As your business grows and you take on more employees, the time will come where you need a server to keep your office network and business running efficiently. But with a seemingly endless array of choices and important decisions to be made, you might be wondering where to start. For example, if you have five employees in an office each working on a different computer, they should all be able to access the same software and documents. These are served from a central computer rather than having multiple versions of the files stored locally on each machine.

Doing so will allow you and your employees to access software and files from anywhere and give you greater control over access rights to certain information, such as personnel files or payroll data.

It will also give you the ability to protect your business information with a dedicated backup and recovery system, as well as allow for easier management of network security. When it comes to choosing a server for a small or mid-sized business, the key question is: what do you need the server to do? There are many different types of server and organizations will often use a separate server for each purpose. Most commonly, SMBs use servers for:.

Proxy servers are worth considering for businesses of any size. This anonymity offers your business an additional layer of security. A crucial decision you will need to make is whether to have a physical server on-premises or opt for a cloud-based solution. There are pros and cons to each approach and what you decide ultimately comes down to the individual needs of your business. On the other hand, opting to build or buy a physical server comes with a higher upfront cost. But not paying recurring monthly fees may mean that it works out cheaper in the long run, especially as your business grows.

You will also have greater control over how it is set up and integrated with your business cybersecurity solution. Endpoint security is crucial when trying to keep your network safe from viruses, malware, or data breaches. There are several steps you can take to keep your data secure: provide cybersecurity training for any necessary members of staff, use a server antivirus , track user activity, keep your server up-to-date. Servers run specialized operating systems that are designed to be robust and able to support many users.

The operating system you choose for your server is another important decision. If your business runs on the Microsoft ecosystem, you may already be familiar with Windows server offerings.

Windows server operating systems are often popular with existing Windows users as they share much of the same code and look very similar to their non-server counterparts. However, even if you are already running Windows on your PCs, you still have a choice of server operating systems.

Other popular options for SMBs:. Servers typically come in three different forms — rackmount, tower, and blade. Rackmount and blade servers are installed onto a chassis making them highly expandable and good options for saving space, though both are more expensive than tower systems.

Every server contains specific hardware that determines its resource capacity, in particular, CPU central processing unit size, hard disk storage, and RAM random access memory. You may also wish to incorporate backup hardware components such as hot-swappable drive bays and a redundant power supply, as well as ECC error correcting code firmware that detects and corrects errors on the fly to reduce downtime.

The exact specifications of your server will depend on what you need it to do. For example, looking at some common uses:. While the exact process of setting up a server for an SMB will vary based on your chosen hardware and operating system, there are some common steps you will need to follow.

Depending on how much space you have and your hardware choices, setting up a dedicated room to house your server is a worthwhile investment. Besides isolating noisy servers away from employees, you can ensure that everything is properly organized and set up to function optimally.

When building your server room, consider the following points:. Ideally, use a room with no windows and the capacity to install cooling equipment and backup power.

Select a space that is big enough that you can reach the front and back of each server rack and, if possible, gives your server space to grow as your business grows. While it might be tempting to use a desk or shelf to store your server, the benefits of investing in a rackmount far outweigh the costs. Racks keep your equipment secure, organized, and make it easy to rearrange server units.

Even for a smaller office server setup, you will need at least a lock and key to protect your expensive equipment and valuable data from theft or tampering. If your budget allows, consider installing a security camera.