A.D.Associates

Server Buying Tips

Introduction

Purchasing a server for any business is a very big decision, and if not done properly, can reduce productivity or cause loss of money in the business. Below is information and help for what to look out for when purchasing a computer server. It is important to also note that every business is unique and may require more or less of what is listed below.

New vs. Used

Purchasing a new or used server or server equipment can be a method of saving the company additional money; however, it can cause lost money if that hardware or server does not meet the company's needs. When looking at purchasing a used main server or file server for a computer network, ensure that the server is going to meet the company's needs as far as performance and reliability. Unless the perfect used solution is found, we highly recommend purchasing a new main server, file server, network server or database server, as it will have the latest hardware innovations as well as have a warranty, which will allow parts to be replaced or repaired within a short period of time, keeping the network up and running. However, other servers such as a print server or hardware such as a router or firewall can be purchased as used and meet most companies' needs.

What to look for

When purchasing a server, it is important that either the company or the network administrator consider the following:

Case and rack	When looking at the case or rack, look at the expandability as well as the accessibility of hardware. Determine how may drive bays if any are available as far as what drive bays (5.25" vs. 3.5") or available hard drive bays in the computer.
Drives	Hard drive The available amount of disk space on the server can be a very important consideration especially if the server is going to be a file or network server. Consider the space requirements needed for the operating system, applications, tools, utilities, web pages, files and user settings. When also looking at the hard drive, it is important to look at the hard drive interface. The majority of all servers today use either SATA or SCSI hard drives. CD-ROM CD-ROM is not a critical item for most servers as it will only be used to install additional software onto the server. Backup For all networks, backup is and should be an important consideration. Most companies will need important data, such as company or customer related information, backed up on a daily basis. When looking at a backup solution, consider the following. Is backup available with the server, if so what is it? If available, what is the capacity of the medium? If available, how fast is the medium (how long does it take to backup 4 gig for example).
Memory	With the increase with more than one computer in the house and with broad band solutions, sometimes requiring a network card a network card is becoming an important consideration when purchasing a computer. Network cards allow users to connect to other computers and have small networks in their home or office. This allows for data transfer, file sharing, Internet connection sharing, printer sharing and various other helpful uses.
Network card	With the increase with more than one computer in the house and with broad band solutions, sometimes requiring a network card a network card is becoming an important consideration when purchasing a computer. Network cards allow users to connect to other computers and have small networks in their home or office. This allows for data transfer, file sharing, Internet connection sharing, printer sharing and various other helpful uses.
Operating system	When setting up a new network verify the operating system or networking software is included with the server. If no operating system is included with the computer, verify what operating systems have been tested with the computer. For example: Novell, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Unix, Solaris, Linux, SCO... Etc. It is also important that when setting up a network that the operating systems being installed or included is something that the network administrator is familiar with or requires for compatibility with other software.
Power	For large networks or servers, power may be an important consideration. Look at the available amount of power supplies as well as the capacity of each of the power supplies. Additionally, if you believe power may be an issue in the future, look at the availability of upgrading or adding additional power supplies to the server.
Processor	The computer processor and the amount of processors the computer can support is one of the most important considerations when looking at a server. When looking at the server, consider the following: What processor is included? (Intel Pentium, Intel Xeon, Digital or other). How many processors can the server support? (2, 4, 8 or more).