Archive for the ‘Hardware’ Category
Description of ‘Hardware’ Category: Computer components
Friday, March 18th, 2011
A few posts back we discussed Buying a Server to Improve the Performance for your Small Business. Exploring this topic further, we examine three of the more popular entry level servers and evaluate the pros and cons of each. The three entry level servers that we have decided to discuss based on their popularity and re commendations include the HP ProLiant MicroServer, the Lenovo ThinkServer TS200v, and the Dell PowerEdge T110.
 from lenovo.com March 2011
Server selection is an important decision for small businesses when contemplating cash flow and return on investment (ROI) versus performance and because every company has varying needs one server model may boost productivity for one company while the performance may not be high enough for another company.
The three servers that were researched were chosen because each of them is an entry level server with similar features but at the same time offer different specifications, and affordability. Take a look at the three servers and see if one would best suit your business needs. Our comparison notes are based on an overview of professional and customer reviews; we conducted research as opposed to testing each of the servers. Our comments are based on purchasing the servers as is without any upgrades. Following the comparisons we also offer our recommendation to which server we think offers the best return on your investment and the server we would purchase among the three choices.
Dell PowerEdge T110
The Dell PowerEdge T110 Server is the first of three of the ideal entry level servers for small businesses. Aiming to add value, increase productivity, and generate collaboration the Dell T110 eliminates some unnecessary features and focuses on purposeful and productive design. Additionally, this server is highly customizable offering base units Essential, Enhanced, Performance, and First File Server. These options allow a small business to make various choices weighing price versus functionality. With that in mind the Performance model at $908 (coming with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation) seems to offer the best ROI when weighing price versus functionality.
Pros:
- Base Price Points range from $299 – $925 with no operating system
- Base Price Points range from $550 – $1,375 with a Windows operating system
- The Small Physical Size allows it to fit into small spaces
- Runs at a cool temperature
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) provides hardware-based encryption and authentication
- Up to 4 cabled Hard Drives
- 1GB to 4GB of Memory
- 250GB Hard drive
- 2.26 to 2.4GHz processing speed
Cons:
- Not as quiet as the competitors models
- Not enough room for hardware expansion
- No hot swapping option
- Only offers Raid 0, 1 (RAID 5 not available)
HP ProLiant MicroServer Series
The HP ProLiant MicroServer Series like the other three models is designed for small businesses with less than ten clients and offers increased productivity and efficiency with a centralized managed network (model: 612275-001 ).
Pros:
- Affordable price point starting at $299-$349 (operating system sold separately, an operating system such as Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation – license retail for about $260 )
- Quiet with a 22 dBA noise level
- Compact physical size
- Easy to set up, manage, and add additional drives and peripherals
- Error checking and correction (ECC) memory which lowers the chances of memory corruption
- Has an option for IT support remote access
- Equipped with 4 front USB ports
- Supports various operating systems Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard edition, and Red Hat 5.
Cons:
- Does not include a keyboard, mouse, or operating system
- Less powerful with 1.30 MHz AMD Athlon II Neo N36L Dual Core Processor
- Only comes standard with 1GB of memory (option to expand up to 8GB)
- No RAID5 support
- The hard drive trays are weak and fragile
- No hard drive hot swapping option
- Comes standard with only one 250 GB hard drive
Lenovo ThinkServer TS200v
The Lenovo ThinkServer TS200v, although similar to the HP ProLiant MicroServer it stands out due to its performance, expandability, customization, and pricing.
The Lenovo ThinkServer is available in several models 098111U, 098112U, 098118U, 098119U, 09811BU and 9811CU allowing a small business owner to make various choices weighing price versus functionality. With that in mind the 098118U model at $899 seems to offer the best ROI when weighing price versus functionality.
Pros:
- Price: $300-$899 depending on the model and with or without an operating system
- Comes with a Windows operating system
- Always-on remote management
- Easy to set up and to maintain, and offers enhanced remote management
- The chassis is easily accessible and makes upgrading the hard drive very easy
- It’s also energy efficient and extremely quiet
- Has 4 uDIMM memory slots for up to 16GB of DDR3 memory
- Has 4 PCI expansion slots to add future hardware
- It comes equipped with 10 USB ports (2 fronts, 6 rear, and 2 internal)
- 3.5-inch SATA hard drive options supporting up to 2TB of storage
- Offers tape backup with USB port for RDX internal tape drive
- Has an integrated gigabit Ethernet
- Software for simple configuration and support
- Integrated RAID 0/1
- It comes with an adequate Intel processor ranging 2.3GHz -3.2 GHz
- 1-4GB Memory option
- 1-5GB Hard drive option
Cons:
- Only one gigabit Ethernet network port (instead of 2)
- No hot swapping hard drive ability
- No redundant internal fans
After considering the advantages and disadvantages of each server as well as researching customer reviews and server specs, in our opinion the server that stands out as the highest return on investment is the Lenovo ThinkServer TS200v. The size, shape, ease of use, power, performance, and all the additional great features make it a perfect candidate for any small business that needs to centralize and share their resources. The Lenovo ThinkServer TS200v is affordable and is appropriately priced without compromising any of its power and performance. The perfect blend of cost and performance makes it a top pick among consumers when compared to the other models.
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
.
Tags: business, entry level server, file sharing, hard drive, memory, model, operating system, performance, price, Server
Posted in Computers, Hardware, Small Business Tips | No Comments »
Friday, February 18th, 2011
 from http://www.squareup.com Feb 2011 To accommodate the businesses that are on the move a few companies have begun to stray from the traditional stationary credit card readers. Among the companies already offering mobile card processing is “Square” and “Intuit GoPayment”. Created in 2009, Square like the Intuit GoPayment system offers a device that works as an electronic card reader with the design purpose of accepting electronic payments without the inconvenience of traditional bulky equipment. Without the restrictions that cash registers, card readers, and receipt printers inflict, vendors can now be completely mobile and better serve their clients. The “Square” gadget is about the size of a quarter and plugs directly into a headphone outlet on devices like the Dell Streak PC tablet or the Apple iPhone. Currently the device and software are only supported by the Apple iOS and Google’s Android operating system. For a full list of devices that support “Square” visit this link is my device supported?
“Square” provides customers and vendors with a fast, simple, and safe buying experience. Both the software and the card reader are free and are available after establishing an account at SquareUp.com. Following the creation of your account, the Square application can be downloaded through your device’s app store and you can begin mobile card processing.
It appears that the only charges that an account holder will incur while using Square are a 2.75% + 15¢ charge for swiped transactions or a 3.5% + 15¢ charge for keyed-in transactions. Using Square allows individuals or businesses to side step activation fees, annual fees, early termination fees, customer service fees, statement fees, batch fees, monthly minimum fees, authorization fees and any other less obvious fees associated with credit card processing.
“Square” is extremely easy to use and only takes seconds to complete a sale. All you have to do is swipe the credit card, enter the amount of the purchase, fill in the details of the purchase, charge the account, and send out a receipt. Upon completion of a customer’s transaction a detailed receipt is stored on your device and can be sent to a customer’s email account. Additionally, cash payments can also be monitored using this software.
The mobile nature of this device can cause some concerns regarding its security, however all of data sent out of your device is kept in a monitored and secure location. All personal and vital information is encrypted following industry-standard security practices and is backed by VeriSign and the PCI Security Standards Council.
“Square” currently accepts most of the major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. In addition to swiping a customer’s card, merchants are also able to manually enter credit card information for phone or Internet orders. Whether you’re a new small business that can not afford the traditional equipment, or you need to accept payments while you are traveling, or if you simply want to cut down on credit card processing fees “Square” has you covered.
Establish your Square account today at SquareUp.com to receive your free device and software. Experience a new, fast, and efficient way of processing your customer’s credit transactions!
More valuable information:
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
We are an information technology firm providing Internet Marketing and Technical Support to businesses.
Tags: card, card processing, credit card, customer, device, fee, payments, square
Posted in Business Tools, Hardware, Productivity | No Comments »
Friday, December 31st, 2010
Several of our other blog articles detail how to ensure that your home PC is secure but few people realize that their mobile devices are just as vulnerable if not more vulnerable and are likely to encounter some form of security intrusions. Provided are a few methods designed to protect you, your Smartphone and your other devices fro m danger!
- First off, many smartphones now come equipped with a locking feature which is vital for keeping unauthorized users off your equipment. If this feature available for your device it is important that you activate the locking feature. Even if the information found on is not overly confidential, the unwarranted access to your device alone can prove to be harmful. Although sometimes locking it isn’t good enough, so please keep your device with you or in a safe location, in other words don’t leave it where it can be accessed or stolen.
- When we think of keeping our data safe we don’t really think of physical damage anymore it’s all about viruses and security but buying a case for your phone and preventing physical damage is just as important. Even though most of the information can often be recovered from a damaged phone, you can potentially avoid this hassle if you buy a sturdy phone case and refrain from using it around water.
- Wi-Fi Hot Spots are great but users should be aware that they are also subject to many risk. Just as with laptops, hackers can easily intercept data packets sent over unsecure hotspots. Steer clear of any website that require login using a password over these networks, especially your financial websites. To reduce these risks follow these options, they can be found in your mobile phones network and security menus.
- Disable Ad-Hoc mode
- Turn off file sharing
- Turn off network discovery
- Encrypt your email
- Protect yourself with a virtual private network (VPN)
- Disable your wireless adapter
- Watch out for shoulder surfers
- Beware phony hot spots
- Turn on your Firewall
- When Browsing watch for the same Phishing Scams that you would when using your home PC and never provide personal information such as bank account numbers or credit card information to any website using your phone.
- When sending email avoid sending any important information without encryption. Additionally when opening emails it’s advised not to open any attachments without spam and virus scanning programs since your phone is susceptible to virus and other security threats.
- Get Mobile security protection software. Smartphone’s come equipped with mobile security protection but there are additional programs that are beneficial to protecting your device such as Lookout Mobile Security and McAfee Mobile.
- Just like a home PC it is important for you to update your phone as soon as updates become available. Missing out on crucial updates leaves your phone unsecured.
- Avoid Jailbreaking your device! It might seem worth it to have limitless possibilities but at what cost. Jail breaking opens your devices up to even more risks and just in case you had a warranty you won’t anymore.
- Use only trusted software, given that the apps in your smartphone app store go through an approval process they are most likely safe but for those of you out there that are able to access unauthorized software due to Jail Breaking your device you’re only welcoming a host of software potentially riddled with viruses.
- Try not to keep sensitive information on it. In the event that someone does obtain your phone and acquire access to it that information is now theirs, to do whatever they want with it. Even with a password protection certain people know the tricks to get into your phone, so store your information somewhere more secure.
- Disable blue tooth when not using it. Avoid taking Bluetooth calls from numbers that you are unfamiliar with and circumvent any unsolicited file transfers. Leaving your Bluetooth on potentially allows other users to view your mobile activity information and invade your privacy.
- Some mobile services offer a GPS tracking setting as well as a Remote Wipe option. If ever lost, you have the option to activate the GPS tracker and locate your phone. Similarly if the phone is lost without any possibility of being found users can protect their information by executing a remote wipe. A remote wipe will clear and information off the phone and permanently disable the service.
In general it is important to treat your mobile device as you would your home or office computer. Mobile phones are just as vulnerable as your PC and although mobile security might not be as emphasized as PC security it is as equally important. Be sure to practice safe and secure precautions regardless of what type of device you are using.
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: mobile device, Mobile security, phone, Protection, Smartphone, Wi-Fi
Posted in Communication, Hardware, Internet, Security | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
 Hello and welcome to Chesapeake Digital Technology´s blog. We’re an information technology firm in Maryland. We provide several services, like Internet Marketing and Technical Support to small and medium business.
Congratulations! Your small business is expanding. You might even have an IT guy/gal working for you now. This is a big step. He/She has told you that since the company is growing, you’ll likely need a server to help out soon. However, you don’t know where to start. We can help. Here is a list of reasons why you might need a server. Take a close look and see if any match your organization.
Hosting Software
Some software requires that you host (install and run) it from a server. This is usually true of database software or some other records keeping programs. For example, Champion’s Way’s MAS software, designed to help martial arts studios track vital statistics, will only run from a server. Take note of software you might need in the future and what it requires to run.
Storing Data
Along the lines of running software, storing data in a central location, not tied to any one user is often a good idea. This is good as servers have redundant drives where workstations usually do not and keeps one person from having too much control, though you will still need to trust some people to keep the server up and running (usually your IT employee). This ties into another important consideration for servers.
Security
Keeping PCs secure from viruses and malware is one thing. However, you need to start putting protections in place to prevent people from just sitting down and accessing your network. Security settings on servers (for example, those running Windows Server 2008 R2), can give you the control you need to make sure that you are meeting the “prudent man” standards. That is to say, doing what is reasonable to protect yourself.
Internal Email Hosting
This is sort of a hassle, but setting up your email system internally can be a great benefit to a growing organization. Using a Microsoft environment (Windows Server 2008 R2, Exchange 2010) for example, allows you to integrate your various pieces of software. Interoffice emails won’t depend on an external connection, leading to faster send/receive times and occasionally sustained productivity in the event of an Internet outage.
-Josh
Chesapeake Digital Technologies
Tags: Exchange, internet, PC, Server, Tips, windows
Posted in Computers, Hardware, Small Business Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
 Hello and welcome to Chesapeake Digital Technology´s blog. We’re an information technology firm in Finksburg, MD. We provide several services, like SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Technical Support to small and medium businesses.
Virtualization is a growing trend in today’s IT industry. The concept is simple, though it may appear more complicated than it looks. Virtualization takes one, powerful system, and allows the user to simulate multiple systems. This can be a great tool for medium sized businesses. Small businesses may see some of the benefits, but it may be a little too costly. This week we will focus on some of the benefits of Virtualization.
One of the biggest benefits of virtualization is the savings on hardware. If your business requires multiple servers to accomplish business goals, i.e. an email server, an Active Directory Server, etc, then virtualization is the right option for you. You won’t have to purchase separate machines to accomplish this.
Another benefit of Virtualization is saving space. In the past, server rooms took up a lot of space. Often, they would require their own rooms. However, with virtualization, you can consolidate all those machines into one server rack. This means a whole room of computers might be stored in a single tower.
There are many more benefits to virtualization, but including them all here would turn this into a research paper. Next week, we’ll go over some of the cautions of using virtualization.
-Josh
Chesapeake Digital Technologies
Tags: Business Tips, PC, Servers, Virtual Machine
Posted in Hardware, Productivity, Small Business Tips | 1 Comment »
|
