Posts Tagged ‘Server’
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Server
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 »
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
A primary function of a server is hosting shared resources for your business. A server is a centralized, robust computer that allows other computers in your office to quickly retrieve shared files or run shared software.
from lenovo.com March 2011 As your small business grows, accumulates data, and employs more staff, the strain put on a simple workgroup networked computer may become to great making the server inefficient. At this point the need to share data is crucial and it may be a good time to consider purchasing a server.
What do you look for in a server?
Which server is best for your small business?
Below are some elements to contemplate when purchasing a server:
Price:
What can your small business afford? Buy a server that fits your current needs and when considering server specifications allow some room for growth. Keeping long term growth in mind is wise because although at the time you may not need it you might eventually need to expand. Prices for entry level servers typically range from $500 to $5,000 depending on the brand, model and features.
Size and Shape:
Contrary to what you might imagine, servers come in two primary formats, tower and rackable. A basic, entry level server in a tower format (upright as opposed to rackable) might be best for your small business because it has essentially the same footprint as desktop. A rackable server would work best if you currently have one or more server racks or are soon considering adding a server rack and adding more equipment.
Processor and Memory:
A processor directly affects the speed and performance of the machine. Choosing the best processor for the server you are considering, will ensure that your server can perform the necessary tasks at an efficient and productive speed. Similarly, the more memory available in the server will also affect the speed because it will have more room for the server to store temporary data and process information. Processors with 2GHz or more are usually suitable entry level servers for small businesses. Most entry level servers come equipped with a minimum of 1GB or 2 GB of memory and have the option for expansion depending on the needs of your business. It would be wise, if in your budget permits to purchase a minimum of 4GB of memory for optimal performance.
Hard Drive Redundancy:
It is important to consider the data requirements of your business. How much down time due to server problems an acceptable? The server technology known as RAID allows different levels of data redundancy and fault tolerance. The most common forms of RAID are RAID with a level 0 which does not provide fault tolerance and RAID level 1 which mirrors data, or writes data to two drives at the same time. If one drive were to fail, your data is still available on the other drive, you simply swap in a new drive and the mirror is recreated. Less common on entry level servers are RAID 5 and RAID 10 which have a much higher fault tolerance though it may be overkill for most small businesses when contemplating needs versus return on investment (ROI). While speaking of drives, some entry level servers have hot swappable drives, a very convenient function, which allows hard drives to be sapped while the server is still powered on.
Additional factors to consider include the server’s Operating System, Expansion Options, and Server Maintenance.
In an upcoming article we will be looking at some recommended small business servers: HP ProLiant MicroServer, Lenovo ThinkServer TS200v, and Dell PowerEdge T310.
More information about When and Why to Consider a Server.
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: entry level, Server, Small Business
Posted in Business Tools, Computers, Small Business Tips | 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 »
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