the backbone of your system, the centralization of you resources
Servers are really just specially configured PCs. Usually they have a special version of the operating system (Windows) that have extra services that ought to be centralized and shared among other devices on the network. When servers, or server functions are properly configured, the over process of running your business’ computer activity is enhanced and manageable, often without much direct attention by your business.
Sometime, depending on how you do business, you can have a single physical server that does all or most server functions. Other times, server functions can be spread over many logical and physical servers. “It just depends… on how you do your business
Show The Drew Way - You need a File Server…
Show The Drew Way - You might want to look at a Terminal Server…
You need a File Server…
That central location to store data for a single location or office for all users makes it easier to organize and find data that is shared within an office, and for data that is not shared, to be in a single place to know what is worth backing up. The file server does not need to use the “server” operating system, any regular workstation PC with ordinary Windows, can offer file sharing for up to ten other PCs.
The idea of having a single physical location for all the data shared and used by PCs on the network makes Backup of your data much easier. A set of external backup disks can be connected via USB or e-SATA to the File Server computer with an automated trigger to perform an unattended backup every night. The backup disks can be changed out with a minimum of human involvement and a maximum of data protection.
You might want to look at a Terminal Server…
Spending a little more money to configure a PC with more memory and processing power and running the “server” operating system configured as a Terminal Server can make your users desktop experience more consistent and controlled while saving you money in the long run.
By setting up one or more Terminal Server computers you would install your user software only once per server, you would need to perform windows updates and application updates only once per server. This gives all desktop users a consistent look, feel, and availability of desktop software. All users are at the same version of application and operating software, and all run at the same speed (no more “newer PC envy”). It is less expensive overall because Windows Terminals are only $200 to $250 each and require about 5 minutes of configuration each while desktop PCs cost $400 to $750 each and require 1 to 2 hours of installation and configuration. The savings in setup time also carries over into saving on future maintenance time, since the Terminal Server keeps all uses working on a consistent and single platform, individual differences in PC hardware don’t come into play.
Some of the many server functions include:
- File Sharing (centralized important company file location)
- Company Data Backup – With the data centralized on a file sharing server, backing up the company data from a single location can be easily automated
- Centralized User and Computer Authorization and Security– Windows Domain Controller; create and track Usernames and Passwords and User Groups along with authorized computers
- Internal Network Name Services (DNS – Domain Name System) – Allows referral of network devices by name
- Terminal Services – Centralize desktop (user workstation) services; users connect from a Windows terminal or from a PC with Remote Desktop Connection.
- Internal Web Servers – Host an internal company website
What servers and services you need can be determined by consulting with bāsupport, inc.
