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 generally allow parts to be replaced
or repaired within a short period of time, keeping the network up and
running.
However, other types of servers such as a print server or
hardware such as a router or firewall can be purchased as used and
generally 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:
Device
Short recommendation
Case / 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 type of 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 disk drive, it is important to
look at the type of hard disk drive. The majority of all servers
today will have SCSI hard disk drives that is a high speed
reliable recommended solution.
CD-ROM
CD-ROM is not a critical item for most servers as it will
generally 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
Memory is and has always been an
important consideration when looking at purchasing a server or any computer.
Determine the amount of memory included in the server as well as
verify if that memory can be upgraded in the future. It is
recommended that at least 512MB of Memory be installed into the
network or file server.
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 type of processor is included? (Intel Pentium, Intel Xeon,
Digital or other).
How many processors can the server support? (2, 4, 8 or more).
BRAND OF COMPUTER
When looking at purchasing different types of computers, you
will likely hear different stories, some good and some bad. Regardless if
the story is good or bad, these stories are always based off of the
experience of that user. While it may be true that the user had a bad or
terrible experience with that computer, all computer manufactures have had
users who have had a bad experience and there is no such thing as a bad or
perfect computer manufacturer. Below is a listing of various things to
consider when purchasing a computer and in some cases how to tell the good
from the bad.
Documentation
Verify if the server or networking
device comes included with documentation. While most hardware, such
as a router or hub, will not require documentation for most network
administrators it is important that a server be included with some
documentation that will help with configuring the server or server
components. This comes in real helpful for configuring jumpers and
or with upgrade information.
Location
We use location as a description to
describe several different topics. First, what is the location of
where the network hardware / server is purchased: If the network
hardware / server is purchased at a
local retail store, can the network hardware / server be returned if unsatisfactory
or incompatible to
that store? If the network hardware / server is purchased through mail order or
directly through the computer manufacturer or reseller, where can the
network hardware / server be returned if unsatisfactory or
incompatible?
Second, can the store location of where the network hardware /
server was
purchased service the purchased product? If not, where is the closest location
to where it can be serviced?
Third, if the network hardware / server is purchased directly from the computer
manufacturer and is shipped through mail, how is it shipped?
What is the time period for the network hardware / server to arrive to your
destination? What happens if the network hardware / server is damaged during
shipping?
Return
Verify with the computer manufacturer if
it is possible to return or have a money refund for the network
hardware / server.
Many computer manufacturers will not refund your money but instead
may offer an exchange for another product of similar qualities. Verify with the
manufacturer or the reseller what their return /
refund / exchange policy is.
Service
Service is an important consideration to
look at when looking to purchase a networking hardware or a server. The
service is how many companies describe the repair of the device
purchased if it's to become unusable. Below is a listing
of what type of service to look for:
What type of service is offered? Is the service onsite,
meaning a technician will come to your location to replace or
fix a bad component. If the service is onsite, is it for the complete
time of the warranty? Finally, if onsite is offered because
it is likely this will be a network critical component, what is
the time frame for the repair to be completed and can it be done
7 days a week 24 hours a day?
If onsite is not offered, what is and for how long?
Are their local service centers that may stock the potentially
bad part or stock parts that can be used to exchange the part
that has gone bad? If yes, what are their hours and
availability?
Support
Manufacturer support for most companies will be a very
important consideration as if an issue arises with the computer you
must be able to contact a support representative. Things
to consider when looking at the support options of a computer are:
Is support open 24 hours, 7 days a week? If not, what are the
hours, or is a paging service available?
Is support open on holidays? If not, what days are it closed,
and the days that they are closed is a paging service available?
What support options are available? Phone? E-mail? Web? Chat?
Pager?
Upgrade ability
While this option may not be considered
at first when purchasing a computer, it is an important
consideration. Below is a listing of different options to look for
when looking to upgrade a computer.
What can be upgraded in the computer? RAM? CPU? Hard Drive?
Video Card? If available to upgrade, what are the maximum amounts
or is it specified within documentation provided with the
computer?
Does the computer have on-board hardware such as an on-board
Network or SCSI? If yes, can these be disabled with a jumper or
through CMOS. This is a very important as many computer will
disable the device when a new device is added. However, this does
not always work and may cause future issues. Ensure it can be
disabled and that it is not a device that auto-disables.
Warranty
Finally, what warranty is offered by the
computer manufacturer? How long is the warranty? Does the warranty
cover both hardware and software issues?
