How to Choose a Server for Your Small Business

At some point in your small business’ life, you may think of getting your own server. If you have more than a few employees, your business would probably benefit from the power and efficiency of a server. A server is a little bit like a nerve center where you can run the main files for documents and software. A server can also make sharing files and working on projects easier. Ultimately, a server can streamline your business. So, when you are choosing a server, you want to be very particular about what you choose. The last thing you want is to visit a PC wholesale distributor and wind up with the wrong server. Here is how to choose a server for your small business.

  1. Size and capacity. If you are simply running light documents through your server – to either fax or print – there is a good chance that you don’t need such a large server. In fact, you can probably get away with the smallest grade server there is. While it will be efficient in the tasks you are designating for the server – it won’t be able to manage large platforms, like client management software and cloud computing. So, make sure that you understand the capacity you need in a server.
  2. Type of server. When you are looking for a server, you will see two types of structural configurations: blade servers and tower servers. When it comes down to it, your business can probably get away with simply using a few towers, which can easily be stored in a utility closet. However, if you need more capacity, you probably want to look into getting a blade server system, which can be stored and managed on racks in a specialized room that is secure and temperature controlled.
  3. Storage. This consideration is different than capacity, because a server could still have minimal storage – comparatively – and a lot of capacity. However, if you know that your business will be sharing and working on large files, there is a good chance that you are going to need servers that can hold a lot of data. For instance, movie files can be incredibly large, so you want to have a server that can transfer, move and send files efficiently and quickly.
  4. Capability. Some servers are convertible, which means they have ports for both PC and Mac platforms. However, some servers are strictly for Macs and some are strictly for PCs. This is the reason why you want to purchase a server with the right ports for your platform. You can usually ask a specialized technician to help you discern between the two, or you can do your research online.
  5. Portability. If your business is on the move a lot, you may want something with more portability. These days, servers are getting smaller and smaller, so you may be able to find something that has the right capacity – at the right price. At the end of the day, you want to pick the right server, because it will ultimately become one of the most important facets of your business’ operations.

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