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| Most small businesses tend to think of their server as a whole, which is to say hardware (the computer it runs on) and software (the application that powers the server, such as Windows Small Business Server) are one. |
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| Talk to experts and you're likely to conclude that this holistic approach to a server is correct for most businesses. Hardware and software generally age at about the same rate. In other words, the machines need to be modernized at roughly the same interval as the server operating system is updated, give or take a few months. |
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| So is your server ready for a once-over? Here are eight signs. |
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| | 1. | It crawls. "When your server starts to slow down, it's time to budget for a new server. We recommend taking a look at both disk and CPU (central processing unit) usage. When you're at about 80%, it's time to start looking around. Slow servers, of course, mean a less productive work force. Can you afford that? |
| | 2. | It sucks up your time. If you're spending more time on dealing with server problems than you are willing to commit, it's time for an upgrade. Ask yourself: If you weren't working on a particular server problem, how much money could you earn by doing something else? |
| | 3. | It's noisy. As fan drives and hard drives age, you will notice they will become noisier. This is typically a good indicator that hardware failure is just around the corner. Computers are like cars; they have only so much mileage before they start falling apart. If you can't spring for a complete upgrade when you hear funny noises, at least make sure everything is backed up. |
| | 4. | It's out of warranty. If the manufacturer has stopped supporting the hardware and software — which means it's more than three years old — then there's a good chance you need some kind of upgrade. |
| | 5. | Something doesn't feel right. Maybe your hardware specifications don't match your vendor specs. Maybe it takes longer and longer to do the same function. If you, or your IT person, have a sinking feeling about the server, chances are it could be ready for an upgrade of some kind. |
| | 6. | There's no more room. If the requirement of the software that runs on the server exceeds the servers' specifications, then you need a new server. Small-business owners shouldn't just try to manage a space or memory crisis in the short term, but should think about the company's long-term needs. Planning is the key. Will you be adding more staff that will need access to this machine? Will you be upgrading the software that runs on the server in the near future? These are questions that you have got to ask yourself. |
| | 7. | Its performance is otherwise impaired. Does your server seize up often? Does the box have problems resolving conflicts?" Even if things run smoothly otherwise, these occasional "hiccups" may be a sign that the server is running up against the limits of its performance. Most businesses have a hard time tracking these issues until it's too late. SEDDNA recommends using monitoring tools that report on the health and status of the servers. These tools provide information for capacity planning and alerts of trouble signs. |
| | 8. | The big one happens. There usually isn't a telltale sign that your server needs to be upgraded, in terms of hardware, until a catastrophic failure occurs. After a meltdown, there's normally a "scramble" to replace operating systems and applications. Frequently, those are discontinued, or support has been discontinued, and that's usually when a business discovers that it should have upgraded long ago. It is much calmer to upgrade in a planned manner than to scramble at the last minute to resolve a crisis. |
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| | One last disclaimer: Oftentimes, there may be no signs or warnings that are apparent to the users on the network. Always be prepared and have a good backup and retention solution. |
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| Ready to upgrade? |
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| | If so, and you don't have an in-house IT staff, this may be the right time to call SEDDNA. We advice to purchase a brand-name server with plenty of storage capacity for the next three years with dual processors, hardware raid, and an onsite next-day warranty for at least three years. |
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| | In fact, three years seems to be the magic number for server upgrades. SEDDNA recommends an upgrade every three years for servers that host critical functions. But keep the aging servers; older servers can be used for testing new software, or hosting functions with lower reliability requirements. |
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| | Paying attention to the age and health of your server — and using a little common sense — can tell you when you need an upgrade. If your servers are mission-critical, you might also have a disaster plan in place. |
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| | If you're prepared for the worst, updating servers is a much less risky proposition. |
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| | If you aren't prepared for the worst, Murphy's Law will take over. |
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