Do You Really Need a Server? What Can a Server Do for Me? Ron Pacchiano
What Can a Server Do for Me?
So now that you know what makes up a server, what can a server do for you? There are multiple reasons to have a fileserver. Some of the more important ones are the following:
File and network security
Increased reliability
Centralized data storage and shared resources
Virus Management
Centralized backup
Let's take a closer look at each of these items.
File and Network security – The most important role of a file server is the network security it provides. By creating individual user and group accounts, rights can be assigned to the data stored on the network preventing unauthorized users from accessing materials they shouldn't be viewing. For example, the people on the sales floor don't need access to employees' personal records. That information is reserved for HR or the company owners.
The server allows you to manage file access on one system rather than on each workstation individually, saving time and effort. Plus, if a user's workstation fails, that employee can simply move to another workstation to continue working on the same files.
Also, all users can store their documents within their own personal folder on the server. The benefit to this is two-fold. First, data stored in a user's personal folder can only be viewed by the user. Second, since all of your employee's data is being stored on the network, it gets backed up nightly with the rest of the network data, ensuring that little to no date will be lost due to a crashed workstation.
Increased reliability – Servers are designed to run at all times, even in the event of a hardware failure. That's why many servers are equipped with redundant power supplies. Normally, if one of the power supplies dies, the server would automatically shut down, resulting in lost data and unproductive employees. With a secondary power supply running in tandem, the loss of one of the power supplies doesn't affect normal system operations and, as a result, goes unnoticed by the users.
The same goes for a server's storage system. Unlike an average desktop PC that uses a single hard drive, a server will typically use multiple hard drives working in a RAID configuration to prevent data loss or an interruption in workflow due to the failure of a solitary hard disk. There are many different levels of RAID to choose from, each of which can be implemented via either a hardware RAID controller or thru software. The most popular configurations are RAID-1 and RAID-5.
With the redundant hard drive or power supply engaged, you're still left with the problem of replacing the failed hardware. On a desktop, when any hardware fails you need to shut the system down in order to repair it. This isn't an acceptable condition for a server since whenever the server is down your employees are unable to function. It's for this reason that many servers are also equipped with hot swappable hard drives and power supplies. Like with the redundant systems, these hot swappable components allow you to replace faulty hardware without interrupting the entire office.
Centralized data storage and shared resources – With a network server, all of the users on the network can make use of various network resources right from their desks, increasing efficiency. Some of these resources include the following:
Centralized data storage (RAID Array)
Network Attached Storage (NAS) Devices
CD/DVD Towers
Printers and fax servers
Virus Management – One of the greatest threats to your network is the possibility of infection from viruses, spyware, and spam, so having good, updated, anti-virus software installed on your systems is a necessity. In an office of 10 people or less, systems can be maintained individually. Anything more than that, though, can become a real burden. In these circumstances, an anti-virus package that combines workstation and server virus protection into a single solution makes more sense.
Numerous vendors offer anti-virus suites designed specifically around the needs of a small business. These packages allow a single network administrator to manage every aspect of the anti-virus software from a centralized location; thereby reducing administration and maintenance cost.
From a single PC, the administrator can deploy the latest anti-virus software to each workstation on the network, launch network-wide virus scans, patch software, and update virus definition files. The software is designed to use minimal system resources and run in the background of a client PC, constantly watching for signs of trouble. Many tasks, like virus sweeps and definitions updates, can be automated, providing you piece of mind and a greater feeling of security.
Centralized Backup – All businesses should back up their data on a regular basis. By having all of your company and employee data stored in one location, backups can be performed reliably and quickly. So you'll never need to worry about what data is stored on which workstation as you do in a peer-to-peer network. Today almost any media type can be used for backup purposes. In addition to the traditional tape drive, CDs, DVDs, removal storage and even Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices are acceptable. Your choice of media will depend on your specific backup requirements. Depending on your budget and your data retention needs, any of these would be an acceptable solution. Make sure you have at least a scheduled weekly backup configured to run, although a daily would be better.
