Servers do much more these days than simple file and printer sharing. Your business computing needs can be broken down into services. These services include file and print sharing, but also may be more specialized like database application servers, or servers dedicated to a major software you use to run your business. We can help you determine what type of server you need, build, implement, and maintain.
With our experience setting up hundreds of servers over the years, we can navigate the many choices and arrive at a practical solution. Servers can be expensive and most businesses cannot afford to buy the wrong equipment. Servers require experienced professionals to design and set up, otherwise they can lead to pure misery for all involved. Since we specialize in small and medium sized business computing, we will have a good idea of what server is right for your business, based on our experience working with other companies like yours.
We have experience setting up both Windows and Linux Servers. There are advantages and disadvantages to both and they each have their own place in your computing environment. We view a server as a tool which is used to perform a particular function or functions, usually serving as a platform to run a specific program like an accounting system, or practice management system. Software companies like to sell their own servers to customers who do not have any IT Support, but these servers are generally overpriced and under powered. Have them quote you a price and we will show you what we can do for the same money and will exceed their requirements. In other words, with us, you get more bang for the buck!
Recent versions of Windows Server include Windows Server 2008, and the newer Windows Server 2012. Your major software package may require one of these Windows Server Operating Systems. Windows Server Operating Systems require licenses from Microsoft, or something they call CAL's (Client Access Licenses). The cost and number of CAL's you need to buy is based on things like the number of users who will be using the server. Different features within the Windows Server Operating System can be turned on or off, and often require their own CAL's. Just to illustrate the complexity of Microsoft Licensing, check out the following information from Microsoft Licensing CAL's. If that information does not give you a headache, you can then look at the pricing involved and start shopping! These are all waters that we have navigated and are familiar with, based on servers we have installed. We will save you a great deal of time and money by simply showing you what you need to buy and prevent you from making costly mistakes. The major software application that you need may require that your server runs Microsoft Windows Server.
Linux is based on, or is derived from an older operating system, much older than Microsoft, called Unix. Unix is still around today and is used for running things like supercomputers in educational environments. Linux has evolved over the years to the point where it is a highly reliable business server operating system. It is generally much more efficient than Windows Servers in terms of the size or amount of power the server needs, and does a much better job performing certain functions or services. The most wonderful thing about Linux Servers is that the Linux Server Operating System, as well as all the Services or Programs we use on Linux Servers are absolutely FREE, as in NO COST. FREE is a radical concept for those used to dealing with Microsoft Servers! Sorry but although the cost of the server and its software is free, we do not set them up for free. We set up Linux Servers to perform the following:
Internet Mail Server with features like Spam Filtering, Virus Filtering, and WebMail. You can have an internet domain like YOURDOMAIN.COM and set up an unlimited number of mail accounts or addresses. You may be paying someone to do this now. Having your own mail server can save you a great deal of money, while also assuring that nobody can snoop, spy, or otherwise have access to the messages on your server. This is a big issue in the news these days. The programs we use to set up a Mail Server include Debain Linux, Postfix Mail, SpamAssassin, and CLAM Antivirus. If you send or receive e-mail with us @Computing-Management.com, our mail is hosted on a Linux Mail Server as described above.
Internet Web Server You may be paying someone to host your website http://yourdomain.com and http://www.yourdomain.com. The price of this hosting probably depends on the size of your site and the amount of traffic or data throughput. The disadvantage to having someone host your domain, especially if they want to do it for free, is that your website may be judged by the company it keeps. In other words, your legitimate business site may be penalized in the search engines because you are sharing the hosting services on a server that may also be hosting sites of a less desirable nature. These days, if you want to have a legitimate business website, and have it perform well with search engines like Google, it is best to have your own server. We can set up a Linux Web Server and help promote your site with Google. Our Linux Web Server includes Debain Linux, Apache Web Server program, and Clam Antivirus. The website you are viewing now is running on a Linux Web Server as described above.
Database Server Microsoft has their SQL Server program but Linux has their own Database Server Programs that can perform just as well. The most common of these programs is called MySQL. MySQL is now supported by a big database company you might recognize, named Oracle, and is a very capable database program. We can help you design and program a database, as well as convert and manipulate data. This may be integrated into your company website for either internal or external use.
File and Print Server These are basic servers for both Windows and Linux Servers. The only difference is that Linux can do it a lot cheaper because there is no CAL's or licensing to buy.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Server You may have been hearing a lot about CLOUD, or CLOUD Servers lately. There is a lot of hype and marketing involved here. If you need a shared and secure area to store files and make them accessable to you, or possibly to your customers to upload and download, the easiest way to do this is with a FTP server.
This is one of the most basic services of Linux and again, there are no licenses to buy.
There is a long, ever growing, list of other services available for Linux.
Server Security, especially for servers accessible through the Internet must have the proper security to keep them from getting hacked. We take server security very seriously because we realize just how dangerous the world is. It is a given fact that there will be attempts to hack into your server every hour of every day. This is just the nature of the Internet and a properly setup and secure server will be prepared and protected from such attacks. We utilize firewall security, user and file security, as well as intrusion detection to keep your servers secure. Servers, and the software they run, must be constantly maintained and updated to protect against the latest security threat. Server Security is something that should be set up and maintained by competent professionals like us. We can set up your server and monitor and maintain it remotely keeping an ever watchful eye for problems.
We have experience setting up both Windows and Linux servers and maintaining them in production environments. We have solutions for all the different types of servers commonly used in small and medium sized businesses. We know what works and have the ability to duplicate our successes and make them work in your computing environment.
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