If you are looking at adding a dedicated server to your business infrastructure, congratulations. You are taking the first step toward a private cloud solution for your company, one that can support a great many features and services as you grow. Of course, a small business dedicated server needs to match what you actually need, since there are many options across processors, RAM, and more.
Choosing the Right Processor for Your Small Business Dedicated Server
The first thing to look at when evaluating servers is the processor. If you are hosting a relatively light application, such as a website that will not draw much traffic, an entry-level dual-core machine will meet your needs. If you are looking at virtualization and hosting multiple applications on the machine, the last thing you want is a dual-core. Look instead at a Xeon Quad-Core CPU that supports Hyper-Threading to get more out of the machine, and you may need a 2-processor configuration depending on how many applications you are running. If you plan to run a database or offer your own hosting service from the machine, a Quad-Core should be enough. If you expect your needs to grow, you can always choose a larger machine than these recommendations, but it is not wise to go smaller, especially for a virtualization setup.
Understanding Hyper-Threading
If you are not familiar with Hyper-Threading, the technology lets you run two tasks on the same core with compatible software. That effectively lets you treat a dual Quad-Core Xeon configuration as 16 CPUs (2 processors times 4 cores times 2 threads equals 16 CPUs). Not all software supports Hyper-Threading, particularly older legacy programs, so evaluate your current software before you count on the technology.
How Much RAM Does Your Server Need?
RAM is the next major consideration, and more RAM is almost always better. You can request a RAM upgrade after your dedicated server is live, but it is best to get what you need from the start. Virtualization platforms and SQL databases are especially memory hungry, so plan to upgrade there. Servers running Java, Ruby, or Windows also need a healthy amount of RAM, since these applications use memory heavily even before you factor in your actual workload.
Other Factors for Your Small Business Dedicated Server
At this point, the brains of the server are settled, and most of what is left applies regardless of the specific server you choose:
- Hard drive space matters if the machine stores customer information or databases. If that data is especially sensitive, it is worth adding a second drive in a RAID configuration and investing in backups.
- If you are offering hosting services, cPanel and Plesk are worth investing in to make managing your own customers easier.
- A firewall solution matters a great deal if you handle sensitive data or face regulatory requirements. A private network is worth considering too when that applies.
- Your operating system can vary by task, though virtualization tools such as VMware or Citrix, or Windows itself, call for a comparably hefty machine next to a Linux server hosting a simple website.
- If you transmit a lot of data to the internet, an uplink speed upgrade is worth considering, along with more bandwidth if you send large volumes of data regularly.
For a free consultation on how to configure your dedicated server, reach out to us at sales@vaultnetworks.com or by calling (305) 735-8098 option 2. We look forward to speaking with you and getting you set up in your very own private cloud.