All you need to know about server
management
Server
management refers to the maintenance and support of a server to sustain its
uptime and ensure its customers remain in business. The different tasks
involved in the management of a server may vary greatly depending on server
size, the traffic demand placed on it and the functions it performs. The proper
management of a server is important for businesses where they form a critical part
of the IT function. Within a company there may be an assortment of different
servers including application servers, web servers, backup servers, file
servers and databases. They can all be critical to the organization’s success,
so effective server management is a usually a necessity for each.
Management of web servers
If
one is running a dedicated server, several management tasks should be performed
to ensure its effective upkeep. Based upon the location of web server, it is
imperative to monitor the bandwidth on a regular basis. If the server is
collocated, one needs to take into account bandwidth throttling. Checking logs
is another important task involved in server management, but is something that
becomes complicated if the servers handle multiple domains or huge traffic. The
ultimate goal is to maximize the uptime of your server and ensure its security.
Think of time zones and opt for scheduled maintenance so that no users are left
unable to work when the server is undergoing maintenance work.
Management of file servers
The
management of a file server is usually different and relatively easier than the
management of a web server. If the server is housed in an organization’s LAN
(local area network), then it will have some off peak hours when it will be easy
to action updates and make important changes. If the file server is connected
to a VPN (virtual private network), one may have some users using the server at
weekends or at nights, so it may be a harder task to schedule in downtime or
maintenance hours. Based upon how many users access the file servers and what
precisely it is facilitating, it may be wise to conduct some security checks
over ghost servers prior to loading them on the production machines.
Management of application servers
The
management of application servers is a challenging process due to a number of
reasons; proprietary software, customized programming and user load or heavy
traffic. Application servers are mostly used by both end users and internal
staff from public networks such as the internet. This can make ‘scheduling
downtime’ a logistical nightmare.
Other tips
‘Back
up servers’ are usually used on daily basis to ensure
that up-to-date business critical data can be recovered should a disaster
occur. If a hard drive crashes or a file server goes down, a well designed and
reliable backup server can retrieve your information at the touch of a button.
Depending
on the size of an organization, IT server management can be a full time role.
Storm Internet has an array of server
management and backup functions to suit your business needs. To find out more, please
visit http://www.storminternet.co.uk/business.asp
