Server Hardware

What we look for when building your server

Regardless of the manufacturer, here are some of the items that provide our clients with high reliability and reduce the losses of employee productivity and business interruptions caused by equipment failure:

Hardware Redundancy

  • 2 separate volumes that are isolated from one another: one for the operating system and e-mail, and another for files enhance server performance and speed repair.
  • RAID – or redundant hard drives – Ensure that the system can function without interruption during a drive failure
  • Hot Spare – A spare hard drive is at the ready and deployed automatically in the event of a drive failure
  • Additional Power supply – The 2nd most commonly failed component of a server is the power supply; an additional power supply provides uninterrupted functionality.

Management and monitoring

The best equipment in the world can have component failures. Additionally, a system’s performance varies differently throughout the workweek and over its life as loads change.

Virtualization

NMS has extensive experience with virtualizing operating systems. Unlike a traditional server a “virtualized” server is not married to the hardware box it runs on, providing these benefits:

  • Backup – Complex software installations such as accounting and EMR systems can be backed up and restored in the form of one or two virtual hard drive files.
  • Efficiency – A single piece of hardware will support multiple virtualized servers, reducing costs because less hardware means less heat generated and reduced electrical consumption.
  • Isolation – by isolating the critical business services on separate servers, a single software error has a limited impact on productivity.
  • Portability – A virtual server can easily be moved between physical servers. This is particularly helpful for maintenance and for accommodating increased hardware demands.
  • Serviceability – Often the maintenance of complex systems leads to outages or failures. Virtual servers can be backed up and restored to a previously working state in the event of a maintenance related failure.

Why buy a Dell Server?

Network Management Services has extensive experience with a variety of hardware vendors including Dell, HP/Compaq, IBM, Intel and unbranded “White Box” servers. From years of experience with the installation and support of these systems, we have come to rely on and almost exclusively recommend Dell branded servers. Dell has outpaced all other vendors by providing a superior product and providing superior service. Here are the components that make this the only choice in server technology.

Dell OpenManage

This vendor-specific software provides real-time status and metrics on the server hardware components. Of all the major hardware vendors we have worked with, this is the most extensive hardware-level event monitoring software on the market with these additional benefits:

  • Integration with our monitoring and alert system – The status of over 20 individual hardware components such as Processors, Hard Drives, RAID controllers, Fans and Power Supplies is recorded for reporting and alerts, delivered in the event of failure.
  • Thermal shutdown – Systems experiencing thermal failure are automatically powered off to prevent damage.
  • Streamlined installation and diagnostics speed repairs and reduce service costs.

Dell Remote Access Card (DRAC)

This hardware controller provides an IP KVM solution or visual remote server management.

  • Allows technicians to remotely connect to a failed system, even if the system is powered down or the operating system is nonfunctional.
  • Hardware-level issues can be assessed and adjustments made without having to delay service or prolong employee downtime until an on-site visit can take place.

Dell Service

While hardware issues have been rare, it is still a reality that components will fail. Here are some of the reasons we prefer to work with Dell:

  • Onshore support team is based in Texas not in ???.
  • Quick phone access to the support team. Typically no wait time.
  • Professionals dedicated to the more complex components and management.
  • Provide support for the life of the server beyond the hardware warranty period.