Server Management

Any small business can benefit from the advantages of a server-based network. Putting a fast and well-equipped server to work can:

• Increase your productivity
• Enable smart backup and archiving
• Vastly improve the security of your data

And once you have simple application and file sharing in place, the addition of network attached storage (NAS) — an easy and cost-effective upgrade — brings another array of benefits to your business.

Benefits of Server-Based Networking

If you haven’t moved your business from a peer-to-peer network (or from no network at all) to a server-based network yet, you’re missing out on all kinds of advantages that a centralized server can bring.

What are the benefits of a server-based network?

• File Management — How much time do you spend trying to track down documents that move around the office from employee to employee without anyone keeping track? A more efficient idea: storing your vital data in a central shared space where all workers can access it whenever necessary.
• Mobility — As handheld smartphones and WiFi-connected notebooks become ubiquitous, your office can now be accessible 24/7. With a virtual private network (VPN) added to your networking setup, you can tap into your network’s resources — including email — from anywhere around the world. And back at headquarters, wireless networking can allow you to move around with your notebook and stay connected from any corner of the office.
• Collaboration — In a server-based network, workgroups can collaborate in virtual spaces — sharing schedules, files and whatever else they need to get the job done. You can also grant access to outside clients to make communications more efficient, and make your business appear bigger than it actually is. It becomes easy to set up satellite offices, to work together on shared documents across any distance and even to print to a remote printer.
• Security — The network administrator of a server-based network can control access to critical and private files on a person-by-person basis. In addition, the inclusion of a firewall can guard the entire organization from external intrusions and attacks such as viruses. The end result: a more buttoned-up organization where security concerns need not preoccupy you constantly.
• Performance — A well-equipped server with a high-performance processor, hard drive, and sufficient memory speeds up applications and file access, especially when compared to the types of peer-to-peer networks that many small businesses use. If you have highly paid hourly employees, the last thing you want is for them to sit around waiting for a simple database recalculation or print job. With innovations like multicore processors and Gigabit Ethernet, performance improvement is palpable.

Network Attached Storage Takes It to the Next Level

Once you step up to server-based networking and begin to appreciate its benefits, the next question is how to make it even more useful to your operation in a cost-effective way. One suggestion: Look into NAS. Think of NAS as a high-capacity external hard drive that connects your network for the sole purpose of improving your ability to share and store files. As you watch the amount of your stored data grow exponentially over time, you may soon realize that boosting your ability to share and store files may significantly help productivity.

In small-business scenarios, NAS is typically controlled by a Microsoft^® Small Business Server and managed over the network by an administrator. You can also purchase a server with Windows^® Storage Server^® 2003 Release 2, an OS strictly for file sharing, already installed. While setup isn’t complicated, the right configuration is key. Robust drives and a sufficient amount of RAM are musts to ensure that NAS will improve your network’s overall performance.

NAS makes sense because it can speed up and streamline your work:

• The extra storage space provided by NAS allows you to advance toward a paperless office by scanning and archiving old documents. Imagine getting rid of a few of those file cabinets that are cluttering your office.
• NAS relieves the stress on your overloaded main application server by offloading storage and sharing tasks, so your main server can run your business-critical applications far more efficiently.
• NAS is the easiest way to get quick relief for capacity problems. If you’re enjoying record growth in your business, it’s your easiest network storage upgrade.
• NAS eliminates typical office data-overload problems. An example is the tendency of employees to email huge file attachments to each other because there’s no effective, centralized space to store and collaborate on those documents.
• NAS can either be managed from any Windows-based desktop or remotely, so any issues are addressed quickly before downtime becomes a problem.
• There are no client licenses for this method of file sharing, so you save money.
• By running Microsoft Windows Storage Server, NAS integrates easily into an existing Windows-based network — and it’s fast. Designed exclusively for file sharing, Windows Storage Server is your optimal choice for fast file management. It’s another important component of a network that’s designed for speed.

Dell Server and NAS Solutions

Dell has affordable server and NAS systems that make small business sense for any organization with two or more employees. Which server option is right for you?

• The PowerEdge™ T110 tower server is designed for businesses with up to 10 employees that need file sharing, print sharing and email. It’s ready to power your business, with a price of just a few hundred dollars.
• The PowerEdge T310 is a one-socket tower server targeted at businesses with up to 25 employees. It offers excellent performance and a smart growth path. It’s powered by a one Quad-Core Intel^® Xeon^® 3400 series processor and delivers up to 32 GB of RAM.
• For businesses poised to expand right away, the PowerEdge R510 rack server can handle most kinds of application and is highly flexible to accommodate your company's future growth.
• When you’re ready to add NAS to your network, look into the PowerVault™ NX300, a cost-effective choice for file sharing. It’s an entry-level solution that’s preconfigured and easy to deploy for all your file sharing and backup needs.
  

The Right Choice

As you look at where your business is today and plan where you want it a few years from now, remember that a smartly designed technology infrastructure today will ease your journey toward growth tomorrow. A file server with NAS is key to sending your business along that path to productivity. 

You can work with Dell to make the right decisions for your business. Consultants are available by phone to help you figure out your needs, with on-site experts also available. After you’re up and running, technical support reps will be on-call when questions arise, and you can always turn to Dell’s extensive Small and Medium Business Solutions Learning Center to read articles, blogs and FAQs about the latest trends in technology. Learn more about PowerEdge server lineup, or watch an animated demo that highlights the top 10 reasons to add NAS to your network.