There are just 4 people in the office (maybe7 one day) and I am wondering if a server is the same as a processor? And does anyone have any idea where to get a cheap one for us. If it helps, we are a loan office.
2006-09-18 07:04:39 · 5 answers · asked by ms_melissa_martinez 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
Very simply, a server is just a specialized PC. They are made of more robust components for reliability and redundancy reasons. A server can fill a number of roles. Than can be used to authenticate people to the network and control security in the network. They can be used to store and backup files. The can host "back end" applications like mail servers or database servers.
The processor is the main chip in the computer. Every computer has one, as does every server; it's just a component of any PC or server.
For a small office, you probably would want to consider somethink similar to a Dell PowerEdge 830 or 1800 or an HP ML100 or ML300 for starters.
Since you don't know a lot about setting up a network of file server, it would be a good idea to get in touch with a local technology provider in your area. They can analyze your business processes and recommend the best way to proceed.
If you happen to be in the SW MO area, e-mail me and I can make some recommendations.
2006-09-18 07:24:28 · answer #1 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A server is a central computer that runs services that everyone uses. A processor is the main chip on the motherboard. So they are not the same at all.
I don't know enough about what you need this to do to even start to tell you what you ought to look at and the advantages / disadvantages of each. I don't even know why you think you need a new one.
Computers (even servers) are not that expensive and you don't want to go too cheap. Any outage takes the whole office down and that will cost you more in the long run. But you also don't want to pay for resources that you won't ever use.
Dell usually has pretty good prices on their servers and the last five or six I helped clients buy were all Dell's. The one before that I custom built and ran Linux on it. This was the cheapest since Linux is free, but there are disadvantages to Linux that you have to consider. Mostly it is hard to find support for it.
2006-09-18 07:19:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A processor and server aren't the same thing. When it comes to servers, you must figure out a few things.....what do you plan to use it for? File sharing? Print Server? Database server? What type of network are you running in your office? Do you want to use it as a domain controller? Is security something you must worry about in your office? As you can see there are a lot of questions that must be answered and determined before you go leaping in to the land of servers. Are there better alternatives to servers for you? If you just want some centralized file location for everybody to access, have you thought about network storage appliance? They are easier to manage than a server. Who's going to maintain and operate this server? If you do figure out that you do need a server, Dell has some good ones, and they should be able to help you figure out whether you need one or not.
2006-09-18 07:17:36 · answer #3 · answered by scotty_b_1976 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A server is a main computer that has control of the network in your office. It's like a computer built just for networking for a business or home. You can probably pick one up from Dell when they have the sales for servers. Try slickdeals.net if you are looking for one, they might have some deals on servers.
2006-09-18 07:16:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need two things. Hardware (a computer designed as a "server") and software (an operating system designed as a "server")
For a small business, your best "bang for the buck" is Small Business Server 2003.
2006-09-18 07:57:28 · answer #5 · answered by antirion 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋