Select A Server

Here are some factors to consider when purchasing new servers.

Gigabit Ethernet: If your network infrastructure supports Gigabit Ethernet, make sure your server also comes with Gigabit Ethernet capability to prevent your server's network connection from being a bottleneck.

Multiple CPUs: It's cheaper to put an additional CPU into an existing server than to buy another entire server, so multiple-CPU options for Unix/Linux, Windows, and Macintosh servers are becoming common.

RAID: If your server will be using internal storage, as opposed to accessing a NAS (see glossary), make sure it supports RAID (see glossary). One form of RAID known as RAID 5 is often used to boost both performance and fault-tolerance. Hot-swappable drives in your RAID can allow you to replace failed drives without shutting down the server.

RAM: One of the most critical aspects of sizing and configuring a server is making sure you've got enough RAM. One gigabyte is a minimum for any heavily used server, and 2GB or 4G are better. The good news is that RAM is still relatively inexpensive.Redundant Network Interface Card: The network card (typically Ethernet) is a potential point of failure. Servers often have more than one NIC installed, so your server won't drop off the network in the case of a NIC (or Ethernet cable) failure.

Redundant Power Supplies: Another potential single point of failure in a server is the power supply. Most servers will have redundant power supplies so the server will continue to operate even if one power supply fails.