Most small businesses that have grown during the last few years have outgrown their Peer-to-Peer (PTP) or "sneakernet" Networks and are now ready for true Client/Server (C/S) Networks. This means that their company data files are multiplying beyond their ability to organize, store, retrieve, and backup those files. Frequently, multiple versions of the same file are discovered on several different workstations throughout the organization, and someone must then figure out which is the "correct" version. By storing only a single copy of every file on a centralized & highly organized File Server, all users can quickly locate and update any important file in seconds. Also, all critical company files can be backed up at the end of day by a single operation, which means that the likelihood of losing important files due to a user mistake, hardware failure, or other catastrophe is greatly minimized.
In choosing the hardware, operating system, and network services that are best for your type of business, please keep in mind the following caveats:
- Fault Tolerance: ALL of your data files reside
on your File Server, so if your server goes down your employees will
not have access to any of their files. A RAID1 Server
that mirrors all data files to two separate hard drives is the minimum
level of fault tolerance that should be considered, since hard drives,
being electro-mechanical, are the most immediately vulnerable parts of
the system. A redundant power supply is also prudent, but an
Unterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is absolutely essential - your File
Server must not lose power suddenly while in operation or you risk
corrupting your entire filesystem.
- Tape Backup System: the most practical and
inexpensive solution to the problem of making spare copies of your
critical company data files is the Digital Tape Drive. Fast, reliable,
unattended operation with inexpensive reusable media, the modern DAT
Tape Drive is just the ticket for small business file backup &
restore operations. The first time a file is accidently erased or
corrupted beyond recovery, you will have nothing but gratitude for
your last backup tape cartridge
- Disaster Recovery: after over 20 years of
experience in small business computing, we have seen every kind of
calamity imaginable. Fire, flood, theft, sabotage, hurricanes,
earthquakes, and other disasters can befall any business at any time.
Planning on how to recover from this possibility is essential when it
comes to computing because most of your company data is stored on
fragile electronic devices and digital media, and nowhere else!
You must have a Disaster Recovery Plan that is routinely storing
copies of your Digital Assets off-site, or one day you will probably
be very sorry and have to rebuild your entire system from scratch. A
process that can take weeks or months!
We have put together a full-featured RAID1 File Server, along with the supporting hardware and software to implement a Client/Server Network for the typical small business. Please follow this link to our SBS2000 Enterprise Server for more details.