What’s in a server?

Here’s a common scenario. You’re starting out in business or looking to expand, and realise that a handful of standalone PCs and the odd notebook aren’t going to get you far.

You’ve tried networking them together, but sharing documents and other files isn’t as easy as you thought.

You’d also like to be able to exchange emails, contact lists, diaries and other information – and you don’t know how to go about it. You think you need a server, but know little or nothing about what’s involved.

So, what are the options, how much will a server cost, and how do you make sure you get value for money?

File sharing
Servers come in all shapes and sizes, costing anything from about £300 up to hundreds of thousands of pounds. However, you don’t have to spend a great deal. Indeed, if file sharing is your main requirement, you don’t need a full server running Windows or Linux.

A Nas (network-attached storage) appliance is probably all you will need.

Nas appliances are servers dedicated to the task of network file sharing. They may be based on industry-standard server hardware but that’s not always the case.

They may also run Windows or a Linux OS but, again, you don’t need to know that, because most are configured and managed using a browser.

In fact, the only things you really need to know are whether or not they have the capacity you require, the ability to handle the number of users you want to support, and what kind of upgrade, reliability and backup options are available.

For example, where only a handful of users are involved, something as small as the Buffalo Linkstation Pro could be all that’s needed.

Offering up to 750MB of shared disk space and starting at about £150 ex Vat, a small Nas appliance, such as the Linkstation Pro, can provide enough space fo r five to 10 people. Moreover, it needs hardly any management.

All you have to do is plug it into the network and map some local drives to it (see below).

On the downside, entry-level Nas appliances will have only one disk and no additional redundancy or availability features (see below), nor can they be upgraded if you run out of space.

However, there are plenty of other more capable and expandable products to choose from that do offer such features. Buffalo and other companies such as Iomega, Dell, HP, and IBM all sell Nas appliances to suit a wide range of requirements.

In terms of price, about £50 per user is a good measure. For a 20-user network, therefore, a budget of about £1,000 should get you a reasonable product with extra redundancy built in, from a top-name supplier.