In this blog post, you’ll find everything you need to know about how to set up a server for your small business. This guide will walk you through the different steps for setting up a server including choosing the right hardware, operating system, connecting your server to the network, as well as server security.
Diagram of a simple network with a server.
So, let’s begin...
Step-by-step Guide To Setting Up A Server
Here’re the steps for setting up a server in your organization:
Let’s take a closer look at each of the above steps for setting up your server.
1. Selecting The Server Hardware
Servers can perform a wide variety of tasks but servers are best utilized when they perform only one or a few specific tasks. The hardware and features your server will need depend on the tasks your server will perform. In a business environment, the following are the most common uses of servers:
File Server
Database Server
Web Server
Mail Server
Print Server
Domain Server, and
Application Server
Another criterion for selection is the form factor of the server, of which there are three types- Tower Server, Rackmount Server, and Blade Server.
Certain server applications will require specific features, for example:
Database servers should support RAID (redundant array of independent disks) and have hard drives capable of fast write speeds.
Web servers benefit from high RAM and hardware redundancy.
File servers should ideally have multiple hot-swappable drive bays.
Each type of server has its own specific hardware and features that determine its capabilities. So when choosing your server, you need to pay special attention to the CPU size, hard disk storage, and RAM with respect to the purpose of the server.
We’ve discussed the various aspects of servers for small businesses in a previous blog, which will help you choose the right server hardware for your business.
2. Selecting The Server Operating System
Servers need specialized operating systems that are more robust and are designed to support many users simultaneously. The most common operating systems for servers are:
Choosing the right operating system for your server is an important decision that directly impacts the cost and more importantly the usability of your server. Here are the important factors to consider before choosing a server operating system:
1. User-friendliness
Ease of installation, configuration, and use is an extremely important factor to consider when choosing a server operating system. This is especially critical for small and medium-sized businesses that may not have dedicated IT staff.
Windows server operating systems are usually popular with existing Windows users because they have a look and feel that is very similar to the Windows operating system for PCs. On the other hand, Linux operating systems have a very steep learning curve and will require a Linux expert for installation, operation, and maintenance.
2. Support
As Linux is an open-source operating system, you will likely have to spend a lot of time online researching whenever there’s an issue with your server. However, Microsoft provides high-quality multi-channel customer support.
Support requirement often plays a critical role in the choice of an operating system. It is difficult for most small businesses to have a dedicated IT staff for their Linux server and hence the Windows Server operating system often becomes the default option.
3. Customization
If you have the technical expertise and are familiar with Linux, they are fairly flexible and give you more customization options than the Windows operating system.
4. Cost
As an open-sourced software, Linux is cheaper to run than Windows server operating systems. However, you also need to consider the overall cost of IT operations including the time and technical expertise required for the operation and maintenance of the server.
3. Choosing A Server Location In The Office
Ideally, you should have a dedicated room to house your server. Even though you may opt to go for a small tower server, it is still worthwhile to have a separate space for your server. In addition to isolating the noisy server, it is also advisable from a security point of view. By controlling the physical access to the server, you can mitigate many data security risks. This may even be a necessity for certain regulatory compliances.
Your server room should be one without windows but with the capacity to install cooling equipment as well as backup power. High temperatures can damage your server hardware so you should have a cooling system that can work continuously. The room should be big enough to allow you to reach the front and back of the server. Although you can easily set the server up on a desk or table, however, it is much more beneficial to invest in a proper rackmount. The racks keep your server hardware secure and organized, allowing for better scalability.
An often overlooked aspect of setting up a server is cable management. Servicing and maintenance work, as well as hardware troubleshooting, is a whole lot easier if your cables are well organized and properly labeled. Even a relatively small office can end up having a large number of cables making your server room a mess of tangled cables. Therefore, it is highly recommended to invest in a patch panel to help organize your cables.
4. Server Configuration
Before you can even begin configuring your server, you need to install the operating system. This process isn’t much different from the installation on your PCs or Macs from a DVD, USB, or virtual media. In some cases, the server may come with the operating system preinstalled. In such a case, you can begin configuration right away.
After installing the operating system, here are some typical configurations for office servers:
Set a secure administrator password for the server.
Configure networking; the default network settings are usually sufficient.
Add local admin accounts to each computer and connect them to the server.
Set your server as a domain controller so that all computers on your network can join the new centralized environment and the server can authenticate user credentials.
Set up remote access and sharing options.
Set the server backup. Follow your organization’s data backup strategy.
Configure the firewall to protect the server from intrusions.
The steps above will vary depending on the function of the server. The complexity of the steps will also vary depending on whether it is to function as a web server, database server, or printer server, etc.
5. Implementing Server Security
Your server is probably the most important piece of hardware in your office. They are at the heart of all business activity- from provisioning services to clients, to data swapping, to database management, among many others. Because they are so vital to an organization’s daily functioning, servers are an attractive target for hackers. Therefore, server security must be taken very seriously.
Servers can be attacked from multiple vectors. Web and mail servers connect directly to the Internet and therefore can be targeted by malware. Even when your server doesn’t directly connect to the Internet, say in the case of database servers, they can still be vulnerable through lateral intrusion from your internal network. Some of the common attack methods are:
Unsecured open ports
Here are some ways in which you can improve the security of your servers:
Establish physical and virtual access controls to limit access to the server,
Install and keep up-to-date the antivirus and anti-malware software,
Set up and maintain a firewall,
Activate intrusion detection and prevention systems,
Encrypt your data,
Regularly back up critical data,
Use software to monitor server health and traffic anomalies,
Regularly analyze logs, and
Regularly perform network security audits
Conclusion
For every organization, there comes a time to invest in a server, be it for growth, business requirement, data security, or compliance. Although setting up a server isn’t very complicated, choosing a server that fits your business needs can be very daunting because of the endless array of choices available. Luckily, we have created handy server related content for businesses including:
The above guides will help you narrow down your options and choose the best server that fits your business requirements.
If you are looking for help with upgrading your IT infrastructure- Network & WiFi, Servers, Conference Rooms, etc., or simply with the management of your day-to-day IT operations, feel free to reach out to us by clicking the button below.
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About The Author
Hari SubediMarketing Manager at Jones IT
Hari is an online marketing professional with a focus on content marketing. He writes on topics related to IT, Security, Small Business, and Mindfulness. He is also the founder and managing director of Girivar Kft., a business services company located in Budapest, Hungary.