In this blog post, I cover the topic of server maintenance including its need, server maintenance frequency, types, and best practices.
Do Servers Need Maintenance?
Servers are sturdy machines that are designed to run non-stop and handle a large amount of network traffic. Once a server is set up, it can run on its own with little to no human input. And this is the reason why it is often assumed that the faultless functioning of servers is a given. But such an assumption can be a costly and time-consuming affair for organizations.
Servers perform a variety of functions including email exchange server, database server, web server, FTP server, etc. They manage, store, process, and provide access to data and applications, enabling the normal functioning of day-to-day operations and services. If a server goes down, it costs the organization tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs but more importantly in loss of business and reputation.
Regular server maintenance extends the server’s useful life span and greatly reduces the chances of costly damages resulting from server crashes. Therefore, it is vital that you properly care for servers to ensure optimal server performance and avoid potential business risks.
How Often Should A Server Be Maintained?
Server maintenance involves a wide range of activities, both physical and virtual. The tasks range from software and firmware updates to hot-swapping drives and replacing fans. While some maintenance checks need to be performed once a month or a week, many need to be performed daily as well as in real-time.
To keep up with the maintenance tasks and schedules, it’s advisable to create a detailed server maintenance plan. The frequency of maintenance checks also depends on the age of the machine, risks, and its criticality for business operations.
Here’s a breakdown of typical server maintenance checks based on the frequency of the checks:
Real-Time Server Checks
Server health and performance are typically monitored in real-time. The data points you need to monitor depend on the functions of the server. Each implementation such as web servers, email servers, application servers, and database servers has its own set of health and performance parameters.
Here are some examples of real-time checks for servers:
CPU usage,
Memory availability,
Disk capacity,
CPU and overall server temperature,
Health of RAID volumes,
Load factors including the number of open network connections.
Most of these parameters are monitored using a server monitoring tool, which can also send automated alerts making maintenance effortless.
Daily Server Checks
Daily server monitoring mostly includes server security checks. Here are some examples of daily checks for servers:
Virus scanner’s database review,
Security logs review,
Check for software updates and patches,
Check for vulnerability statements from software and hardware vendors,
Review event logs for errors and warnings.
Weekly Server Checks
You should perform weekly checks on items that do not suddenly change and so do not warrant daily checks. Weekly server checks typically include the following:
Verify that the backups are working,
Disk usage,
Review unused accounts,
Review temporary privileges and access,
Review and delete outdated temp files.
Monthly Server Checks
Monthly checks include items that have a low probability of occurrence, as well as those parameters that need to gather sufficient data before action can be taken. Monthly server checks usually include:
Database fragmentation check,
Application optimization,
Check fans and power supplies
Check server room air conditioning
Check dust collection and overall cleanliness
What Are The Types Of Server Maintenance Strategies?
What Are The Types Of Server Maintenance Strategies?
Server maintenance strategies can be classified based on the following philosophies:
1. Preventive Maintenance
The goal of preventive maintenance is to reduce the risks of failure and performance degradation. It is carried out according to the predetermined criteria and at planned intervals. Such maintenance greatly reduces the disruption to business operations due to server faults.
2. Corrective Maintenance
The goal of corrective maintenance is to restore normal server operations following the detection of an issue or anomaly. This strategy is used when the cost of downtime and repair is expected to be lower than the cost of maintenance, which is rarely the case. Although corrective maintenance appears cost-effective, it will ultimately be catastrophic for the business in the event of sustained downtime.
3. Risk-based Maintenance
The goal of risk-based maintenance is to ensure high levels of performance, reliability, and security in a cost-effective way. In this strategy, a maintenance program is created after analyzing server performance and health data in conjunction with the operational and process condition of the server. All of the gathered data is viewed in the context of the threat landscape, the risk appetite of the organization, and its business needs.
How Do You Maintain A Server?
Here’s a list of server maintenance best practices to help you
Regularly check and update the server operating system and applications to ensure security and performance
Monitor server performance and usage to identify and address potential issues
Implement a backup and disaster recovery plan to protect against data loss
Keep the server hardware clean and in good condition
Use server monitoring tools to track server performance and identify potential issues
Understand and troubleshoot common server errors and issues, such as connectivity problems, high CPU or memory usage, and system crashes
Use logs and event reports to identify and troubleshoot issues
Use remote access tools to remotely diagnose and fix issues
Consider hiring a server administrator or consulting with an IT professional to create a preventive maintenance plan.
Simple Server Maintenance Checklist
To help you keep track of all the checks necessary for maintaining a server, here’s a handy checklist you can use. This is a sample checklist so remember to update it as per your specific server application and needs.
Hardware Checks
Check that the main and redundant power supplies are firmly connected
Check that the fans are working properly
Check the air conditioning unit is working properly
Check the cleanliness of the server rack and room
Check that all cables are securely connected at both ends
Check that the cables are not under unnecessary physical strain
Check that the cables are in good condition
Check for disk read errors
Check for driver and firmware updates
Run system consistency checks
System Checks
Verify the backups and recovery are working
Check for OS and application updates
Check remote management tools
Check disk usage
Check CPU usage
Check RAM usage
Check Network utilization
Review user accounts
Security Checks
Check server room access logs
Check firewall configuration and rules
Check for unnecessary open network ports
Check for unnecessary services and operating system components
Check for changes to admin users/groups membership
Review logs for suspicious activity
Review all security notifications and alerts
Perform a malware scan
Check for threat and vulnerability alerts from OEMs
Conclusion
We cannot reiterate it enough, your servers are vital to the daily operations of your organization. Making timely investments in the health and integrity of your server goes a long way in ensuring smooth and unhindered business operations.
Are you looking for assistance to maintain and troubleshoot your organization’s server? Reach out to us by clicking the button below for assured and effective server maintenance and security.
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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.