Scalable server infrastructure : use it

• Solution Sizers help you determine the solution that best fits your needs or roles. You will find sizers for e-commerce solutions, SQL server and Oracle database solutions, Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino solutions, and more.
  
  
• System Configurator helps you weigh your available options for a particular server, adding and removing components to see how they affect prices and capabilities. If you want a good estimate for how much a particular server will cost, look to the configurator.
  
  
• Mobile Solutions Wizard helps you identify the components you need to implement a complete wireless solution. This wizard takes you beyond servers to access points and other tools you need to establish and secure a robust wireless network.
  
  

Some of these tools require a bit of IT knowledge to use effectively, but that doesn't mean they aren't useful for non-IT business professionals. If nothing else, the questions that the sizers and configurators ask you will help you get a good idea of what issues you'll need to resolve with an IT professional, consultant, or reseller associate. These questions can be as educational as they are useful, and provide insight into the different criteria that drive server choices and configurations.

Before you begin to work with any of the tools, take a few moments to answer this list of questions about your solution. All of the work you did in the planning phase can be boiled down to this laundry list of requirements:

• How fast does the server need to process data? This helps determine processor speeds.
  
  
• How many processors does a server's role mandate? Computer-intensive roles like databases or ERP benefit from two or more processors; likewise, minor performance boosts may be realized when adding processors to an existing server.
  
  
• How much memory (RAM) does the server's role require? A good rule of thumb is to double vendor -recommended minimums, or to meet or exceed "typical" values.
  
  
• How much hard disk space does data require, now and in the future? Always buy at least twice as much space as current needs dictate to leave room for growth.
  
  
• Do you want rack mount servers (which take up less floor space) or towers (which offer more room for expansion)? An incremental growth strategy virtually dictates buying towers; a server multiplication strategy works equally well with rack mount or tower servers.
  
  
• How many network interface cards will you need for the server? A need for multiple network interfaces can also sometimes dictate towers rather than rack mount servers.
  
  
• How many users must be able to access a set of role-based servers simultaneously? The higher the number, the more powerful a server must be, or the more servers you must have to equalize the resulting processing load.
  
  
• Do you plan to attach additional backup and storage drives -- for example, tape or optical drives -- to your system?
  
  
• What type of RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks) does your server role mandate?
  
  
• What kind of server management tools do you need? What kinds of accessibility and performance monitoring tools do your server roles require? Server management tools help keep your servers properly configured and up and running. Accessibility and performance monitoring tools help you make sure your services are available to your customers and users, and measure how well they're working.
  
  
• Will you need help in getting your servers set up?
  
  
• What kinds of maintenance and support will your servers require?
  
  

How-to guides