What Is The Best Server For Small Businesses?

July 17, 2023

In this era of the ever-changing landscape in computing technologies, companies need good business servers to handle and optimize their business processes. With so many options available, the understanding must be there about the key features before finalizing one. Let’s look at some of the aspects.

What are Business Servers?

A Server is a computer that can serve its clients. The clients can be several other computers on the network. This server would be generally more potent than its clients.

A business server is a powerful computer that helps manage your company’s processes and provides access to networks, shared resources, applications, and files. It can also be used to store and protect data. Small and medium businesses can benefit from using a business server in many ways externally and internally.

Running an online CRM system is an example of an external serving computer. On the other hand, an internal business server can help improve communication within the company by providing access to e-mail, calendars, and other collaboration tools. This can boost the productivity of its employees.

In addition, a business server can help keep your data safe by storing it in a central location and backing it up regularly.

The Importance Of Business Servers For Small And Medium Businesses

Any organization needs to keep pace with the times and optimize its processes. At the same time, it should ensure that your data is safe and secure. A good business server helps to keep the lights on and avoids downtime.

If you’re considering setting up a small business server, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you’ll need to decide which type of server you need. Several servers are available, so do some research before deciding. Secondly, you need a good support service for regular maintenance. Finally, you’ll need to ensure your network is secure.

Why should I invest in a business server?

If you have a small or medium business, you probably don’t have a dedicated IT staff to manage your network. That’s where a business server comes in. A business server can take care of your IT needs, from file sharing and storage to email and website hosting.

Investing in a business server can save you time and money in the long run. It will make your life easier by centralizing all your IT needs in one place. Additionally, it can save you money by giving you access to enterprise-level features at a fraction of the cost.

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not to invest in a business server, consider these benefits:

1. Increased productivity: A business server can help increase productivity by giving employees real-time access to the files and applications.

2. Improved collaboration: A business server allows employees to share files and work on projects together. It can lead to better communication and collaboration among team members.

3. Reduced IT costs: A business server can save you on IT costs by eliminating the need for multiple servers and software licenses. You’ll also save on power and cooling costs by consolidating your IT

What makes a good business server?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a business server. Small and medium businesses have different server needs than large enterprises, so it’s essential to select a server designed for SMBs. Here are some things to look for in a good business server:

1. Flexibility: A good business server should be able to grow with your company. It should be easy to add new users, applications, and data without reconfiguring the entire system.

2. Scalability: A business server should be able to handle increased traffic and data loads as your company grows. It should be easy to upgrade the system as needed.

3. Reliability: Your business server needs to be up and running when needed. Look for a system with redundant components and robust security features to keep your data safe.

4. Support: Choose a business server from a vendor who can provide expert support when you need it. Make sure they offer 24/7 support so you can get help anytime, anywhere.

How to choose the best Business Server

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the best business server for your small or medium business. The most important factor is probably the size of your business. If you have a small business, you might be able to get away with a less robust server. If you have a medium or large enterprise, you’ll need a powerful server that can handle more traffic and data.

Another critical factor to consider is what kind of applications and services you’ll be running on your server. If you’re just running a branding website, you won’t need as much power as someone running a complex application like an e-commerce site.

Server support has always been an essential factor. Do look at what kind of warranty and support service is provided.

Finally, you’ll need to think about your budget. Business servers can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you should know what kind of business server you need. Then you can start shopping around and compare prices to find the best deal.

Some Best Affordable Business Servers

Here we have outlined some of the best business servers for small and medium organizations.

1. Dell PowerEdge T40 Tower Server

The Dell PowerEdge T40 is a powerful, affordable Server that can handle medium workloads easily.

The T40 tower design helps utilize space, and the Intel Xeon processor ensures adequate performance. It also has sizeable operating memory to ensure the smooth running of your business.

In addition, the server is readily scalable with four memory DIMM slots, three PCIe slots, and one PCI to meet the expanding needs of storage and memory whenever required.

Specifications:

CPU: Up to one Intel® Xeon® E 2224G with up to 4 cores per processor

RAM: UDIMM 64GB

Storage: One 3.5″ 1TB SATA HDD by default; up to 3 x 3.5″ SATA HDDs, max 12TBi

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics P530

Network options: 1 x 1GbE Front ports: 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.1 Rear ports: 2 x PS2, 2 x DisplayPorts, 1 x Serial, 1 x Audio, 2 x USB 2.0, 4 x USB 3.1 PCIe: 1 x Gen3 slot (x16) 2X Gen3 slot (x4) 1 X PCI

Dimensions :Height: 335.0mm (13.2”) Width: 176.53mm (7.0”) Depth: 359.50mm (14.2”) Weight: 8.0Kg (17.6lbs)

Upside

• It has a fast quad-core Xeon processor

• Has Room for multiple internal disks

Downside

• Single Gigabit network port

• It needs a separate VGA converter

• No hot-swapping of disks

2. Dell PowerEdge T140 Server

Dell has always been known for its quality servers. The Dell PowerEdge T140 is a new entry-level server with a very affordable price and is probably the perfect choice for you if you want something reliable.

This model supports up to 32 PCIe slots, which means you can add multiple graphics cards or storage devices without removing them.

The Dell PowerEdge T140 combines Intel Xeon Scalable processors with NVIDIA Tesla P100 accelerators for maximum performance. A great fit to serve Startups, SMBs, SMEs, and Agencies.

Specifications:

CPU– Up to one Intel® Xeon® E-2200 product family processor with up to 6 cores per processor

RAM: 4x DDR4 DIMM slots, supports UDIMMs, speeds up to 2666MT/s, 64GB max. supports registered ECC

Storage Controllers: PERC H730P, H330, HBA330 (non-RAID) Software RAID: PERC S140 External HBAs: 12Gbps SAS HBA

Drive Bays: Cabled bays up to 4 x 3.5”

I/O: 2 X 1GbE LOM Front Ports: 1x USB 3.0, 1x iDRAC micro USB 2.0 management port

Rear Ports: 2 ports x USB 3.0, 4 ports x USB 2.0, VGA,

Upside:  It’s affordable and powerful enough for the most demanding of roles.

Undoubtedly better than HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen10 and closer to the HPE ProLiant ML30 Gen10

Downside:  Single CPU, There is no onboard M.2 PCIe slot.

3. Dell PowerEdge T350

Dell EMC PowerEdge T300 series servers are designed to deliver high-performance computing (HPC). Most suited to applications that require high reliability, scalability, and efficiency.

The PowerEdge T350 is part of Dell EMC’s latest generation of high-performance servers. This new series offers customers a choice between two models: the PowerEdge T350 and the PowerEdge T350 M2. Both models feature Intel Xeon Scalable processors (E5-2600 v4) and support up to 128GB DDR4 memory.

The PowerEdge T350 is designed to deliver superior performance and reliability. It features a dual-processor configuration, allowing for better scalability and higher availability. In addition, the PowerEdge T350 supports up to 32 PCIe 3.0 lanes, providing ample bandwidth for storage expansion.

Specifications:

Processor: Intel® Xeon® E-2334 3.4GHz with 8M Cache, 4C/8T, Turbo (65W), 3200 MT/s

Hard Drive: Capacity of 600GB HDD SAS ISE 12Gbps 10k 512n 2.5in with 3.5in HYB CARR Hot-Pluggable

Memory :8GB UDIMM, 3200MT/s, ECC

RAID :C2, RAID 0 for HDDs or SSDs (Compatible Type/Speed/Capacity)

Upside:  These servers provide superior I/O performance, advanced power management capabilities, and integrated storage solutions.

Downside:  No Operating System Dell PowerEdge R350 Rack Server

4.  Dell PowerEdge R350 Rack Server

Dell EMC PowerEdge R series are designed for high-performance computing (HPC) applications that require extreme reliability, scalability, and performance. It’s suitable for Enterprise Customers who have high computing needs.

They are built around Intel Xeon Scalable processors and offer industry-leading features like dual redundant power supplies, hot-pluggable drives, and integrated networking capabilities.

Specifications:

Processor: Intel® Pentium G6405T 3.5GHz with  4M Cache, 2C/4T, No Turbo (35W), 2666 MT/s

Memory: 8GB UDIMM, 3200MT/s, ECC

Hard Drive: 1TB Hard Drive SATA 6Gbps 7.2K 512n 3.5in Hot-Plug

RAID: C20, No RAID with Embedded SATA for SATA HDDs or SATA SSDs (Mixed Drive Types Supported)

Storage : Front Bays: Up to 4 x 3.5-inch SAS/SATA (HDD/SSD) max 64 TB

Up to 8 slots x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA (HDD/SSD) max of 128 TB

Upside: Supports PCIe Gen 4 and offers advanced thermal efficiency to cater to increasing power and thermal requirements. Good remote management facilities.

Downside: No Operating System except this model.

Conclusion

Business servers are an essential part of any small or medium business. They provide a central location for all your data and applications and can help improve communication and collaboration within your organization. Talk to a qualified IT professional to get started if you’re considering setting up a business server.

We at AlwaysOnIT have set very high standards and can help you tick all the right boxes to keep your lights on.