Need for Server Management Support

Server management is one of the mostfore is that even if your server is not currently
important functions of any organisation thatcausing a problem, it is not reason enough to
wishes to maintain a solid presence on theignore it. It is not a signal to relax. There are still
internet. However, these servers are used forvery strong chances that it could be lacking in
much more than just web services. For example,vital software updates (for example). In the case
they can also be supporting the back-officeof the company above, the problem did not arise
functions, running databases and a huge range ofbecause of an individual's incompetency, but
database applications, such as ecommerce andbecause of the lack of proper supervision.
customer relationship management systems.Going Down the High Availability Path
Without careful management, these servicesThe main advantage of carrying out regular
could suffer from poor or insufficientserver management is decreasing the risk of
administration, leading to deteriorating quality ofdowntime (from one cause of another). Looking
data, out of date software, incomplete backups,at this from another angle, state of the art
poor security standards and so on. This could putsystems can be used to provide High Availability.
a business at a range of risks, from theirThis makes use of technologies such as load
systems becoming slow and inefficient tobalancing and content delivery networks to make
full-blown outages due to the lack of disk spacesure that your web or offline services are
or even security breaches by hackers.available quickly and all the time.
Server Management – A Common ScenarioBasic Server Management Steps:
Many companies believe that by creating special1) Installing Typical Software: Well managed
roles in their workforce for server management,server hosting is possible with the application of
they have everything covered. They couldn't bespecific software. These server administration
more wrong, as is apparent in this scenario of atools help keep the server online and in case of a
manufacturing firm in Sussex. The company infailure or a deterioration in services, alert the
question had been using a UNIX powered serversystem administrator.
for managing all its databases, including updating2) Upgrading the System: By updating the servers
the daily shipping records. The role of serverfrom time to time, server management vendors
administrator was held by the person whoensure that the website or server is always
originally designed the server. For several yearsabreast of the latest additions in network
he held this role, during which time the servertechnology.
showed no shortcomings. However, the employee3) Common Administrative Tasks Carried out by
stopped working there suddenly, leaving theSkilled Professionals: This is the point where the
company in a tight spot.server management vendors become almost
The server still ran for two months without anyindispensable. Their workforce boasts of
problems and everyone at the company breathedemployees with technical qualifications such as:a)
easy. One day, without any warning, the serverMicrosoft Certified administrators for Windows
crashed. Bewildered, the company immediatelyServer troubleshootingb) Cisco Certified
hired a server management firm. In their survey,technicians for networkingc) Linux Certified
the networking experts found that the serveradministrators for LINUX/UNIX troubleshooting.d)
was completely outdated and had no dataExperienced certified programmers and database
recovery policies in place. What this meant wasarchitects.
that the manufacturing firm now found itself in aBy using a combination of people, process and
situation where it risked losing all crucial data liketechnology, outsourced fully managed servers are
customer contacts and sales figures.almost guaranteed to meet all of an organisation's
The one thing that this example brings to theonline or offline needs.