Enhance Your Server Management with These 8 Tips 

Enhance Your Server Management with These 8 Tips 

Server management is a complicated task. The more servers you have, the more complicated it gets. Organisations rely on servers for a variety of IT functions such as applications, email, hosting websites, and data storage. Although many have turned to cloud-based services, many are still relying on in-house servers for some or most of their functions.

By handling your server more effectively, you can boost the functioning of your team by allowing them to finish complex tasks much faster. It is also easier to track maintenance work and reduce the risk of operational liabilities. Make the most of your servers by ensuring that it is operating at their optimum level. Below are general tips on how to improve your server performance:

8 Tips to Improve Server Performance

#1 Mount the Servers Properly

Small businesses often must resolve short-term concerns instead of long-term goals because of limited resources and tight budgets. This is often clear in terms of server management. It may be tempting to arrange your server closest to your workstations for ease of use and access. However, this may not be the best solution as you could be exposing your server to accidental physical damage.

Mounting your server in a rack is an ideal solution to shield it from accidents in high-traffic areas such as tripping, spills, and dirt. A dedicated server rack also eases hardware organising, management, and cleaning.

Before purchasing a server rack, consider current and future needs. Ensure that you have sufficient rack space for future expansion. It is worth having a half-empty rack for the first few years than buying a new rack and redesigning the hardware.

#2 Keep Servers Away from Main Working Areas

A running server can produce a significant amount of noise and heat. It is most ideal to place the server in a designated server room with secure rack mounts, sound insulation and proper temperature controls. All these will preserve the lifespan of the server and keep your main working areas comfortable.

#3 Take Good Care of Your Servers

It is imperative to perform maintenance on your hardware to keep it in the best working condition. Having a routine check on your servers helps to proactively manage downtime if any. Here are some of the essential components you need to monitor:

• CPU (Central Processing Unit) – The CPU at the heart of your network servers performs all calculations for running programs. It is crucial to constantly monitor it to decide if you need to upgrade certain parts or take other actions necessary to prevent overuse. A CPU that operates near 100% of its capacity will result in a slowdown or inability to perform tasks efficiently.
• RAM (Random Access Memory) – This is the short-term memory of the server that operates at high speeds compared to hard drives. The more quickly available RAM is, the better the performance of your device. Keep an eye on its usage and add more memory when it gets close to its capacity.
• Hard Disk – The hard disk is considered permanent storage for your servers. It holds all your data and offers instructions, but its efficiency will diminish with overuse. Hard disk management includes keeping track of disk usage, space availability, redundant files, installing new drives, or adding cloud storage.

#4 Employ Frequent Cooling

The temperature of your server can severely affect its performance and lifespan. You need to focus on cooling your server properly by ensuring that your server room has the right temperature conditions and controls. Make sure that your cooling device operates outside your building for optimal temperature conditions. If you often experience a power outage, ensure that you have backup power to run your cooling devices.

#5 Server Software Maintenance

Your software programs require regular updating to eliminate obsolete platforms and to optimise performance. The key to that is to perform updates often and delete outdated systems to keep your servers running smoothly and free from vulnerabilities that cyber attackers can exploit.

#6 Proper Cable Management

The amount of wiring required in setting up a server can be overwhelming especially if you have no experience in setting up a server. Keep all your cables labeled and properly arranged to maintain a clean look. Besides aesthetic reasons, having proper cable management makes it easy for future maintenance and upgrades.

#7 Security

Servers are usually the main targets of cyberattacks as they store a wealth of information. It is crucial to focus on the security of your server. Here are a few key things to focus on:

• Install antivirus software and keep it updated
• Set up firewalls to prevent unauthorised access
• Use access control software and password policies. Ensure that users change them regularly.
• Analyse and implement security logging measures
• Encrypt external networks and data storage
• Incorporate SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) tools

#8 Data Back-Up Plan

The final part of solid server administration is to regularly back up your data. Losing data can be catastrophic, potentially damaging your company and losing your customers. Besides data backup, you should also have a power supply back-up to prevent disruption during power outages. Integrate with tools to speed up backups, recovery, and status monitoring.

Use software that covers both IT architecture and operating systems so that it can work across your systems and applications. Ideally, it should have the capability to diagnose server issues and proactively analyse potential problems.

Crucial Server Management Strategies for Businesses

Managing servers incorporates a myriad of concerns, from monitoring server usage, data management, disaster recovery, and physical condition. It may seem like a big task; however, it is important to ensure optimal server performance that powers your business applications. If you need help in managing your servers, we are happy to have a no-obligation chat on how we can assist you.