Looking to upgrade your server?

You have a business with maybe up to 25 PCs (or more) running off of a single server. You want to upgrade or replace it because:

• it is no longer fast enough;
• is proving unreliable;
• you have taken on more people and need to add additional users to your server licence;
• you don't like having 'all your eggs in one basket' and relying on a potential single point of failure;
• you want to do something new that the server is not capable of;

or for some other reason.

If you already use, or you are considering moving to Microsoft Small Business Server, please click here to see our MS Small Business Server section for more specific information.

Your options

You have basically 3 choices - upgrade, replace or add - or some combination. The pros and cons of each are:

Upgrade your existing server

You can add memory, disk or even a new processor to your existing server to squeeze some more performance from it. In many cases this can be the cheapest, quickest option. However, if the server is old or previously upgraded your options may be limited - or at least no longer cost effective.

Alternatively you may be upgrading your server licence. For example, you may be using a windows server licensed for 10 users and you have just employed number 11. You could be facing a licence upgrade in the region of £150 to add an additional 5 users.

Replace your server (Buy a new one instead of your existing server)

If the cost of upgrading is high enough, it may prove better value to simply replace your server with a newer model. However, the installation of the new server and, more significantly, the transfer of all of your data and configuration settings from your old server would need careful planning and some expert advice.

You need to take care to note what type of server licence you have before deciding to replace. If you bought the operating system (e.g. Windows 2000 or NT) pre-installed with the server then its a good chance that this is OEM software (Original Equipment Manufacturer). What this means, put simply, is that the software belongs to the computer, not to you.

If this is the case, you would need to buy a server licence again with the new server, which could significantly impact on your calculations.

Add a server (Buy a new one and use it together with your existing server)

Rather than replacing your old server, it may be more interesting (provided it is still reliable!) to add an additional server and split the server tasks between them. For example, the old server could be used to perform lower priority functions, such as being the Internet gateway, while the new server could act as the file server. In this case you not only benefit from the additional power a new server would offer, but as it would be running less than the old server was, you get an additional performance gain.

It may be that you feel your current server is too old or slow to continue 'active service'. You may be correct. However, it is also possible that with a limited upgrade (e.g. more memory), it could still be of some value to your business.

In addition, the two-server approach has advantages of resilience - not all your eggs in one basket - and also one server can act as a backup to the other. There is another advantage - particularly relevant if your existing server is a 'Windows' server and you are upgrading the licence to increase the number of users - if you choose the Westcountry Business Small Business Server.

With the Westcountry Business Small Business Server you are not restricted by a license to the number of users who can connect. With prices for a new server starting from as little as £695 - including installation and set-up - you may be surprised how quickly the option of an additional server becomes more cost effective that upgrading your existing one.

How do you choose?

This is the easy part. Simply contact us for a cost free, no-obligation assessment of your situation. Like other IT companies, we can perform the upgrade on your server or supply a replacement Windows Server. In addition, we have the extra option of our own Westcountry Business 3-in-1 Server. So why limit your options? As we are able to 'do the job' in all cases, our recommendations are impartial and objective - making sure you get the most cost effective solution that best suits what your business really needs