A Detailed Guide on Enterprise Server Management and Administration

A company's IT infrastructure is the cornerstone of its operations. Much of a company’s processes are supported by servers that make up the hardware and software infrastructure of the organization.

What is Enterprise Server Management?

Servers are large computer-comprising programs, or "super-computers". Managing these servers requires visual inspection, troubleshooting, and maintenance, specific to their protocol. This process is known as Enterprise Server Management.

Managing your servers can help you ease processes and improve uptime and performance. It is vital for administrators to navigate specific solutions towards server management.

The Importance of Enterprise Server Management

1. Smooth operations and scalability: Server management can help you achieve efficient processes. This is because servers are the one place where all your data and applications are stored.
2. Frequent security checks and maximized uptime: With server management, you can safely pinpoint issues that need attention. With regular server management, the organization can strengthen its security posture.
3. Centralized data platform: Enterprise servers store large chunks of organizational data, allowing for communication and collaboration. Managing your servers can reduce downtime and improve business continuity.

Key Steps Involved in Enterprise Server Management

1. Server Configuration: Gaining clarity into your system topology is a vital aspect of server management. Server configuration is important whether your organization is undergoing a server refresh or a new deployment. This means that whether you are starting afresh or just updating your servers, you need to have an understanding of how it works. Setting up the server and peripheral software, add-ons, and functionalities may differ across organizations. A trusted service provider with proven expertise can help you manage your implementations, while driving significant multi-site refreshes for a smooth deployment.
2. Hardware Monitoring: Keeping hardware in shape and conducting regular health checks is important. A server admin needs to track three primary hardware components:
   • The Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is the backbone of the hardware system. Admins must ensure that the CPU is adequately used to ensure enough processing power left for daily tasks. Eventually, the CPU needs to be upgraded with newer chips or more CPUs to handle larger volumes of data.
   • Random Access Memory (RAM): The RAM needs to be continuously refreshed and checked for high performance. It may need to be supplemented with extra storage if it is close to exhaustion.
   • Hard Drive: A system's hard drive is its permanent storage component for applications and programs. It should always have enough capacity to function at a high performance.
   Another crucial aspect of the hardware is its temperature, which needs to be monitored to ensure no overheating. Admins generally rely on cooling fans and use wired thermometers to manage device heating.
3. Software Management: Software management and monitoring involves installing the latest patches for your current OS (Operating System). As part of software maintenance, server admins adopt the following measures:
   • Ensuring software, firmware, and OS is up to date with the latest available upgrades and patches.
   • Identifying software vulnerabilities to ensure high uptime and end-to-end data security.
   • Uninstalling inactive programs that are no longer usable.
   • Executing serial code refreshes to reduce bugs and other software issues.
   Your approach towards software management depends mainly on the type of OS in place. Whether you have an open-source platform like Linux or Windows, a certified aftermarket service provider can help you navigate your software check smoothly.
4. Security Management: Ensuring the security of servers can help safeguard data. It also helps maintain the hygiene of the server network. The process of maintaining server security management involves:
   • Installing a suitable anti-virus software as per your organizational requirements.
   • Adding firewalls.
   • Monitoring and refreshing password security policies.
   • Ensuring end-to-end encryption for sensitive data.
   • Enabling 24x7 notifications to instantly isolate any suspicious activities.
5. Server Backup, Recovery, and Maintenance: Backing up the data regularly can help organizations recover from any data losses. Server admins should add a transparent and immutable data backup system as part of their server management process. Some of the best practices for data backups include:
   • Daily, weekly, and monthly data backups.
   • Authenticated access to the backup.
   • Regular scans of the backup to identify malicious code.
   • Separating the backup from other systems using network segmentation.

Maximize Server Uptime and Performance with Aftermarket Services

Server management is no longer an option for companies looking to upscale. Organizations must partner with a reliable aftermarket service provider who can accurately assess current system performance. This, in turn, can help chart an informed strategy towards server management.

With RapidCare®, companies can leverage certified aftermarket services that can guarantee the following:

1. All-round hardware support for server, storage, and network equipment.
2. 60% reduced IT expenditures.
3. Expert on-site engineers for faster problem solving.

CXtec's aftermarket services can help you achieve an extended hardware lifecycle with a "quick-to-field" dispatch approach. With RapidCare, companies can redefine their IT strategy with an innovative, sustainable approach.

Contact us to know more.