Should I update my server specification?

It seems that we’re forever being told to upgrade to the latest phone, tablet laptop, etc. and it is sometimes difficult to keep pace with the rate of change when it comes to technology.

 

If you are a business that uses a dedicated server then you will know that it needs to be reliable, efficient and its technology needs to be kept up-to-date.

As web and/or server applications become more demanding, it is important that hosting providers such as ourselves regularly update and upgrade their servers using the highest quality hardware and the latest components available. Our Manchester Data Centre utilises the latest Dell kit and Intel hardware for all of our servers, optimised to achieve maximum performance for our customers.

 

Regularly updating server hardware helps to prevent costly disruptions such as hardware or software issues.

 

Why upgrade server hardware?

It is important to upgrade server hardware for various reasons:

 

– To improve system performance (speed & flexibility). As a general rule, each new version of operating system software (whether it is Linux or Windows based) is more demanding of the hardware it runs on and some point the hardware can no longer support the new software with acceptable performance.

– Same goes for essential third party software – e.g. anti-virus software.

 

-To improve system stability.  As a rule, newer hardware architecture is more reliable than previous versions.  A good example are Solid State Hard drives (SSDs), which are generally more reliable than using older mechanical hard drives with lots of moving parts that can fail (no to mention the significant improvement in performance that comes with SSDs).

 

-To take advantage of the latest OS features (especially around security) and its advanced features for power management. This  is the most important software that runs on a computer and manages all the computer’s memory and processes.

 

– Your needs may have changed significantly since the server was originally provisioned.  It is likely that your website or application now has more traffic and/or processes more orders (in the case of an e-commerce platform) and a hardware review may be necessary to allow for the increased demand on the server.

 

However, there are some key questions to consider when you are determining whether it’s  time to upgrade or even replace your servers. For example, you need to be confident that the upgrades will provide the performance and capability expected now and also allow for any future demand.

 

If you would like any more information regarding our server hardware upgrades, our services or our data centre specifications, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call. We are always happy to advise – 0161 464 6101.

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