Learn how Mac OS X Server can improve your business infrastructure and increase productivity

Learn how an Xserve and Mac OS X Server can improve your business infrastructure and increase productivity.

First of all, what is a server?

A “server” is simply a dedicated computer and operating system that is designed to provide services to other computers—either on the local network, or over the Internet. For example, a server can be used to share files and printers within your workgroup (with Macs and PCs) or it could be used to host your company’s website or online store.

Because a server is designed to provide services to many users, rather than just be a personal computer, it should be a dedicated system that is always on. That means it’s available to serving the business 24 by 7, and won’t go away or shut down when someone shuts down their computer and leaves for the day.

What does a server do for my business?
•Centralize files and share with Mac and Windows systems
•Share printers across a network
•Host websites and web applications
•Offer mail services to your employees
•Backup critical information and protect and secure sensitive data

When cost is a consideration.
Apple servers are a fantastic bargain. With Mac OS X Server, you don’t pay client access license fees. For this reason, many businesses are trying to replace aging Windows NT or Windows 2000 with a Mac computer running Mac OS X Server. Microsoft has stopped providing support, upgrades, or virus patches for older server operating systems—forcing businesses to consider other alternatives. With Mac OS X Server, you get all the services you need for mixed platform (Mac and PC) workgroups, and avoid being locked in to paying Microsoft’s high client access license (CAL) fees.

There are very few vendors who make both the hardware and the software for server solutions. Not only does that mean that our solution is better integrated than others, it means you won't get finger pointing when you call Apple for support. For example, if you buy a server from Dell running a Windows server software, you might call Dell to solve a problem. At which point they may tell you that you’ll need to call Microsoft. Then when you call Microsoft, you may hear that it’s actually a hardware issue and be redirected back to Dell. With Apple, they make both the hardware and the software.

Server Myths
•Need highly trained administrators
•Require expensive hardware and support contracts
•Have high client access license fees
•Can’t get help from one source
•Don’t support mixed-platform environments

For example, files may reside on multiple systems, or on one computer that can’t be accessed at an important time. And if a file resides on multiple computers, there is likely duplicates, and someone may have changes on only one of the duplicates, creating confusion and version control issues. Centralized backup is difficult, and if accomplished, might be slowing someone’s computer performance. And finally, the expense of printers means not everyone can have a dedicated printer, but the printers may not be available on a network causing difficulty printing from every system.

By creating a central repository for shared files, you can eliminate duplicate copies and version-control issues that can occur when files are stored on each computer. And because the server is always online and available, users can access files anytime. Centralizing data on a server is particularly important if you use portable computers in your business—because portable systems are frequently offline, so others can’t access shared files stored on the system. In addition, you can use the server to backup critical data from laptop or desktop computers—providing protection in case the portable is lost or stolen.

So now with Mac OS X Server, you can store and serve all your critical files from one location, centralize your backup location and manage your printing services so that everyone (no matter what platform they’re on) can share just one or even several printers. The intuitive interface makes it easy to manage these services—and even set quotas for how much storage space users can have or how many pages they can print to specific printers.

In the end, servers are great for a lot of reasons. They can help you manage your business by allowing you to:
•Reap the benefits of centralized and sharable files—so you’re not losing files or running around looking for critical files when someone is out of the office, AND you can share those files across Mac and Windows platforms, so your staff has access to the latest information without having to search and send files across a network
•Leverage your company assets like sharing printers—even USB printers—across the network with Mac and PC computers;
•Offer mail services to your employees.
•Centralize the backup of your critical business information, and control user access to appropriate content and manage privileges from a central location.
•Host dynamic, high-traffic websites and power database-driven web applications;
•Plan for business growth with storage and bandwidth capabilities;
•Protect and secure sensitive data.

Simply put, a server is the easiest way to manage network services for
multi-platform workgroup, regardless of your expertise level!

Sewelltech's Highly trained Technicians are Apple Certified in both software and hardware support, so there's only one number to call to get help.
•The ability to manage the support issues as a whole
•To take the users to the next level, by gaining control over support issues and through education
•Better support for users
•Better turn around time on support issues
•More constant support services
•Highly trained staff for support issues
•Quality of support
•First time fixes
•All support done by Apple Certified Technicians

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