The age of Mainframes was dominated by a large central computer system, with client terminals communicating all data to a single machine. The Microcomputer revolution has dramatically changed this model, but the focus of a computer system is still towards a centralized computer system for storage and management of company information.
   These systems are known as "Servers". The term "Server" is a description of a function, and nearly any computing device can have a "Server" role for selected tasks. For example, Windows contains within it the ability for each computer on the network to be a server to the other machines. However, protecting and managing business data is serious work and, in most businesses, deserves a specialized device. This device is named after the function it performs, and is known as a Server computer.

Servers are used for the following functions:

• File serving, or sharing of stored files and documents.
• Central backup systems, or protection of data from destruction or software errors by creating multiple copies of critical data on a regular basis.
• Application support, for Databases and other major business applications.
• Network services, including Fax serving and CD-ROM serving.
• Email servers, where the Internet's Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) protocol is returned to users as the user protocols POP3, IMAP, or Microsoft's MAPI.
• Internet servers, which turn Hypertext Markup Documents (HTML) into web sites with the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and IP (Internet Protocol) networking.

A single copy of Windows 2000, with accessory software, can provide all these services from a single central computer. This provides important services for the entire company, without major infrastructure investments.

Our Server Systems:
   SoftProse Technology, Inc. can provide enterprise-wide Windows 2000 (and Windows NT) solutions. A server computer, configured as shown below, with services as described above (Email, with Microsoft Exchange, would be additional) is available fully installed, configured, and documented for under $5000. Please contact us for an exact quotation. We are pleased to offer major brands, including Hewlett-Packard and DELL products.

Office Server:
Server-class computers are available from a number of different vendors. These machines should all share these features:

• Dual-processor capable motherboard (preferably an Intel motherboard.)
• Pentium III or greater processors, of 900mhz or higher. A single processor system is adequate to begin with, but the ability to add multiple processors to the computer protects your investment.
• Internal disk system, with 15 gigs or more of hard disk storage. Hard disks should be redundant, so the failure of one mechanism will not cause the server to fail or cause loss of data. RAID, with SCSI hard disks, is ideal for this task.
• Tape backup system, with a DDS-4 DAT drive.
• Tape backup software for the server and attached client computers.
• Regular read-only CD-ROM drive (either SCSI or IDE)- NOT a CD-R drive. (CD-R drives are a security risk.)
• 3.5” standard floppy drive.
• 256mb or more of PC-100 SDRAM
• 100Base-TX Ethernet network adapter
  (3Com, Intel, or NetGear)
• Fax Modem, Internal or External (External is better), 56K V.90. (US Robotics preferred.)
• Operating System: Windows 2000 Server

The latest incarnation of the DDS high-volume DAT tape series, these devices will backup a maximum of 40 Gigabytes to a single tape. Although this sounds like a lot, many companies sell single hard disks larger than 40 Gigabytes. Invest in the future. This is a tape drive that will be useful for many years to come. According to manufacturer's specifications, this drive is compatible with all the tapes in the DDS series. So inexpensive DDS-2 tapes (about $8 each) will work for smaller backups (up to 8 Gigabytes), along with $40 DDS-4 tapes for full 40 Gigabyte backups. Tape media should be purchased accordingly. See our documentation on Backup Tape Management.