HP Server Maintenance and Configuration: SMBs Practical Guide

HP Server Maintenance and Configuration: SMBs Practical Guide

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, workforces across the country have been relegated to remote home offices. As a result, more businesses and corporations than ever before have bought into the idea of using servers to connect, centrally manage, and monitor their remote workforces. HP servers are helpful in provisioning services to clients, data swapping, and database management – but, as rewarding as the benefits of servers are, it is crucial to keep a close eye on your server and offer proper maintenance for the system to run optimally.

Server maintenance involves routinely checking, diagnosing, replacing, and upgrading server components such as motherboards, CPU, hard drives, and host bus adapters (HBA). On top of this, a maintenance technician must also check the server software regularly and update all programs and patches when the need arises.

Why is HP Server Maintenance Important?

As with any other workstation computer, HP servers must be continuously well-maintained to keep them in prime working shape.

Ensure Maximum Productivity

If you notice significant drops in your HP server system's performance, the chances are that you are not doing enough in terms of server maintenance. As with any other system, it is imperative to check, fix, and update your server from time to time to keep it optimized and get the most out of it. Servers operate 24/7, running many power-heavy programs and carrying out strenuous exhausting jobs. Therefore, server systems and components are more susceptible to failure and require more regular maintenance than other systems.

Regular HP server maintenance enables you to detect faulty or worn-out components and outdated programs that may be slowing down your system. To keep your HP server healthy, you can schedule a repair, replacement, or update to restore the system to an excellent working shape.

Detect Possible Future Problems

During regular maintenance checks, you may notice issues with your server and components that are less-than-perfect. By identifying minor issues or bugs in your HP server system, you can fix them before they escalate into big problems. Preventive maintenance also eliminates the need for future repairs.

Prevent Data Loss

Your server houses all of your crucial data, and losing such valuable information due to a system crash, error, or malware would be detrimental to any project or team. Well-maintained HP servers, such as the HP Proliant DL380 Gen10 server, are less likely to experience downtime and total or partial network failure, thus protecting you from data loss.

Adaptable for diverse workloads and environments, HP ProLiant DL380 Gen10 includes multiple key features that made it an even more powerful server and better-suited to serve a wider variety of use cases.

The Gen10 servers use the integrated Lights Out 5.0 9iLO management chip. This is a great tool for System Administrators who may need to manage servers off-premises. The Lights Out 5.0 9iLO chip offers out-of-band access and also enables remote access from standard browsers.

Proper server configuration and management are essential to maintain a server’s health, security and efficiency. The HP ProLiant DL380 Gen10 has made large strides in improving server management. Why choose HP Proliant servers? This HP server provides a simplified dashboard that helps streamline the initial setup, health monitoring and managing power and thermal caps.

Should anything go wrong, it is easier to recover lost or damaged data if your server is routinely maintained and kept up to date. In the unfortunate event of server downtime, you can easily recover your data from a well-maintained HP server and get your system up and running again.

Extend Your Server's Life Expectancy

Proper server maintenance is a reliable way of adding valuable years to the lifespan of your system. HP server components that are frequently checked and repaired are less prone to experiencing wear and tear, developing issues, and breaking down. This saves you on the cost of replacing damaged components or, worse, having to purchase another complete server system entirely.

Reduce Server Outages

HP server hardware and software that is less likely to fail. Diagnosis, detecting minor issues, and replacing faulty components at an early stage will save you the frustration of your server dying in the middle of a crucial project.

Extend Your Server's Life Expectancy

How to Configure HP Server for Your Business Needs

No matter where you find yourself in the business world, it is imperative to set up your server and network for your system to work efficiently.

What You Will Need
  • HP server
  • An external hard drive
  • A reliable Wireless internet connection
  • A backup power source

Procedure

i. Begin by documenting your network. Record the name of users, IP addresses, hostnames, serial numbers, and locations of each computer you intend to add to the network.

ii. Insert the server installation media and install the server. If your server does not have the operating system pre-installed, insert the installation media and set up an OS. Just as your computer needs an operating system, you need an OS for your shared HP server.

iii. Connect the server to your wireless network.

iv. Set the external hard disk as your server backup. Set up remote access to the server before selecting sharing options.

v. Set up the server as a domain controller. This allows the client’s computers to join the new centralized network; moreover, it will enable the server to authenticate user credentials.

vi. Complete the setup by adding a local admin account to each computer and connecting them to the setup. You can then organize and upload data and applications that you wish to have on your new servers, such as files, emails, and business software. It is wise to set up a firewall to protect the server from malicious software and third-party intruders.

vii. You can now create and manage workgroups (group of devices connected to the network, such as printers and computers.)

HP Server Maintenance: How to Best Protect Your Business

Your server is the heart of your business: protecting your server means protecting your business. Some of the strongest ways to ensure your HP server remains in good health include:

  • Always checking to ensure that inbuilt utilities meant to monitor your system are installed and configured correctly.
  • Being on the lookout for potential security risks and malware. Malicious software and hackers may access or corrupt your data; therefore, you will want to invest in reliable security software.
  • Monitoring disk usage and ensuring sufficient space to meet your storage needs.
  • Configuring a firewall to protect your server from malicious software and third-party intruders.
  • Regularly performing data backups: back up all your data onto an external drive for easy access in case your server ever encounters a problem. Consider automating this backup.
  • Checking for out-of-date software and hardware and updating them promptly. Update the applications and server operating systems regularly and upgrade remote management operations.
  • Creating secure passwords to discourage intruders.
  • Checking for old pieces of information and old user accounts and cleaning them.

For those who may need assistance with the HP servers, our experts at IT Yuda are always ready to help. We have the experience and expertise to deliver whatever you have in mind, from memory upgrades to fully built and loaded servers. Contact our team if you have any questions about specific HP server models or features.

Previous article Data Center Infrastructure Design Best Practices
Next article Modern Switching Meets the Edge: How Aruba Can Propel Your Business into The Future