David G | Source Tech

Virtual Servers – the New Standard for Modern Companies

Created on: December 12, 2016

Updated on: December 12, 2016

Virtualization software offerings from VMware, Microsoft, Oracle and many other companies are competing for your business. Hardware manufacturers such as Intel and Oracle are adding CPU features to boost the performance and security of virtualized servers. Oracle is including virtual machine features in the latest versions of their operating system. Virtualization, rather than servers running on “bare metal,” is becoming standard.

It’s How Servers Are Done

Information Week reports that, after 18 years as part of the IT market, virtualization is “mature,” with an average of 75% virtualization in company data centers, sometimes as high as 90%. VMware, a leading virtualization vendor, says that benefits include:

Up to 50% savings, with up to 16 virtual machines running on one physical server
Higher quality of service (QoS) which translates to better web server performance, user experience, and resource usage
Increased flexibility with the ability to adjust resource usage, migrate virtual servers to new hardware, and more

Any Way You Slice It

By using virtual machine software, your physical server hardware becomes the space in which your virtual servers operate. You can manage that space without all the costs and time involved in allocating and using single hardware servers with fixed resources such as memory, disk, and CPU speed.

For example, you can allocate resources for both web development and test running alongside a fully configured web server, all on the same hardware but using separate “machines.” As the load on the web server increases, you can simply migrate the dev servers to other available virtualized resources.

Hard Benefits of Soft Servers

In addition to migrating servers to balance loads and use hardware resources more effectively, virtualization offers:

1. Hardware-independent infrastructure management

Hardware becomes the raw material from which server farms are custom built. Automated and manual management software watches virtual servers, resource usage, hardware status and more and uses available resources to keep your systems running and performing at their best.

2. Instant IT Response

Hardware allocation, software installation, and many more IT functions become “press of a button” activities rather complicated hands-on activities. When a department needs a server, you can finish the job while you’re on the phone with them.

3. Cost Savings

Like a cross-trained team, you can put your resources to work in whatever way you need them to function. You can use your resources more cost effectively and handle capital acquisitions by capacity needs, rather than by project or another specific basis. You don’t waste excess capacity on your systems, overbuying for future needs.

4. Isolation and Security Benefits

You’ve heard the stories about the risks to data on shared servers, where web server “hacks” gain access to databases and other resources and create nightmares for the company far beyond what they imagined. Virtualization security is also mature technology, allowing you to run separate servers for the isolation and security benefits, without investing in new hardware each time.

5. Disaster Recovery

A huge benefit of virtualization is the ability to migrate servers to available hardware, even in other facilities, when hardware servers or even whole buildings are not available due to fire, flood, or other disaster scenarios. Cloud resources can be used to augment or fill in for local operations, while still maintaining local control under normal circumstances.

The experts at Source Tech can help your team move towards the cost savings, performance, and reliability benefits of virtualization with your current hardware and your future investments. In addition to virtualized servers, you can consider VDI, the ability to use virtualized servers to provide your desktop computing as well. Give them a call and find out more.

Physical Servers vs. Offsite Virtual Hosted Servers

Created on: November 29, 2016

Updated on: November 29, 2016

Your company’s infrastructure depends heavily on the servers that you use. Servers store all of your company’s essential information, from customer and employee data to sensitive sales and marketing information. When it comes to choosing a server for your business, there are two main options – a physical server or an offsite virtual hosted server.

Choosing which one suits your business best depends on your specific needs and budget. The following compares the pros and cons of each type of server to help you decide which option will work best for you:

Physical Servers

A physical server is a piece of equipment that’s generally stored onsite in a server room or data center. The following are a few of the pros and cons for using a physical server:

The Pros of Using Physical Servers

Physical servers are typically easier to maintain. Your staff won’t require a specific skillset in order to manage and maintain your physical server.
You may have certain applications that require dedicated processing power in order to function at an optimal level. Physical servers don’t share processors, which means that they are better suited for such applications.
A physical server can be fully customized and configured to meet your unique specifications and requirements.
You’ll have instant access to your server 24/7, which can be highly beneficial in the event of business critical or high demand operations.

The Cons of Using Physical Servers

If maintenance on your physical server is required, you’ll need to plan for downtime.
You’ll need more space, more power and more cooling to properly and safely store your network on a physical server.
The purchase, maintenance and potential replacement (in case of failure) costs of a physical server are more expensive than that of a virtual server.
Once you’ve reached a maximum workload, you won’t be able to scale storage in small increments.

Offsite Virtual Hosted Servers

Offsite hosted servers or virtualized servers share hardware and software resources with other operating systems. Because they are cost-effective and provide faster resource control, virtual servers are popular in web hosting environments. The following are some of the pros and cons of using a virtual server:

The Pros of Off-site Virtual Hosted Servers

Because you don’t have to purchase physical hardware, there are fewer upfront costs.
You won’t have to have as big of an in-house IT staff in order to maintain a physical server.
With a physical server, you’ll need to purchase new hardware every time you need a new server. Off-site virtual hosted servers are more scalable and allow you to simply sign up with a new server, which costs less money and takes less time.
An off-site physical server can host multiple virtual servers. This means you can get more out of a single host than you could out of a physical server, which typically only runs at 25 percent capacity.
If a host server requires maintenance, your virtual server can simply be moved to a new host. This means that there’s no downtime for maintenance.
Your data is much easier to recover in a virtual environment in the event that the host server fails.

The Cons of Off-site Virtual Hosted Servers

Hosted servers are more complex than physical servers, which means that your IT team will need to have specialized skills in order to maintain your server.
You won’t be independently in control of your server or the applications running on them as you would with a physical server.
Even though your upfront costs won’t be as expensive as with a physical server, a virtual server requires higher monthly costs.

These are some of the pros and cons of both physical and off-site virtual hosted servers that you should compare before making a decision. If you’d like more information, speak to the experts at Source Tech.

5 Reasons to Buy New & Used Servers on the Secondary Market

Created on: November 21, 2016

Updated on: November 21, 2016

The word for you is “effective.” You provide the IT resources that enable your company to get the job done, even on a moment’s notice, and with a reasonable budget. You may still be turning to manufacturers, thinking that you’re getting the best deal and delivery. If that’s so, you’ll want to check out these five reasons to buy new and used servers on the secondary market instead. We’re SourceTech, and we’re your source of both new and refurbished servers and systems, an excellent alternative to manufacturers and VARs.

1. Deep Discounts

When you call us, we at SourceTech can provide significant discounts on the equipment you need, with a 24 month warranty from us and usually the balance of the manufacturer’s warranty as well. New, demo, and refurbished equipment comes at prices which will give you the chance to upgrade memory, processor, and more beyond what you could afford at manufacturer’s prices. You can become known for delivering what your company needs, and more, at prices that help your organization compete and grow.

2. Warranty

Most equipment comes with remaining time on the manufacturer’s warranty and a 24 month warranty from Source Tech. You’ll love our support anyway, so this is a big plus if you’d like responsive assistance without paying a premium for it.

3. Faster Delivery

When you’re ready to act quickly to upgrade or replace server and system capacity, we’re ready to respond quickly. You can skip 2-3 week lead times that can run even longer in real life, and get our in-stock equipment shipped to you within 1-2 days.

4. Expert Knowledge

We know our systems. Our used Dell servers, Sun and HP equipment all come from people who can help you with quality upgrades, support, configuration guidance and more. We can handle your mixed-vendor environments like no single vendor can!

5. Support and Maintenance Contracts

Refurbished equipment gives you like-new quality that still performs the way you need it to. We can provide support that will keep it running like new, under contracts that help you manage your costs.

Capital Investments at Cloud Costs

You can still own hardware and not take a large bite out of your budget. Your effective answer to meeting your organization’s computing needs with used Dell servers, Sun and HP equipment is ready to provide strong support and excellent pricing for the long run. Turn to SourceTech for powerful results.

Top 5 Databases of 2016

Created on: October 28, 2016

Updated on: October 28, 2016

Five database systems which have been around for the long haul since the 1980s, late 1970s for Oracle enter 2016 very different from their beginnings. Cloud technology, in-memory operation, virtualization and multi-tenancy, and features such as JSON support and temporal validity checking are keeping these RDBMS systems relevant in the second decade of the 21st century. While these enterprise powerhouses support in-house application development, eCommerce, and general transactional use, Internet app support and other real-time challenges push the performance demands and scalability in ways never anticipated decades ago. These leading database systems in 2016 vary in operating system support, features, and even hardware platform advantages.

1. Oracle Database

Still the leader, Oracle was the first to market in 1979 and has set the bar high for performance and reliability. It also has a thriving ecosystem of developers and support providers who make it easy to work with Oracle products. Oracle 12c takes on the evolving cloud technology challenge and adds more support for Internet technologies such as JSON. Oracle’s industry-leading processors power servers engineered for fast Oracle database performance using flash memory data paths, virtualization, encryption hardware support, and best of class performance in a compact form factor with the T5 CPU. The Oracle T4-1 and T5-2 Servers are high-performance legacy servers. And the new Oracle T7 servers add the first-ever hardware-based security features, in-memory performance acceleration, and real-time analytics support with world-record Oracle database and Java performance in a cloud infrastructure-ready server line.

2. Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server has dominance on its own operating systems and has been the foundation for their development suite and other software packages. Microsoft has an active partner and developer community who address applications from small business to enterprise solutions. Many partners specialize in integrating the broad range of Microsoft products, so the database system can be the heart of SMB solutions on owned hardware or scalable using cloud services. The company emphasizes their performance and in-memory security as key to building mission-critical applications including transaction processing, BI and analytics systems, and eCommerce.

3. IBM DB2

DB2 runs on Linux and UNIX, Windows and more, providing a range of hardware options which include HPC systems and IBM’s Power line of servers using the new Power8 processor. Scalable to large data center operations for traditional transactional use, a version of DB2 is customized for use with Hadoop for Big Data.

4. SAP Sybase ASE

SAP’s Adaptive Server Enterprise has been increasing in popularity after a backslide. An emphasis on mobile application support has been hitting home with the Internet evolution towards smartphones, tablets, in-car systems and, increasingly, IoT devices. SAP partners with developers to create solutions for these markets, which has put ASE squarely in the next-generation transaction space. The latest version adds partition locking, CIS support for HANA, Dynamic Thread Assignment, and other advances.

5. PostgreSQL

An open-source offering increasingly touted as a solid alternative to commercial (O)RDBMS systems, PostgreSQL is at work and well tested in the datacenters of major Internet players. It also faces the stress testing of popular interactive gaming servers and has helped solve diverse application challenges as an available in-house option that doesn’t involve license planning and other commercial factors, while feature-comparable with Oracle and DB2.

There you have it, our picks for the top 5 databases of 2016. If you are looking for a new or refurbished server to run your databases, speak to the experts at SourceTech Systems.

Used Dell R620 Servers Stand the Test of Time

Created on: October 20, 2016

Updated on: October 20, 2016

Originally released in 2012, the Dell PowerEdge R620 is a rock-solid server engineered with the perfect combination of features and performance to handle tough workloads. Whether your business is enterprise-level business or a smaller data center, a refurbished Dell R620 is a great choice.

What are the technical specifications on the PowerEdge R620?

The PowerEdge R620 offers powerful computing in a small package. It’s a dual-socket server with a large capacity for memory and depending on the configuration, you can fit 8 or 10, 2.5" hard drives. These benefits make the R620 or ideal for applications or virtualized environments.

With its hyper-dense memory and Intel® Xeon® E5-2600 processors, the R620 also shines when handling high performance computing (HPC), and workgroup collaboration applications.

The R620 keeps your data center running with ultra-reliability with (RAS) features like hot-pluggable fans, disks, power-supply units (PSUs) and even redundant failsafe hypervisors. Plus, network features such as I/O performance, allow you to customize your network to match your application needs. Dell Select Network Adapters and flexible NIC technology, let you choose the right network configuration without using up a valuable PCI slot.

The PowerEdge R620 has been one of Dell’s most popular servers for a reason. It’s a rock-solid addition to any datacenter and an ideal option for companies looking for the cost-savings of a refurbished Dell server. And if you like the PowerEdge line of servers, but need greater performance, then checkout the 620’s big brother – the PowerEdge R720.

Sun / Oracle Sparc T4-1 and T5-2 Servers

Created on: October 20, 2016

Updated on: June 12, 2021

The Oracle SPARC T4-1 and Oracle SPARC T5-2 servers are designed to offer cost and performance options with similar functionality. Both offer virtualization features, allowing provisioning of server resources on an as-needed basis. Hardware-based encryption technology on both lets software focus on performance. While both work hard as rack-mounted Oracle servers, the T4-1, with a single-threaded processor, provides basic compute power for everyday server needs in a 2U rack space, while the T5-2 offers scalability up to 32 cores in two T5 processors for a powerful, 3U datacenter server. Both include Oracle Solaris.

Oracle T5-2 Specifications

T5-2 servers can be combined in high density and managed locally or remotely using Oracle Integrated Lights Out Manager. The T5-2 hardware is designed for mission critical application use, with high-level RAS features in a mid-range server such as hot-swappable power supplies, hot-pluggable disk drives (up to six), and environmental monitoring. Space for two SPARC T5 processors (upgradeable from one) provides 16 cores and 16 memory slots per processor for a maximum of 1TB memory. It includes eight PCIe slots and four 10GbE XAUI ports.

Oracle T4-1 Specifications

An ideal web or application development server, the single-processor T4-1 server provides Oracle Solaris with virtualization in a compact package. Memory capacity with 16 slots is 512GB, and the chassis includes room for eight hard drives or solid state disks, flash memory space for focused I/O performance, and 6 PCIe slots. It comes with four 1GbE XAUI ports and up to two at 10Gb.

New or Refurbished Oracle Servers prove to be a sound investment and for organizations both large and small, and the T5-2 and T4-1 are two of the best. Simply put, these servers, whether new or refurbished, are top quality, highly reliable and get the job done.

For more information on Oracle / Sun servers or to receive a quote, speak to the experts at SourceTech Systems today.

HP ProLiant DL380 Gen8 Server Review

Created on: October 20, 2016

Updated on: June 12, 2021

If you’re a small to medium sized business looking for a high performance server, look no further. The 8th generation HP DL380 released in 2012, features unmatched performance and enhanced configurations, making it one the most impressive servers in the ProLiant line. And if you’re looking to save money without sacrificing quality, a used or refurbished ProLiant DL380G8 is an excellent choice.

What are the specifications for the HP ProLiant DL380 Gen8?

The server we tested, boasted an Intel Xeon E5-2690 (2.9 GHz)with a total of 8 cores of processing power. It’s also upgradeable to dual processors (16 cores). RAM starts at 128GB with a maximum of 768 GB (24 x 32GB LRDIMM @1066MHz). The configuration we tested was one of the fastest servers we’ve ever run and even the lower-cost configurations can handle demanding server requests or house multiple virtual servers.

The design is a 2U rack mount server, slightly bigger than the Dell PowerEdge R420. Disks are configured in 2 logical drives with RAID 5. The server has 4 GB Ethernet ports, 6 expansion ports, 6 USB ports with dual power supplies.

In this day and age, storage is always a concern. But rest assured, the DL380 G8 offers eight 300GB 6G SAS 10K rpm SFF hot plug, 2.5-inch disks. Plus, the new SmartDrive features tray carriers that allow double the storage of the previous ProLiant models.

If you are looking for a small business server that handles the most demanding requests and offers flexible configurations – the HP ProLiant DL380 Gen8 server is a winner. Speak to the experts at SourceTech and contact us for more information.

HP Servers For Small Businesses

Created on: June 6, 2016

Updated on: June 6, 2016

Most HP servers designed for small businesses are found in the brand’s Proliant line. There are many Proliant models to choose from, some of them designed in a rack form factor and some of them designed as blades.

There are many HP servers for small businesses to choose from, but it can be difficult to find the right dealer in the Houston area. Houston is a high tech city and there are many hardware sellers, but it’s essential that a company choose a trustworthy seller before making a hardware purchase. Network infrastructure has to last for years and offer reliable performance throughout, so companies need targeted solutions, not just equipment. A reputable dealer can offer this, and ensure a Houston company remains competitive amid its peers.

What are some ideal HP servers for small businesses?

A company owner may feel pressure to get the latest and greatest piece of equipment for their operations, but this can do more harm than good in the long run. Modestly-sized companies typically aren’t running big data operations or memory intensive simulations, or demanding graphics programs. They need their network to handle simpler applications, e-mail, messaging, customer-relations software and the kind of applications that facilitate general day to day operations. Offices, schools, restaurants and retail shops in Houston don’t need much from their hardware, but they do need that hardware to be reliable.

Refurbished equipment is perfectly capable of performing to this level, and the Proliant line of hardware is an ideal starting point for companies. Most HP servers designed for small businesses are found in the brand’s Proliant line, though the brand’s Integrity line of hardware is a better fit for companies that prefer Unix or Linux. As most young and modestly-sized companies are running a version of Windows or an Apple OS, Proliant is typically the proper fit.

There are many Proliant models to choose from, some of them designed in a rack form factor and some of them designed as blades. The brand’s Proliant racks are known as the DL series, and this series makes up some of the company’s most popular hardware. In particular, the DL360 G6, G7 and G8, and the DL380 G6, G7 and G8 are strong choices for companies of any size. The DL360 G6, for example, is an older model that can still provide up to 192GB of memory with its 18 DIMM slots and a pair of quad or six-core Xeon processors. That’s plenty for medium-sized companies, like offices supporting the Houston’s energy or medical facilities.

Proliant blades are highly scalable HP servers made for small and large businesses, and are perfect for companies that don’t have a lot of space for their hardware. As the company grows and needs more from its network, Proliant blades can be added to a single enclosure to strengthen the datacenter’s performance. This is especially useful for companies that expect a great deal of growth over several years.

There is a lot to consider when purchasing Proliant or Integrity hardware, but a reputable seller can make the process easy to handle and will ensure that the company gets the exact equipment they need.

Why HP Is Now 2 Companies

Created on: June 6, 2016

Updated on: June 6, 2016

In early November, Hewlett-Packard made the decision to split into a pair of businesses, leaving a lot of industry members asking “why is HP now two companies?” Some experts who follow the industry closely are less surprised and even a little skeptical, though there is potential that it turns into a brilliant move for the brand. After more than a decade of turmoil at the top of the legendary PC giant, that could be a major breath of fresh air. But what does it mean for consumers? Probably not much, at least in the near term. In the long term, though, it could have a significant impact on the brand’s product lines.

So, why is HP now two companies?

According to Hewlett-Packard itself, the move is an attempt to inject flexibility and adaptability into their many product departments. Now, one aspect of the business will manage all printer and PC sales, while the other, branding itself Hewlett Packard Enterprise, will offer servers, data storage, and network equipment, in addition to network services to keep that equipment running. The general belief is that the brand’s enterprise side will have a better go of it, with greater growth potential, unsaddled by some untenable problems, but it faces challenges of its own.

For one, while Hewlett-Packard’s Proliant line of servers is highly respected and the market leader, many younger businesses are opting for total cloud networking through other providers. While these businesses may make the shift to a hardware-based IT solution once they grow some and their needs scale up, Hewlett Packard Enterprise will take the initiative in creating its own total and hybrid-cloud solutions. This will bring the monolithic brand up to speed and give it a fighting chance in the coming years. The move likely heralds an accelerated production cycle for the business’s server products, and its increased focus on servers may really open up the market for professionals in need of reliable networking solutions. There has never been any doubt that HP can deliver in this area, and its Proliant servers are among the most popular choices for businesses in need of used, economical options.

What is the history behind the change?

Most people asking “why is HP now two companies” don’t realize just how many challenges the business has faced in the last 15 years or so. From a script that most people are now familiar with, Hewlett Packard leadership underestimated the rise of various technologies, including tablets and smartphones. In the early 2000s, it was not ready when Dell shifted to a direct-to-consumer model for PC sales, a misstep that they never recovered from completely. Leadership itself was a bit unstable, with three CEOs in a little over a year.

However, optimism is now Hewlett Packard’s watchword, as this unprecedented move has the chance to make it a massive player in the server and networking market going forward.

PowerEdge R710 Server And Management System Specifications

Created on: June 6, 2016

Updated on: June 6, 2016

Dell PowerEdge ServersThe PowerEdge R710 was released in the middle of 2009 and was intended to compete against HP’s Proliant DL380. This model is similar to the R610, which garnered rave reviews when it was released in the same year. Fortunately, Dell has taken the same care with its 2U rackmount server, providing the same standout features and design that give system administrators a lot of flexibility in how they manage their infrastructure.

What are the technical specifications on the PowerEdge R710?
This server is a 2U model, so it packs more punch and expandability into a larger frame. Still, it is small enough at 2U to offer excellent scalability in a standard 42U cabinet, and when maxed out, a bank of these servers can do just about anything. This includes data-intensive enterprise applications, such as those found at medical or financial institutions.

It can be fitted with a pair of Intel Xeon processors from the 5520 chipset, which can accommodate up to 12 logical cores. The server comes with 18 DIMM slots for up to 288 GB of RAM, and like its smaller counterpart, it is also designed with four Gigabit Ethernet ports that are TOE ready as long as the iSCSI upgrade is in place. This frees up a lot of room for the CPU to handle other tasks and can make a marked boost in system performance. Finally, the PowerEdge R710 is built with a pair of risers that can each accommodate a pair of slots for PCI-e expansions.

This model is another smart design from Dell. Cooling and energy efficiency are the top priorities here, and a system admin can see both thermal and energy ratings from an LCD display set in the front of the server. This panel also comes with a keypad that allows an admin to set a network address for remote access. For cooling, the hardware is designed with five modules that allow hot swapping when a fan needs to be replaced. This efficient design means the server produces minimal noise pollution. And Dell has made a concerted effort to keep energy expenditures down, as during testing, the onboard power supply remains comfortable under 300W even when both CPUs are pushed to their limits.

What management firmware is available with the PowerEdge R710?
Dell didn’t mess with the award winning formula it put in place with the 610. This model also comes with the unique Lifecycle Controller, a black box attached to the motherboard that contains 1GB of NVRAM. From this box, an admin can boot the server and bring up a GUI that makes it easy to deploy an operating system.

And for comprehensive monitoring of the server’s components, Dell has included the iDRAC6 controller, which is connected via its own port behind the server. Through the iDRAC6, an admin can check the server’s status through a web browser and keep an eye on essential components.

The PowerEdge R710 is a worthy addition to any enterprise initiative or datacenter, and remains an ideal option for companies looking for a refurbished server model.