Tips On Buying A Server

The ultimate goal when buying a server is finding that perfect intersection of performance and price. Adding onto the company's network infrastructure is a major commitment, and one that requires a lot of thought before a decision is made.

Dell Tower ServersThe right piece of equipment can provide many years of reliable performance, while poorly maintained or configured hardware can become a major drain on the business's resources. Of course, a company's IT department can provide the needed insight into what hardware to purchase, but it is still important to buy from a reputable seller, and a company owner should consider all options before making a decision. That includes purchasing a refurbished piece of hardware.

What are the benefits of buying a refurbished server?

While some businesses can afford to keep upgrading to the most recent generation of hardware, this isn't necessary for most companies, and can be extremely cost prohibitive. The truth is, network infrastructure is developed incrementally, so while there are significant gains from generation to generation, most small and medium sized businesses will get everything they need from hardware that's a few years old, as long as they don't have mountains of data to handle. Small businesses typically don't have a developed IT department, so they occasionally purchase hardware well beyond their needs, wasting thousands in the process.

These company owners, and even established businesses with a history of growth, should consider buying a refurbished server. Refurbished hardware refers to equipment that, though used, has been effectively cleaned out by technical professionals. This means an actual physical cleaning, like removing any dust and corrosion, and a software cleaning, which consists of eliminating all extraneous data and updating the firmware to current versions. What a business gets is practically indistinguishable from a new version of the same model. In fact, it's often better than a new version because a refurbishment professional can set up the equipment to meet the business's particular needs. That means installing additional software and adding or subtracting components. The goal is to produce a solution customized to the company so that it remains relevant for many years to come.

That's an important point, because one of the fears that people sometimes have when buying a refurbished server is that it won't last long. This fear is generally unfounded, as refurbished equipment can provide comparable reliability and lifespan to new hardware. And when factoring in the greatly reduced cost, which can occasionally be up to 90 percent off, refurbished hardware can offer unparalleled cost effectiveness.

Dell, HP, Cisco, and Oracle are all excellent brand options for a business, and all provide solutions that will scale with the business's needs. Whether performance, cost, size or ease of use, or all of the above is essential, a reputable seller can help a business get the hardware they need.