So you have decided to buy and install your first dedicated server. Most small businesses setup a file and print server, while others setup a web server, or an email server. No problem, setting up any server involves many of the same configuration steps.
Initially, the setup is just like setting up a PC: Unpack everything, compare the shipping list to the box contents, connect the mouse, keyboard, and network cable, and plug in the power. But first you must consider the location of the server. Best is a lower traffic location such as a dedicated server room or wiring closet. Don’t forget about physical security- if someone can just pick up your server and walk away all the OS, network, and application security you setup will mean nothing.
A server environment needs to not only be safe, but should also be controlled for humidity and temperature. You will need to make sure the heat from your server can be dispersed. Additionally, if your server is in a location you may not visit often, or there’s any risk from the environment, you should think about using a physical monitoring device. The APC Netbotz 420 or the AVtech Room Alert 11 E both track humidity, temperature, motion, airflow, flooding, and more, and can issue alerts when needed.
Nowadays many servers have dual power supplies. It is best if you can plug each power supply into a different UPS and plug those UPSs into two separate circuits. This way only one power supply will go offline if you lose a single circuit.
If your server’s operating system has been preinstalled that will save you some time. If not, insert the DVD or CD into the drive and turn the server on. Here are some configuration guidelines for your new OS:
Install Only Options You Plan to Use. For example, if this is only a straight print and file server, you do not need to install Web server or email server software. In fact, it is better not to. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that the extra software may contain extra security vulnerabilities, so if it’s not installed you don’t have to worry about them. The second reason is the extra software takes up hard drive space and can waste memory and CPU resources.
Use a Strong Root or Administrator Password. Your password contains the keys to your server kingdom. A strong password will not contain words from the dictionary, be six or more characters long, and contain a combination of letters, symbols, and numbers. For help generating a strong password, try a website likehttp://www.strongpasswordgenerator.com" target=new>