How to Set up a Business Server

To survive in today's business world, it's important to have a presence on the web. After you register your domain, you'll need a website host.
Your business needs a base somewhere to run its own server to host a website or space on a server that handles these tasks for the business. That means you could contract a company to maintain your files on their server and run your script and web applications off their server, but you've decided to set up your own business server where you (or someone you hire) is in charge of all these tasks.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer Server with an Network Operating System (NOS) Internet Service Provider(ISP) Disk Space

1. Install a Network Operating System (NOS). This can be Linux, MS 2000/2003 Server, etc. Approaching your business server hosting this way allows you to tailor settings to your business needs. You'll pay less and have more control over downtime and bandwidth usage. Bandwidth stays uninterrupted because it's a dedicated line and there's no question of your website being slowed down due to other websites receiving more traffic.

2. Install any necessary servers on the NOS, like email servers, domain servers, web server, database servers, etc. Recently, Microsoft developed two server solutions, Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008. These are bundles and may be more efficient for your business server set up.

3. Install any web-based applications needed to run your website. Set up any other services you wish to run on your business server.

4. Create any network drives for your employees to be able to share files and keep files on the server. For an intranet, passwords and other security policies need to be applied.

5. Specifications for servers are equally important. To have a stable and reliable business server, it is always recommended to schedule regular backups of what is on your business server.

Tips & Warnings

• It is wise to compare the costs of owning a business server as opposed to outsourcing one. Depending on the size of your business, it may be better for your budget to have your services hosting on someone else's server.