What are the Different Types of Computer Software for Small Business?

With the gradual maturity of the PC market and the continuous emergence of new PC technologies, some changes have occurred in the elements of SMEs purchasing PCs. In addition to more small and medium-sized enterprise users, in addition to the need for PC manufacturers to control the quality of traditional accessories, they also need PC manufacturers to provide some software systems that can help the PC stabilize, so that the PC has both hardware and software stability. Many IT vendors have begun to focus on developing software that maintains the stability of the PC and integrate it with the PC to provide more stable services for SME users. As for the security of the PC, SME users have also put forward a new demand, namely the simplification of security applications. In addition to new changes in stability and security, fashion, lightweight, environmental protection and energy saving have gradually become factors that SMEs purchase PCs. PCs for small and medium-sized businesses have emerged to address these needs.

SME PC

As the PC market matures,

1. The "software part" includes: operating system, application software, etc.

2. "Hardware" includes: chassis (power supply, hard disk,

Different computer configurations are required for different occasions.

Famous domestic PC manufacturers

For SMEs, the most purchased server is a PC server, so what factors should we consider for the purchase of a PC server?

PC SME PC PC Server Concept

First of all, we must understand the PC server. The so-called PC server mainly refers to Intel-based servers. Unlike some large servers such as Mainframe and Unix-based servers, the former mostly run operating systems such as Windows or Linux. Professional uses such as banking, large-scale manufacturing, logistics, securities, and other industries are generally less accessible to the general public.

PC PC PC server classification

There are three types of appearance:

(1) Rack server :

It is a server that can be installed in a cabinet. The main function is to save space. The height of the machine is 1U, and the 1U is about 44mm. Due to the limited space, the expandability is limited. For example, most 1U servers only have 1 or 2 PCI expansion slots. . Rack servers can be divided into 1U, 2U, 4U, 8U and so on. The heat dissipation performance becomes a very important factor. At this time, the abilities of various manufacturers are demonstrated here. The disadvantage is the need for equipment such as cabinets, which are mostly used by enterprises with large server usage.

(2) Tower server:

For servers that can be placed on the desktop or on the ground independently, most of them have more expansion slots and hard disk space. No additional equipment is required. It can be used when plugged in, so it is most widely used.

(3) Blade server:

It can be considered a more space-saving product than a rack server. The main structure is a large main body chassis, and many cards can be inserted inside, and one card is equivalent to one server. Of course, heat dissipation is very important here, and many manufacturers often install large powerful fans to dissipate heat. Although this type of server saves space, the main chassis alone may be expensive, and it is rarely used except for large enterprises.

Divided into four categories from application areas:

(1) Entry-level application PC server: It is mainly aimed at users based on Windows NT or NetWare network operating systems, which can fully meet the needs of office-type small and medium-sized network users for file sharing, data processing, Internet access and simple database applications.

(2) Workgroup-level application PC server: It is an application server that supports a single CPU structure. It can support large-capacity ECC memory and an SM bus that enhances server management functions. It is comprehensive, manageable, and easy to maintain. It can meet small and medium-sized enterprises. Data processing, file sharing, Internet access and simple database application requirements for network users.

(3) Department-level application PC servers generally have a dual-CPU structure, or 4 CPUs or more. Due to the development of dual-core technology, more and more enterprise-level PC servers now use dual-core CPUs. Integrated a large number of monitoring and management circuits, with comprehensive server management capabilities, can monitor state parameters such as temperature, voltage, fan, chassis, etc., combined with standard server management software, so that managers understand the server's working conditions in a timely manner. At the same time, most department-level application PC servers have excellent system scalability, which can meet the needs of users to upgrade the system online in time when the business volume is rapidly increasing, which fully protects the user's investment. It is an indispensable link for the smooth connection of various basic-level data collection units in the enterprise network with the highest-level data center. It can be used in industries such as finance, post and telecommunications.

(4) Enterprise-grade application PC server is a high-end server, which generally adopts two to four CPU structures, has independent dual PCI channels and memory expansion board design, has high memory bandwidth, large-capacity hot-swap hard disks, and hot-swap power supplies. With super data processing capabilities. This type of product has a high degree of fault tolerance and excellent scalability, and can be used as a database server for large enterprise-class networks that replace traditional small computers. The enterprise-level application PC server is suitable for running in industries such as finance, securities, transportation, post and telecommunications, communications, which need to process a large amount of data, high processing speed and high reliability requirements.

PC purchase considerations for SMEs

(1) Stable performance:

This is one of the most important factors of the server. However, for many people, "stability" seems to be a very abstract term, and it seems that every server vendor is emphasizing that its products are very stable. In fact, "stability" is not completely without context, and it is not that expensive products are stablers. I provide some tips for reference:

(1) Overall assembly quality:

Generally, products assembled by larger manufacturers have certain quality control and manufacturing processes. Therefore, if you can open the case to observe, it is not difficult to find that if the wiring is disorderly, the case is thin, the components are not in good agreement or the CPU, memory, etc. And the hard disk has no original warranty sticker, it should never be taken into consideration.

(2) Good thermal design:

Most servers need to operate for a long time, so good cooling performance is very important. The heat dissipation performance can be known from manufacturer data, heat dissipation wind strength, or actual tests. Servers with good heat dissipation often have better stable performance. For example, ASUS's rack-mounted server AP1600R-S5 is designed with wireless materials and has excellent heat dissipation performance.

(3) Content of promised after-sales service:

Manufacturers who have confidence in the products they produce usually provide better service content. For example, the standard service of ASUS server is a three-year limited warranty, and one-day service is available on the next working day. You choose.

(4) Overall reputation:

Generally speaking, the reputation of server products is very important, and choosing a brand recommended by someone or an older brand in the market is also a method. However, sometimes there are new brands or products that are also very good, and these have to be recommended or tested by some experts.

(5) Authoritative evaluation recommends:

Some authoritative magazines often have some comparisons, which may be a reference basis, but the most important thing is to look at some actual running performance tests and compare related reports to obtain objective opinions easily.

(6) Actual test:

If possible, it is best to buy a small number of products for testing, install the software you want to use, and run for a long time. The server should be able to run for a long time, it is best to download some test software on the website, and actually operate to see how stable it is?

(2) Upgrade and maintenance costs:

Many brand servers may not have a high total price at the time of purchase, but they have considerable upgrade and maintenance costs. For example, in the server part of some foreign brands, often in order to increase market share, the cost of ownership will start to be very low, but in the future upgrade parts such as CPU, memory, hard disk, disk array card ... Waiting is very expensive. In addition, after its original warranty period expires, the maintenance cost of its renewal is also very expensive, causing a dilemma similar to "easy to maintain a car". So this is also a part to consider.

(3) Manufacturer R & D and manufacturing strength:

Many manufacturers have launched PC server products, some of which are also very cheap, but users should really consider how powerful the manufacturers are. Generally speaking, international brands are often more powerful and have richer R & D experience. It is important that the manufacturer itself has an experienced R & D team. However, in recent years, due to fierce competition, the price of PC servers has dropped a lot. Therefore, almost all foreign-branded PC servers are manufactured by other manufacturers. Therefore, when considering servers of these brands, we should rule out superstition of brand The strength of its foundry and its research and development capabilities, to consider the purchase standards, after all, we really buy the products of the foundry, just the brand.

(4) Ability to solve problems:

Although many foreign businessmen are not bad in R & D technology, often because R & D departments are mostly overseas, when customers have problems, they need to respond from the local sales base to the foreign headquarters. As a result, the speed of feedback must be affected, and R & D by domestic manufacturers Institutional levels are relatively less complex and can be prioritized.

Looking at the above points, when buying a good PC server, the most important thing is to meet your needs, as well as the stability and after-sales service guarantee. Of course, the most effective way is undoubtedly to build a simulated environment and test it in the field Operation is the safest way. Consumers should also take a more sane position and evaluate according to various points. Do not just blindly superstitize the brand, and purchase a server that is very expensive but not much higher in quality than the average brand. ^[6]

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