Refurbished ProLiant Top Sellers: Key Points

                In the world of servers, HP’s ProLiant line has earned a spot as one of the world’s top selling server series. HP grew from a one garage operation into the world’s leader in computer hardware sales, reflecting a commitment to unparalleled quality at a great price. These foundational values are exemplified in the ProLiant line. If you are currently considering a ProLiant server to add to your existing array, or even if you are considering starting out with your first server, you may be concerned with the high overhead cost of server ownership. Though ProLiant servers have a quality which justifies the investment, many people are wary of apportioning so much of their IT budget into a single unit. As a cost effective alternative, many people opt instead to purchase refurbished ProLiant servers. Don’t know which ProLiant server is right for you? Here are three of the best-selling refurbished ProLiant servers on today’s market.

The HP ProLiant DL360

The DL360 (in this particular case, the seventh generation) is an excellent server for mid-range server arrays. The DL360 is a one unit rack server which makes it ideal for integration into existing server arrays, or a good first step into building a server array. The DL360 is one of the most successful ProLiant servers to date, offering a highly powerful configuration. The DL360 supports up to two quad or hexa core Intel Xeon processors, ensuring a great deal of processing power for mission critical applications. Memory configurations allow for a full expansion of up to 384 gigabytes, allowing for a great deal of multitasking. Up to eight host swappable hard drives mean you can perform drive maintenance with virtually no downtime, along with the ultra high capacity of up to four terabytes of data.

The HP ProLiant ML150

The ML150 is an entry level tower server, perfect for small businesses or even home offices. Tower servers have the added advantage of a large upgrade/expansion potential. The ProLiant ML150 supports a single Intel Xeon processor and ECC registered memory. The hard drive support includes both SAS or SATA, up to eight internal drives, which guarantees a massive storage potential. Easily managed and including some great ProLiant utilities, the ML150 is a solid choice for minimal servers.

The HP ProLiant DL380

The DL380 is much like the DL360’s “older brother,” offering increases across the board in performance and power. This unit is a 2U rackmounting server which, like the DL360, supports quad or hexacore Intel Xeon processors, though the DL380’s processors have a slight increase in clock speed. Eight SAS or SATA drive support with a 12 megabyte level 3 cache ensures fast performance in data reads and writes, allowing for up to eighteen terabytes of data. While these three refurbished ProLiant servers are among the best on today’s market, there are a variety of possible solutions and configurations. Consider your demands and, if possible, customize your refurbished server with respect to your needs.

Server Scares You’d Rather Not Think About

            I’ll preface this article by saying that I’m not talking about some sort of Skynet/Terminator near future, but I’ll also say that computers are such a staple of our day to day lives that we sometimes forget a simple malfunction can have dire and far-reaching effects. For most people, all they need to worry about is whether or not their desktop model will boot up or how long their server will continue to function with only one processor installed. If you’re currently worried about the small bugs and ticks with your computer system, I’d like to provide you a little bit of perspective. No, I won’t feed you a line about meditation or the wonders of a nature walk in calming the nerves. The perspective I offer is one of the worst case scenario. Here are three server crashes which will make your computer problems take on a slightly lighter hue.

The Blackout

It’s August 14^th, 2003, and you roll out of bed in your Ohio home and groggily walk into the kitchen to grab some coffee. You grab the pot and groggily turn it over your favorite mug, but aren’t greeted by a delicious aroma nor splashing sound. There’s no coffee. Your eyes crack open a little bit wider in annoyance, and you notice that the automatic coffee maker doesn’t have power. Neither does the stove or microwave. Nothing.

What’s the deal? Well, it turns out that back in 2003 there was one particularly nasty server glitch which caused power outages across eight states. That’s right, eight. How is this possible? Well, one little server which was responsible for power management processing experienced a glitch which allowed a backup of traffic, all of which crammed into the system and caused a server failure. Minutes later the backup server failed with the same problem. Talk about a bad day to be an IT professional in Ohio’s power management branch.

The Lockdown

Back in 2007, this delightful little server failure caused problems for tens of thousands of Windows users. As the result of an oversight, the Windows team uploaded a code into their servers which caused numerous users to receive a message that their copy of Windows was not an authentic version. Accusations of piracy aside, this was a blunder which could be traced back to a simple line of code uploaded into a server when it ought not to have been. Automatic backups could have allowed Windows to roll back instantly, but due to a glitch the servers sent out authentication messages for a full three days.

The Airbus Glitch

What happens when you host two different versions of the same software on a collaborative project? The Airbus project found out, paying nearly six billion dollars for a glitch which resulted from two design companies hosting different versions of CATIA (a design program).

 

You may be looking at your server with a suspicious eye right about now, but don’t worry! Most of the time server applications never go awry. In the three years I’ve owned my 579237-B21 server, I’ve never once cause power outages across multiple states, nor cots myself six billion dollars. So whether you’re having a problem with your drives or software, just remember: it’s not that bad.

4 Reasons to Upgrade Your Motherboard

                If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that the most limiting factor concerning any computer isn’t its peripherals, its hard drives, or even its processor: it is the motherboard. While having an awful processor will certainly put a lockdown on your personal computer or server, that is a problem which is easily diagnosed and fixed. Upgrades are easy enough, and when it comes to boosting performance, there are many things to be said about doubling your processor speed, expanding your RAM, or getting multiple storage drives. That being said, none of it is possible unless your motherboard allows for it. It’s the skeleton of your computer, and no matter how much muscle you try to stack on, there’s no use unless the skeleton is strong enough to support it. Since your motherboard can severely limit your computer’s/server’s prospects, you may want to consider your motherboard as a primary target for upgrades before you even touch the other components. Here are five reasons to upgrade your motherboard.

507686-001

Limited Ports. If you’re using a server with only a few USB ports, there’s going to be problems. Your server is a central hub of data communication and collaboration, which is why you need several ports available for peripheral attachments and speedy direct user interface. If your current server only has two or three USB ports, it’s time to consider a new motherboard.

Outdated Interfaces. If your server/computer is only supporting something ancient like USB 1.0, then it’s time to move onto a new motherboard. Get something that has USB 2.0 and 3.0 accessibility as well as Firewire. Also, having ancient and outdated PCI card slots can hinder your server’s performance. If you want your server/computer to have modern video capabilities, for example, then you would need to opt for a motherboard supporting HDMI connections and multiple video output options.

RAM Support. If your current motherboard only supports a few sticks of relatively low-capacity RAM kits, then it’s time to upgrade. How much RAM is enough depends on the nature of your work. For a personal computer, your motherboard should allow you to upgrade to at least twelve gigabytes of RAM. For a server, you should be able to expand up to thirty-two gigabytes of RAM. If your server’s motherboard is filled to capacity but still only has four gigabytes of RAM, you’ll want to look into a more modern motherboard.

Processor Support. If you’re running a server, you may want to consider a motherboard which supports multiple processors. Since a server is tasked with so many mission-critical applications, slow processing speeds are unacceptable. A motherboard which allows for more than one processor allows for greater speed and efficiency.

When I needed to upgrade my server, I started building from the foundation up, as necessary a step in the world of computers as in the world of construction. My 507686-001 motherboard allowed for the future component expansion I needed. Planning for your future needs is essential in choosing the right motherboard. Just remember, you’re planning the structure of your computer for years to come. Quality now is an investment in the future.

The Advantages of a Barcode Label Printer: Small Business Tips

If you’re a small business owner, chances are you built everything from the ground up yourself. You’ve had a share of each part of your business, wearing so many hats that your neck is sore. But still, there’s nothing better than seeing your business grow a little bit more each day. Business growth is great, of course, but as a business grows you will no doubt come to a point where the amount of work to do is more than a little overwhelming. When this happens, it’s time to make things a little bit easier for yourself.

The logistical operations involved in running a business are often one of the biggest headaches one can endure. How should I keep track of everything? How do I manage my inventory? How do I manage my sales? These are many of the daily questions implicit in providing products of any variety, whether you have a local storefront business or an online ecommerce website. Because this is such a large and aggravating part of the business, you should consider minimizing the effort involved in this aspect of your business.

The answer to many of these small business qualms lies in a barcode label printer. Barcode label printers are specifically designed for, you guessed it, the printing of barcode labels. How do you currently track your product information? Do you keep an old-fashioned paper record of your transactions? Do you punch numbers in on your computer manually? Maybe you’re a step further and print out labels on your desktop jet printer. While printing labels on your jet printer is a step in the right direction, nothing really compares with the ease of use and speed of a label printer.

Label printers work differently than jet printers. An inkjet printer actually sprays ink onto the paper, while a barcode label printer works thermally. The paper is heated by the barcode printer, and a photo-reactive element turns black. It works entirely without ink, which means no dry time, no smudging, and faster printing speeds. The benefits of a barcode label printer are immediately apparent. The logistics of business ownership are cleared up, you needn’t slow down to wait on labels, and you don’t need to buy ink for your labels anymore. So what’s the best choice for a small business?

Desktop Models

Barcode label printers come in two classes: desktop and industrial level. Obviously there are several divisions among both classes, with some models being very small (like an electric pencil sharpener) and others being quite large (think an office inkjet printer). Small businesses can normally meet all their needs with a desktop printer model. When considering a barcode label printer, look for print-speeds of four inches/second minimum along with a 203 DPI (dot per inch) minimum. Major manufacturers and popular choices include Zebra barcode printers, Datamax barcode printers, and Intermec barcode printers. In no time, you will be well on your way toward optimizing the logistics of your business, which means more time to keep running your business successfully.

ProLiant Key Features

ProLiant Key Features

                If you’re familiar with business class servers, chances are you’re also familiar with HP’s ProLiant line. ProLiants servers are among the best-selling IT solutions on the market today, holding multiple sales records across several continents. HP manufactures a wide variety of ProLiant servers, with tower offerings for small to mid-sized businesses and rack optimized servers for mid to large-scale businesses. The ProLiant series is well regarded for a high degree of functionality, manageability, and unparalleled performance. While HP’s server offerings are many and varied, they all share in common the ability to carry out and sustain the mission critical applications required of businesses and their IT sectors. The best selling server among the HP ProLiant line is currently the ProLiant DL380. This server is the bread-and-butter of any business’s IT sector, offering unparalleled performance and value.

3 Reasons the DL380 Sells

What is it that makes a server a best-seller? Remember, we’re not talking the best-seller in a small computer store, nor the best-seller at a major retailer. We’re talking best-selling server. Period. The DL380 has had a great run of things, and still serves as an effective cost-efficient staple in today’s computer technology market. But a server as successful as the DL380 didn’t get their on good looks alone (it’s sleek enough for a server!). Rather, the DL380 boasts an impressive array of specifications, all of which contribute to the top quality performance. However, here are the three main factors which contribute to the DL380’s commercial success.

Intel Xeon Processors. The DL380 supports Intel’s line of server-class Xeon processors. The DL380 supports not one, but two Xeon processors, either dual-core or quad-core models. The dual processor option is especially important when a server is tasked with mission-critical applications. Quad-core technology adds an extra layer of performance. Put that all together and you have a server which can multitask more, processes faster, and outperforms others in its class.

64 GB of Memory. While the DL380 boasts support for two Xeon processors, the best way to unlock the full potential of a DL380 following the two processors is the expansion of its RAM. As a frame of reference, most high-performance personal desktops contain in the area of twelve gigabytes of RAM. The DL380 is capable of running a full sixty-four gigabytes, meaning more virtual workspace for all of your projects and programs. No more slow-downs, no more waiting.

Rack Optimization. If you find something you like, why mess with the formula? The DL380 is such a commercial success because it is rack-optimized. That initial purchase is impressive enough that, as IT demands increase, multiple DL380s are purchased to meet the rising demand. While a single DL380 is a workhorse, rack-optimization allows for a full arsenal of raw processing power.

 

The 391835-B21 server is the leader of its class, and with good reason. IT professionals prefer the DL380 server for its great performance and affordability. The DL380 is a common installation in thousands of businesses worldwide. The utility of the server is such that it extends beyond a single industry or a single function. As its sales history has proved, the DL380 is a showstealer within the server market.