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Tips on selecting the right server for your medical office:

Servers

A server is the backbone for all your computers. If you are using software that operates under a client-server model, you will be required to purchase a server for your office if you don’t have one already that meets the vendors’ minimum requirements. Purchasing a server can be quite complicated and prices can range from $2000 to tens of thousands of dollars.

The first step in the selection of a server is to meet the vendor’s minimum requirements. You will also need to make other decisions such as database software, backup systems, storage, and operating system. Be sure to find out what database technology your software vendor uses; you may need to purchase that software if it is not included.

Selecting a server with a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) array will protect your data from the very real possibility of hard drive failure. A RAID supported server copies data onto more than one hard drive simultaneously providing immediate, accessible, backup protection for your data.

The two most common types of RAID arrays used in servers for small organizations are RAID 1 and RAID 5. Both provide hard drive redundancy; however a RAID 5 array is faster and recovery in the event of a hard drive failure is much easier. It is also more expensive than RAID 1. RAID should be a minimum requirement for your server as hard drive failure is common and RAID arrays are generally quite inexpensive, usually under $1000.

Operating System

Deciding which operating system you will need for your server can be challenging. If your vendor requires MS SQL Server and your organization has fewer than ten concurrent users, then a server with Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition® is usually your best bet.

If, however, you have more than ten concurrent users you will likely want to purchase Microsoft Server Standard Edition and MS SQL Server separately as Microsoft requires you to purchase CALs (Client Licenses) for each concurrent user.

Windows 2003 Small Business Server is more expensive if your office has a larger number of employees as each Client Access License (CAL) is more expensive than those of Windows 2003 Server.

Some systems operate under UNIX or Linux servers. If your software is one of those, then it is usually best to consult your vendor or local IT company as to which type of server you will need.