tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post4480683556796951159..comments2024-03-27T21:40:39.130-07:00Comments on Small Biz Thoughts by Karl W. Palachuk: Review: HP MicroServer Gen8Karl W. Palachukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10854725002875547297noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-54959652822697441242016-11-10T07:14:25.281-08:002016-11-10T07:14:25.281-08:00I've never had this situation. But here are my...I've never had this situation. But here are my thoughts.<br /><br />Option One: Get your stuff off my machine so I can take it out of there.<br /><br />Option Two: Come up with a price that makes sense. This should be some factor of the cost of the machine minus usage.<br /><br />Option Three: My private calculation is to set a "value" for the machine when new, then give a credit of 2% for each month it was in use for managed services. For example.<br /><br />Machine cost me $1,000. Retail value $1,250.<br />In use for 20 months, so give credit of $1,250 x 2% x 20 = $500 credit.<br /><br />Buy out for the machine is $1,250 - $500 = $750.<br /><br />Note: in this scenario, a machine would be more than four years old before the buyout is zero.<br /><br />Just my opinion. <br />(That's the formula I used for HaaS buyouts, which I have had.)Karl W. Palachukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854725002875547297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-32455074931946918142016-11-09T15:23:38.306-08:002016-11-09T15:23:38.306-08:00With the MicroServer in place at a client's lo...With the MicroServer in place at a client's location, how do you handle transitioning the server to the client IF they discontinue MSA services with your company? I really like your idea here, but before I implement it myself, I would like recommendations on how this has been handled by other MSPs. Coach Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05198813293043820771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-21393464399360387252016-09-15T05:51:23.041-07:002016-09-15T05:51:23.041-07:00Thomas, I haven't had any issues with power su...Thomas, I haven't had any issues with power supplies or any other hardware on the Microservers, except one noisy fan on a very old machine.<br /><br />Again, with our cloud service offering, the physical server is never so critical that downtime affects the client's business. When a server is business critical, we have 4-hour warranties or use hardware with redundant power supplies (etc.).<br /><br />Everyone has to sell the solution you're comfortable with!Karl W. Palachukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854725002875547297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-55616847457972394742016-09-15T05:44:57.128-07:002016-09-15T05:44:57.128-07:00I use OEM. I use OEM. Karl W. Palachukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854725002875547297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-79073698536077045392016-09-14T12:29:36.028-07:002016-09-14T12:29:36.028-07:00I was using the first and second gen microsevers a...I was using the first and second gen microsevers at client sites until I had a power supply fail at one site. Since you cant go to 'Fry's' or pick one up at the local store, I had to take a full size power supply and mount it to the top of the HP server and wire it in to get the client going. There is something to be said for using standard size cases, power supplies, motherboards etc...Currently I am using Dell optiplex 9020 minitower models as this matches what I typically install for desktop use. I can grab a power supply or memory card or even motherboard (if needed) to get the client going. This is not the end all solution but just items to consider.Thomas Lemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15549983438297214587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-40105064475528354352016-08-29T18:38:01.977-07:002016-08-29T18:38:01.977-07:00How do you license the server? Do you use SPLA or ...How do you license the server? Do you use SPLA or perpetual / OEM / Volume?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17984218349313121164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-58336532998813172452016-08-29T16:37:47.597-07:002016-08-29T16:37:47.597-07:00I originally used Jungle Disk because it provided ...I originally used Jungle Disk because it provided a mapped drive to AWS. Then we had a choice between AWS and Rackspace. Then Jungle Disk started providing their own storage.<br /><br />When you install the JD widget, you can create backups of various machines. All machines that use the same credentials to run the widget will have access to the same backup space. If you may lettered drives, all of those devices will have access to the same files-and-folders drive space as well. That's what we use for primary storage.Karl W. Palachukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854725002875547297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-2965046366288594432016-08-29T14:06:06.801-07:002016-08-29T14:06:06.801-07:00Karl, I would like to know more about Jungle Disk ...Karl, I would like to know more about Jungle Disk and how you use it? You did mention that it is the primary file storage for you clients but when I check on their website they are selling backup storage and not primary file storage. It sounds interesting. Thanks, ScottAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04570835747059314672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-79348212805066542082016-08-29T07:25:20.828-07:002016-08-29T07:25:20.828-07:00These days it's rare to find one with an O.S. ...These days it's rare to find one with an O.S. because there is no "obvious" choice that would sell enough units. Although for me the obvious choice is Essentials or Foundation. And since Foundation will go away, that leaves Essentials.Karl W. Palachukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854725002875547297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-41317268034025587252016-08-29T04:37:18.073-07:002016-08-29T04:37:18.073-07:00Thanks Karl. I didn't see one that comes with ...Thanks Karl. I didn't see one that comes with an OS, but it could be added separately easily enough. Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04789528206912774871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-84305602497353573322016-08-26T17:48:21.850-07:002016-08-26T17:48:21.850-07:00Pure coincidence. :-)
I order the HP Smart Buys, ...Pure coincidence. :-)<br /><br />I order the HP Smart Buys, so they're preconfigured for a special price and you don't need to be an HP certified reseller. I add the extra memory, etc. as needed. This is a total no-tools box. Although they include a phillips/torx tool that can be used for stuff like replacing the power supply. Karl W. Palachukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854725002875547297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-69942603210670791482016-08-26T17:43:07.927-07:002016-08-26T17:43:07.927-07:00We use Intermedia (and in the past Rackspace) for ...We use Intermedia (and in the past Rackspace) for hosted Exchange mailboxes. If you want to back these up as PSTs or by some other method you can. So far we have felt comfortable just using the spam filter's archive option as our backup, knowing that Intermedia backs up their servers. So far, zero problems, downtime, or lost emails in 8+ years. I haven't used AppRiver, but I understand they are also excellent.Karl W. Palachukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854725002875547297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-35911085166779519612016-08-26T13:03:55.806-07:002016-08-26T13:03:55.806-07:00Thank you. Yes, it helps. It sounds like the backu...Thank you. Yes, it helps. It sounds like the backups you are performing are just files. If they have other cloud data like Exchange, SharePoint, etc. those will not be backed up to the server onsite.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11743747548400734748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-75811912864487649932016-08-26T11:51:18.075-07:002016-08-26T11:51:18.075-07:00Karl P. I don't know if it's coincidence o...Karl P. I don't know if it's coincidence or what, I emailed you about this just yesterday. So thanks for this - just what the Doctor ordered! Your distributors allow you to configure addt'l RAM, DVD drive, OS, etc.? Everywhere I've looked, these are stock boxes w/no option to OEM the OS or other upgrades. Appreciate your insight and opinions on this stuff. Thanks!!!Brian B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-27819070451378070352016-08-26T11:38:02.813-07:002016-08-26T11:38:02.813-07:00Great question, Brian.
This is a little different...Great question, Brian.<br /><br />This is a little different for different clients, but our preference is that their primary data store is in the cloud. For example, my companies have 99.9% of our data in cloud storage at Jungle Disk. Some clients are on Rackspace. Some are on Azure. We have used AWS. Nothing against them, but we just currently don't have anyone on that now.<br /><br />The "reverse backup" simply consists of bringing a copy of that data down to the physical server every night. After the initial synch, this is a small amount of data each day (just what's new or changed). We bring it down to an area on the server that the client never sees or accesses. <br /><br />It's sort of the ultimate backup. Even if the cloud storage has super redundancy, our ultimate backup is onsite. <br /><br />Ideally, it is on a separate drive or mirror set. So we can unplug that drive at the end of the year and put it on a shelf. It's a permanent snapshot in time for legal and financial purposes. And we then rotate in a newer drive and re-mirror.<br /><br />If the cloud drive is via a reliable mapped drive letter (e.g., Jungle Disk), then we can just use something like RoboCopy to bring this data down.<br /><br />Hope that helps!Karl W. Palachukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854725002875547297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22311364.post-41301153458531603642016-08-26T11:23:27.006-07:002016-08-26T11:23:27.006-07:00Karl, you mentioned that you use the onsite server...Karl, you mentioned that you use the onsite server to backup the cloud services in your 5 pack. Can or will you elaborate on how you do that? Thanks.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11743747548400734748noreply@blogger.com