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Building a server

I can build any type of servers from clone types. If requested we can custom built to your needs a brand name servers, HP, DELL, IBM, etc.

Installing a server

I can install servers with Windows or Linux as operating system.

  • Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 2012 R2, Windows 2016
  • Linux, CentOS, Debian, RedHat, Ubuntu (32bit and 64bit)

Doing maintenance and Updating a server

With time a server can get old and not hold to the initial installation performance. This can be due to the lack of maintenance or need to be updated. Also as time goes by software become more and more power and resource demanding.

Software based maintenance:

  • Update operating system.
  • Update services software.
  • Scan system for viruses, malawares.
  • Run verifications like hard drive defragmentation, file system integrity checks.

Hardware based maintenance:

  • Verify the possibility to change CPU.
  • Verify the possibility to add more memory.
  • Verify the possibility to replace hard drive with a bigger and faster one.

Adding security and protecting a server

One of the common problems seen by companies are security issues. Not just protecting servers from viruses but also protecting the information contained in the server itself.

Examples of security and protection I can offer depending on you needs:

  • Install an adequate anti-virus software.
  • Install and configure a firewall for your servers.
  • Install and write a process to backup servers and disaster recovery installation.
  • Install and write a process to backup data from the servers.
  • Verify and structure user permissions.

Install or Reinstall the Operating System

For any type of system, laptop or desktop. I can install or reinstall any of the following operating systems:

  • Windows XP – 7 – 8 – 8.1 – 10
  • Mac OSX 10.5 – 10.6 – 10.7 – 10.8 (Mountain Lion) – 10.9 (Mavericks) – 10.10 (Yosemite) – 10.11 (El Capitan) – 10.12 (Sierra)
  • Linux – Debian – CentOS – Ubuntu – Mint Linux

In case of reinstalling a system, all licenses required must be owned previously before installation and given to me. I do not install software unofficially and bypass licenses requirements. I do support and encourage using Open Source software and solutions and we’ll be happy to suggest a few depending on your needs.

If needed I can install 2 systems in dual boot so that your system can benefit the use of the different operating systems if required for your work and amusement.

Examples:

  • Laptop, dual boot Windows and Ubuntu.
  • Mac Pro, dual boot Mac OS X and Windows 8.1.

Add or Repair hardware

I can add or repair any type of hardware for laptops and desktop as long as parts are easily available.

Exemples:

  • Desktop/Laptop: add a second hard drive or replace the original one.
  • Desktop/Laptop: add or replace memory.
  • Desktop: replace power supply.
  • Desktop: replace graphic card for a better.
  • Laptop: replace broken keyboard with a new one.

Network installation (Wifi and Wired) for home and small business

Today it is important to have a good network for home and business. “A good network”, what does it mean?

A good network means that the peripherals are up to date, well configured for inside the building and well configured for outside the network. Above all well protected from the outside of the network. While having been optimized for maximum speeds for all systems connected.

They exist a lot of material, wifi routers, switches, access points from different makers Cisco, Linksys, D-Link, Asus.

 

Network configuration (Wifi and Wired)

A lot of things can be configured on wifi routers and wired routers. Here are examples of configurations:

  • Configure a DHCP or static based network.
  • Configure a firewall to protect the network and to be able to access from outside inside systems like personal servers or systems.
  • Configure a secured password protected wifi network.
  • Install and configure access points to maximize Wifi coverage.

Replace companies proprietary software by an open source solution

Yes you read the title right. They exist a community called dd-wrt that replaces the proprietary system of your router or switch with an open source dd-wrt solution. What does it do, you might think. Here’s a list of advantages that is offered with a dd-wrt flashed router.

  • More features offered in business level routing solutions.
  • Longer list of options possible, some vendors offer 10 firewall open ports, dd-wrt goes to the maximum capacity of the router.
  • Create amazing and cheap solutions for creating a complex Wifi coverage for you business.
  • You can create a simple but effective, guest network solutions.

Wordpress based simple website

I am not a website developer but it doesn’t mean we can’t built a website. For example you see this website right now, I installed it, configured it, updated it. I can do the same for you at a very fair price.

More and more websites are build with some platform or another. Why ? Cause it is updated by a large community, also more and more people develop tools and plugins that you can just install on your website.

They exist a simple solution to create a beautiful website:

WordPress + A theme for WordPress + all plugins for your needs = A beautiful result.

Custom web server installation

Some companies like to have there own website being kept inside there own company. Some may want to for various reasons but is it possible you might think. Well yes it is possible.

We can build a custom server specially built for a webserver. But some considerations are necessaries for such an installation.

  1. An adequate maintenance of the physical server and operating system.
  2. A good firewall to protect the server.
  3. A good backup process.
  4. A good internet provider.
  5. Last but not least a efficient power source and redundant power source in case of outage.

Hosting to new hosting migration

You are switching your website from a hosting service to another, but don’t know how to do it. I can help with that. I can help with the following tasks that might sound complicated but are really not.

  • Transfer website files.
  • Replicate all hosting configuration to the new one.
  • Transfer all databases.
  • Help out on transferring domain names from a hosting to another.

What are server services ?

When we say server services, we talk about a service given to users.

Examples of services:

  • Web service: to have a web server to host a web site.
  • File sharing service: to have a centralized server for hosting all business files.
  • Email service: to have your own personal email service.
  • File Cloud storage: a web based solution accessible from internet to host files.
  • Etc.

If you want to know more about different services I can build you for you see below.

A lot of the solutions are based on open source software because of there cost which is easily accessible for small or medium size companies. But I can also help on Windows based solutions.

Web Service

Web service is the ability to host web sites.

On a Windows Server we can use IIS (Internet Information Services).

With IIS, we can host websites built with ASP and .NET platform, Java.

 

On a Linux Server we can use the most popular Apache.

With Apache, we can host websites buitl with PHP, Java.

 

In both cases we can host HTML files no problem.

The choice must come down to what kind of web sites do you plan to have.

FTP Service

Sometimes a company needs to receive a large amount of information from another company, client etc. With today emails services it becomes difficult to send files bigger than 20Mb and the use of cloud storage like “google drive”, “dropbox”, etc.. important vital information cant be trusted. Sometimes the function of dropping files quickly and creating a link can be done and given access for public viewing and it can be dangerous.

A simple solution can exist which is a FTP service. Building a small server just to receive files are easily built and very easy to use. By having one, anyone you choose, you send an email with a given username and password of your choice with information on how to connect and they will be able to send any number of any size files.

On Windows Server we can use IIS (Internet Information Services). They exist other types that are OpenSource or Paid solutions, it all comes down on the type of solution needed.

On Linux Server, we can use ProFTPd, Filezilla Server, WSFTPd. Each type has advantages and disavantages, it all comes down on what are your needs and we make the choice in according of it.

Cloud Storage Service

Did you know that file storage solutions like “Google Drive”, “DropBox” and others can installed inside your own company on a server? Well yes it is possible.

A open source solution called “OwnCloud” give’s you the abality to built a server, connected to the internet be able to connect to it and drop files or retrieve them from anywhere around the world just by using the internet.

OwnCloud can be installed on both Windows Server and Linux Server but it is recommended to user this solution on a Linux based server.

Centralized File Sharing

In a company, a centralized file sharing server becomes more and more necessary. Why ? Let me explain, has it every happen, that an important document had to be written by 3-4 different people and everyone sends it over by email. No one remembers who edited last and you end up with 10 different version in the same folder.

Or has it ever happen that some project with more the 50 files are scattered over 4 peoples computer and is terribly difficult to assemble or re-assemble it.

Well a simple solution exist a centralized server for for file sharing. A file sharing server can have a structured folders architecture and user permissions system. Of course a adequate backup system.

This can be acheived on Windows and Linux server with a number of ways.

What is Virtualization ?

In computer technology, they exist solutions to virtualize operating systems. This refers as creating a virtual machine in a physical machine. This technologie gives the user the abality to have many operating systemes inside a physical one. Why would you do that ? Well you can create a virtual machine of a Linux operating system to try it out on your laptop or you can create 7 different virtual machines on your server to maximise it. Or on a Mac have a virtual machine Windows 7 to be able to use a software that only exist on Windows.

Virtualization on desktop or laptop

It is possible to have virtualization on a desktop or laptop.

It is possible to virtualize on Windows, Linux and Mac systemes. The possibilities are creating “Windows” and “Linux” virtual machines. At the present moment it is not possible to virtualize Mac OSX.

They exist a few software that can acheive this:

Virtual Box (Open source, all systems), Parallels Desktop (Paid, Mac), VMware (Paid, Windows and Mac), Virtual PC (Free, Windows).

They exist more solutions, but the above ones are the most common and easy to use.

 

Virtualization on server

In a lot of companies, the option of having one big physical server for hosting several different virtual servers for different use is more common than you think. But the concept of by doing so the investment in considered less than buying multiple physical server, is a misconception.

In reality, the use of having host virtual servers can help in the long run to save money instead of buying physical servers for each service, but the initial setup isn’t.

I’m have more than 7 years of experience in Vmware ESX and ESXi technologies raging from 4.1 to 5.5.

The initial setup is quite expensive but in the long run it could be help a lot.

Here is what to consider when you setup the first time a virtual enviromenent.

Simulation, lets say you have 20 servers to consolidate and want as much uptime as possible. 5 servers are considered critical and 15 non-critical (can be stopped for 1 to 3 days). A backup solution is necessary for the virtual machines.

  • You would need 3 medium size servers ( 2 CPU 8cores, 128Gb of RAM, 4 network ports)
  • 1 or 2 Disk array cage, lets say 2TB each.
  • A 1Gbs or 10Gbs router or switch for connections.
  • In this scenario 3 vmware licences of ESXi and one for vCenter.

In this simulation, were talking about an investement of 100 000$. It give the abality to host 64 virtual machines depending of the needs.

So lets say you have the initial setup done, and only 20 VM (Virtual Machine) running, how much does it cost to add one more VM, knowing that the limit is 64, well nothing. So in time when a new server is needed and it can be virtualized the virtual infrastructure is already setup. Thats were in the long run it can be profitable.

Of course it all depends on the companies needs.

They exist a few major players in this field, here are the ones I have more experience:

VMware ESXi (I have a wide range of experience)

KVM (Support mostly Linux systems)

Microsoft Hyper-V Server

Xen (intermediate experience)

What are templates ?

A template is a file that can be used to write a document with a predefined layers and texts. Lets say a thank you letter, which all is written and you just need to write the persons name and address.

A template can also be an Excel file from microsoft, where everything is already programmed and coded, all is needed is input the information with easily clickable items and menus.

Sometimes a prewritten template file for Microsoft Office can help save a lot of time.

Examples

In the past I have done many templates for different companies, here are examples:

  • Excel template, book keeping of small building unions.
  • Word template with small database, for letters to inform people about new product or thank you letters.
  • Custom Excel files, for business quotes and invoices with coded buttons to ease the creations of PDF files.

I can manage documents based on Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac. If you require OpenOffice based templates it can be discussed if it is doable, based on the fact that I’m still learning how to do it.