How long do these dedicated servers last?
Is there a replacement plan? What if the machine needs to be replaced, does the company do this automatically?

What happens to the data if you don't have the optional backup done?

Thanks

Well, it depends on a number of factors, server processor, HD, Vendor, how you use it, and the average load.

For the most part, most hosts will offer you replacement(I think). I believe Dell computers have a warranty and whatnot. So the host can afford to give you another box.

Originally posted by mantra
How long do these dedicated servers last?
Is there a replacement plan? What if the machine needs to be replaced, does the company do this automatically?

What happens to the data if you don't have the optional backup done?

Thanks

Dedicated servers last a good number of years, if put in the proper environment and if it has the proper cooling. Oh, and server load is also a factor. I have an old P3 733 that's been online since 1999... the only thing I had to replace was the harddrive since it failed only once in 2001. I don't use it for anything, that's probably why it lasted so long.

If your server dies, your data could still be there if the only thing that failed is the CPU, but if the HD failed, then you're basically screwed. But I think you can do data recovery on harddrives.

Yes, most hosting companies do offer hardware replacement. But if you're local to the datacenter, you can easily replace the hardware yourself. If you have a dell server, they offer warranties for your server.

Good hardware and proper cooling you can get multiple years out of them easy. We have supermicro systems that have been online w/o any problems for 3 years.

I would make a habit out of recycling your equipment after 24-months.

Greetings:

Three to five years with good maintenance is typical.

Tape drives fail the most.
Hard drives are next in line.
Then power supplies.

Thank you.

so what happens when let's say a hard drive fails and you cannot recover the client's data?

That's where backup kicks in.

Originally posted by mantra
so what happens when let's say a hard drive fails and you cannot recover the client's data?

Originally posted by mantra
so what happens when let's say a hard drive fails and you cannot recover the client's data?

that is the time you go out of the market.

this is why backup is must and you need off site backups as well.

some times a DC will take your server totaly off due to one site on the server, so with out an off site backup you will go out of the market fast.

you need a daily & weekly backup on a second hard drive and a weekly backup on an off site server.

with good record of your clients/ resellers so any thing goes wrong you will be able to get every thing back in 24 hours.

Greetings:

"so what happens when let's say a hard drive fails and you cannot recover the client's data?"

That is why it is important to know the following:

1. Hardware repair and replacement SLA.

2. If you are renting a dedicated server, will the provider honor #1 (presuming it exists) when the machine goes out of warranty.

We had a case with Data Return where they would not honor the hardware repair and replacement SLA when the server went out of warranty.

Please note they don't give you the warranty start and end date when you rent the servers.

3. Backup policy; and who is responsible for backup.

Thank you.

I still have a 133MHz as a download server pushing anywhere from 20-40Mb sustained. Just have been very lazy that I never upgraded it, plus has never crashed once since 1999 (FreeBSD and our best tech :D)

Servers do last a long time as long as you have quality hardware in it, but even with quality hardware you can still have issues. I think its mainly a hit or miss issue with hardware, no matter what the brand is.

133MHz? Damn, I wonder if we could put it up for auction as an antique :P

I have P1 100mhz one, 32 edo ram :p 2 gig hd. Used it as a Rh9 test box. Worked great, and still is.

Just put 5 ethernet cards in it to use it as a test for my programmer, he's working on programming a advanced load balancer before we put it into full production on one of my Xeons.

Originally posted by UltraUnixNET
133MHz? Damn, I wonder if we could put it up for auction as an antique :P

Yeah tell me about it, it even still has the cover and everything :)

But I am sure there are people are there with even older ones laying around

well, any 1 wanna try to install linux on my old Desktop?

20mhz AFTER turbo button is pressed, 120 meg HD, 1 meg ram (could be less)


Ran Win3.1 nicely. I remember back in the day when i got it, i used to go online using ANCIENT Ao-Hell (shudders)