The devices that store, process, and provide information to other devices or end-users are called servers. Typically, a server can process a large number of requests at once. However, it is significant to ensure that all the servers in an establishment are performing well when it comes to managing its IT infrastructure. And the process of observing the activity on servers, physical or virtual, is known as server monitoring. Since there is a wide range of servers, server monitoring is a task that takes into consideration all types of servers. For instance, web server monitoring gives information about the performance of web servers. Likewise, there are a number of servers such as mail servers, file servers, application servers and so on.
Hence, the server monitoring tool used and the technical handling required varies from one server type to another. So if you are thinking about hiring server monitoring companies for the job, pick the one that meets your requirements.
Importance of Server Monitoring
Servers are one of the vital parts of an IT infrastructure, and so it is crucial to monitor their performance, uptime, etc, to ensure the proper functioning of an organization. For example, if a web server goes down, you may end up losing your customers. Similarly, if an error occurs in a file server, your valuable business data may even get corrupted. Server monitoring also provides you with key metrics about the performance of a server, thus helping you manage your business effectively. Simply put, server monitoring involves assessing accessibility, measuring response time, and alerting when an error occurs. Above all, it is predictive as well. Therefore, it lets you know in advance if the storage capacity will reach capacity soon, the likelihood of a crash, and so on.
Common Server Monitoring Systems
On-premises Systems
As the name indicates, these monitoring systems involve software installed on your in-house hardware. It requires a large investment at first and a regular maintenance plan. Though on-premise software installations are time-consuming, they give you complete control and the ability to customize. A server infrastructure consultation can assist you in deciding whether an on-premises system or a less expensive cloud system is what you need.
Cloud Systems
Cloud monitoring systems do not require software installations on your physical infrastructure since it is done and managed through the web. As a result, software installations are quicker than on-premises systems. Still, you will be having lesser control over customization. Also, they are more flexible than on-premises monitoring systems.
Mobile Systems
This implementation of server monitoring is an option provided by both on-premises as well as cloud providers to access server monitoring data on the go. So they are not a primary server monitoring system, and as the name indicates, they can be run on a smartphone or a tablet. However, the functionalities may be limited, given that a mobile device is used instead of a traditional PC.
To conclude, servers are one of the important components of a business and with it comes the responsibility of monitoring and managing them. So when picking a server management company, make sure they are capable of providing 24x7 server management. And when selecting a server monitoring tool, go for the one that is reactive as well as proactive.
