Meadowlark: Sheffield based computer consultancy

Server supply and configuration

As an organisation increases in size beyond a few computers,it needs to think about servers and the useful role they might fulfil.

A computer stores information, but without network configuration and possibly some additional hardware that information cannot easily be shared.

A file server provides a central file storage area that all PCs connected to the network can access.

This provides a number of advantages

Common files/documents can be shared over the network. There is no need for all files to be copied to all PCs with the attendent risk of differing file versions on each.
Backups can be conducted on the common file-space of the server. This is simpler than backing up a number of PCs seperately
Multi-user database applications can be installed and used that use the common file space on the server.

Servers we use:

For very small networks we may use a Microsoft Workgroup. This is adequate for sharing files and devices over a small network.
For larger networks we generally use a Linux server. These are cost effective, reliable, and powerful.

What you can expect from computer hardware in the future?

1. Smaller faster, cheaper, lighter computers for the desktop. They will be no larger than a DVD drive. They will be silent, and run free software, and much of this will be web based. They will use solid state disks, and large quantities of cheap memory.

2. More powerful mobile phones will largely replace traditional PCs. The screens of mobiles will occupy as much of the phone as physicallly possible. "Soft buttons will have largely replaced mechanical buttons in top of the range phones.

3. Sophisticated screen display technology will be available that will allow us to use bigger computer monitors in smaller less likely workplaces.

4. Micro-factories: places of work no bigger than a loft extension, where budding entrepreneurs labour in their free time "printing" products with 3D printers and selling their wares by the internet.