Server Support and Maintenance in Reno, NV
Server support keeps the file, application and domain servers your business depends on updated, monitored and backed up. Computer Services Reno maintains servers for companies in Reno, Sparks and Carson City, checks storage and hardware health, plans replacements before support ends, and installs new servers by weekend appointment. Our team is local and in-house.
What is included in server maintenance?
A small business server rarely fails without warning. The warnings just tend to sit in a log nobody reads. Server maintenance is the routine that reads them and acts before staff notice anything.
Operating system updates
Windows Server security updates tested and applied on a schedule, with a backup beforehand and a reboot outside working hours.
24/7 monitoring
Alerts for low disk space, stopped services, failed backups, high CPU or memory use, and a server that drops offline.
Storage and RAID health
Checks on drive health and the RAID controller, so a degraded array gets a replacement drive while the rest still work.
Backup checks
Confirmation that server backups finished and can be restored, tied into backup and disaster recovery.
Firmware and drivers
BIOS, RAID controller and network card updates from the hardware maker, applied when they fix a known problem.
Access and permissions
Folder permissions, Active Directory accounts and group membership kept current as staff join, change roles or leave.
Capacity and performance
Trends in disk, memory and processor use, so you can plan an upgrade before the server slows everyone down.
Documentation
What the server runs, how it is configured, its warranty dates and how to restore it, written down where your business can find it.
Is RAID the same as a backup?
No. RAID spreads data across several drives so the server keeps running if one drive fails. It does nothing about a deleted folder, a corrupted database or ransomware, because every change is written to all the drives at once.
RAID also only helps if someone notices the first failure. A server with one dead drive in a mirror looks normal to staff. Monitoring the controller and replacing that drive promptly is one of the most useful things server maintenance does.
Which business systems run on a server?
In a typical Reno office, one physical server or a small host running virtual machines handles some of these:
- Active Directory sign-in and group policies for office computers
- Shared folders and mapped drives
- Practice management, accounting, ERP or estimating software databases
- Print servers and scan-to-folder destinations
- Remote desktop access for staff working away from the office
When should a server be replaced?
Two dates drive most replacement decisions: when the hardware warranty ends and when Microsoft stops supporting the operating system.
Hardware warranty. Servers ship with a fixed-term manufacturer warranty that can often be extended. Once it lapses, a failed controller or power supply can mean waiting on parts. Good maintenance tracks warranty dates and flags them well ahead of time, so you can extend coverage or budget for a replacement.
Operating system support. Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 reached the end of extended support on October 10, 2023, and no longer receive security updates.1 Windows Server 2016 extended support ends on January 12, 2027.2 If your business still runs 2016, now is the time to plan the move. For any other version, we check Microsoft's lifecycle pages for your exact edition.
Replacement is also the moment to ask whether you need a server at all, which is a question our IT consulting work often starts with.
How can you tell if your server maintenance has gaps?
If you cannot answer yes to most of these, the server is probably being looked at only when something breaks.
- Security updates were installed within the last month, and someone checked the server came back up.
- Someone receives an alert when a drive fails, a backup fails or the disk is nearly full.
- A file or folder has been test-restored from backup recently.
- You know the server's warranty end date and its operating system's end-of-support date.
- Former employees' accounts have been disabled.
- There is written documentation of what the server runs and how to rebuild it.
Do small businesses still need an on-site server?
Some do, some do not. The answer depends on what the server runs and how your staff work. Here is how the options compare.
| Factor | On-premises server | Cloud (Microsoft 365 or hosted servers) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost pattern | Larger purchase every few years, plus maintenance | Ongoing monthly subscription |
| Works when the internet is down | Yes, inside the office | No |
| Large files (CAD, imaging, video) | Fast on the local network | Depends on internet speed |
| Software that requires a local server | Supported | Only if the vendor offers a cloud or hosted version |
| Access from home or a job site | Needs a VPN or remote desktop | Built in |
| Hardware failures and replacement | Your responsibility | Handled by the provider |
| Backups | You arrange them | Still needed for your data |
Shared files and email usually move well to Microsoft 365 support. Line-of-business software and large design files often stay on a local server, at least for now.
How is a new server installed without disrupting staff?
Server installation and replacement can be scheduled for a weekend, by appointment, so your team leaves on Friday and comes back to a working system on Monday.
Plan and size
List what the old server does, size the new hardware or virtual machines, and confirm your software vendors support the new version.
Build ahead of time
The new server is set up, updated and configured before the cutover, so the weekend is spent moving data, not installing Windows.
Weekend cutover
Data, shares, permissions and applications move across, and office computers are pointed at the new server.
Check and retire
Confirm sign-in, printing and key software work, keep the old server available briefly as a fallback, then wipe it for disposal.
Server support is part of our managed IT services for one flat monthly price, with no contract or minimum. Not sure what shape your server is in? A free on-site IT assessment includes a look at it.
Server support FAQ
See where your IT stands, at your office.
Book a free on-site IT assessment. A local technician comes to you, looks at your setup, and gives you a plain-English list of what to fix first. No cost, no contract.