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Remote Server Management |
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December 6, 2010
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You have a bunch of servers that you manage while you’re in the office. You can usually just walk into the datacenter and work on them through a console or RDP to them from your workstation. But let’s be honest, servers don’t only have problems during the hours that you’re in the office. So you need to find a solution, or multiple solutions, to manage these servers remotely.
When you Google remote server management, there are a lot of results! Jeez! Everything from software like Go To Meeting, to iPhone or Droid apps pop up. How do you know which solutions will work for your environment? Well it really depends on what you’re looking for, and your requirements. I’m going to break down a few software solutions and platform solutions. I’m not going to go into specific phone apps as there are so many and most of them are pretty excellent, so I’ll let you discover those on your own.
1.) Remote Access Software (i.e. GoTo Meeting, Logmein, etc.)
This is a great solution. This is actually what our support team uses to help customers install and implement our software like the Simplify Suite, ScrewDrivers and soon PAT (Profile Acceleration Technology). However, there is a drawback to this software: you must have an active meeting session open in order to access the server you’re trying to work on, and someone on the other end has to hit the “show my screen” button. It is a great solution if the person on the other end doesn’t have the experience with server management, but otherwise it can be tricky to setup.
2.) RDP Sessions
The good ol’ mstsc.exe is still the dependable standby. It’s great for the majority of remote server management needs. It gives you the abilities to log in to the console, log in as a user to test, and gives you full access just as you would in a datacenter. The trick here is that the server has to be available and you must have network connectivity. A lot of companies rely on VPN for remote network access, so it may be difficult to determine whether or not you have a secure connection while working on your server.
3.) iPad/iPhone/Droid Apps
Now here is where it gets fun. The mobile device field has evolved by leaps and bounds in recent years. From running an RDP session from your iPad to certain server management apps on the iPhone and Droid platforms, remote management can be a snap. For the most part all you need is a 3G connection and these devices aren’t too difficult to setup with a VPN connection. Unless you have a tablet device like an iPad, it will be difficult to manage a server remotely since the screen size is so limited. Most of the phone apps that are available merely monitor the server, some allow the admin to reboot it remotely, and maybe even restart some services. If you’re looking for a quick update of your server farm, then the mobile way might be the way to go.
All in all I’m not going to tell you which solution is best, each has its benefits and its drawbacks. Most administrators will use a combination of all three in order to properly monitor their farm and respond accordingly. Leave some comments and let me know the kind of solution you use in your environment and why.
- Nick Nikitkin - triCerat Tech
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