1. 
Your newest server software is older than your car!
2. Nobody wants to work with your server because they are afraid of breaking it.
3. You have security holes that no amount of patching can fix.
4. You haven’t upgraded your hardware because your software is impossible or difficult to migrate to another machine.
5. Your server was set up when “Green IT” was still an agricultural term!
Nodding your head when reading this and thinking of your server(s)? If so, don’t risk data loss, security issues, and downtime with your “Dino-server” when it is about to become “extinct”. Consider taking the following steps:
1. Virtualize. First, check out offerings from multiple vendors and decide which solution is best for your business. If you have more than one server, the first benefit here is that you can consolidate and eliminate one or more of your “ancient” servers through virtualization. Secondly, virtualizing will help you prevent one application from impacting another application if/when you DO upgrade, make changes, patch, or replace the server (see step 2), etc.
2. If you have virtualized, are unable to successfully upgrade/patch your server, and/or simply decide that the server is ready for the boneyard, bite the bullet and replace the server completely. Your server is no different than your daily-use desktop or notebook; eventually, they wear out and need to be replaced. It’s not just about preventing hardware failure or keeping up with security standards, new hardware and software will be faster and more efficient, thus increasing office productivity. Remember that nobody complains about your network being “too fast”!
3. Don’t forget to re-purpose your old hardware and consider going Green!
4. Find a new IT guy or MSP (managed service provider) if they are too afraid, or unable to help you! If you can’t tackle this task on your own, don’t just let the issue return to the backburner!
Want to learn more about this topic and/or how The Launch Pad can help you with your aging server? Let us know!
So true! And people also forget about the power consumption of old servers versus new servers or even virtualized servers. In that scenario, the green your making isn’t just about saving the planet, it’s also about saving your dollars! It’s great when we get paid to do the right thing.