Server Fundamentals
AWS
Azure
Backups
Overview
Backups are copies of all of the data on a Server or system that are stored on a secondary device, like a Cloud service or physical device (both as a best practice). Backups are the first step of a DR (Disaster Recovery) and/or Business Continuity plan. Enable implements Enable Vault and Enable Business Continuity for this purpose.
tags: #servers #BusinessContinuity
BDR
Overview
BDR - (Backup AND Disaster Recovery) is often used synonymously with our Datto appliance that does backups every hour during business days and a few additional times, can act as an emergency server, and pushes Backups of fully functioning Servers to Datto Cloud that can be used to turn on the backed up servers in Datto's Cloud if we experience a total loss.
Business Continuity
Overview
Business Continuity is the system of equipment and practices that aim to reliably and continuously offer all services a client owns and operates. This could include everything from Backups, to redundancies, to power concerns such has having good UPS devices or even generators. Most of this plan is actually related to business practices, and not necessarily to the technology involved.
tags: #BusinessContinuity #servers
ChMS
CLI
Overview
Command Line Interface - when you run CMD (Command), PowerShell, Terminal, etc. or configure a Switch in the CLI you are using a text based program to gather information or make changes to a system.
tags: #networking #servers #services
Cloud
Overview
Really this is just some application or service that runs on someone else's Servers. M365 and Google Workspace are "cloud services" that give you productivity and collaboration tools. Azure is a cloud service that allows you to have Virtual Servers on Microsoft owned equipment (among other things). PCO (Planning Center Online) is a Church Management System that runs on servers PCO owns and operates. Hosting your website with something like Rackspace is technically cloud, even if you are paying for a "dedicated server" because you do not own or operate the physical equipment. The most typical models for delivery of Cloud services are SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS.
Co-Location
Overview
Co-Lo - Co-Location - Some vendors sell space in a managed facility where you could set up a Server with Network equipment that connects to your other location(s) to provide physical redundancy or overcome physical or power constraints at your main physical location. This isn't really the Cloud because you still operate the equipment.
CWA
Overview
ConnectWise Automate - A tool to remotely monitor and manage Servers and computers. It can also install software and security updates, among other things. This can be licensed to Co-Managed clients. This tool provides coverage for Endpoint Management and Security on the cybersecurity check list. This type of tool is referred to as an RMM - Remote Monitoring and Management.
CWSC
Overview
ConnectWise ScreenConnect - a program that allows us to remotely view and operate another computer or server. This is the program Enable uses as a Remote Access Tool. Previously known as ConnectWise Control (CWC). This can be licensed to clients.
tags: #services #servers #remote_access #Enable_Tools #Enable_Products
Database
Overview
A collection of information that can be used to create reports or share that information with other services. For instance, Church Management Systems contain data about users and other items and give that data to users in a web page to track activities and engagement. Typically these run on a Server or Cloud platform, like a SaaS solution.
Disaster Recovery
Overview
DR or Disaster Recovery is the system we use to recover from a disaster that causes loss of systems and/or data. This includes not just how to restore a backup, but also includes the business plans that detail how to get new hardware, where to put it, and how to operate if a building is destroyed. A great way to begin providing this is with a BDR appliance, like Datto.
Email Protocols
Enable Business Continuity
Overview
Enable Business Continuity is the "sales name" for the Datto BDR appliance. This is best for constantly changing data or mission critical On-Premises servers.
tags: #BusinessContinuity #servers #services #Enable_Tools #Enable_Products
Enable Vault
Overview
Enable Vault is a more traditional service for Backups that can help with Disaster Recovery. It takes a single backup once per day and puts in on a local device, and in the cloud. This is good for data that rarely changes and/or for services that are not mission critical. There is a NAS version of this tool.
tags: #BusinessContinuity #servers #services #Enable_Tools #Enable_Products
FTP
Overview
FTP (SFTP) - a way to connect to a remote Server or device to upload and download files. Common with website design so that creators can upload media files that the site uses. SFTP is the secure way. We must use extreme caution when allowing this type of connection over the Internet. A related service exists named SCP (or WinSCP) that is a bit safer due to its encryption mechanisms, but is not "built-in" to as many servers as FTP/SFTP.
Google Cloud Platform
Group Policy
Overview
A Group Policy Object (GPO) Is managed by Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on a Windows Server to deliver configuration policies and install programs on Windows computers. They still have their place, but have been largely replaced by other methods, especially where we have clients that do not have any servers on site.
Hard drive
Overview
The static storage for a computer, Server or NAS. SSD, NVMe, M.2, Solid State, or "Spinning Disk," are words to describe types of drives. Measured in TB or GB. 256 GB SSD is very common for standard workstations. Associated with this are "removable drives" that can be either a hard drive or disk drive (CD/DVD, etc.) that connects via USB, or some other connector, or a Flash Drive, sometimes called a Thumb Drive, for temporarily connecting files to a computer.
tags: #servers #Components
Hypervisor
Overview
A big Server that houses lots of smaller servers through an application/software layer (virtualization). Hyper-V and VMWare are the two systems used most. The benefits of using this include: less hardware costs compared to a physical server for every function need, easier and cheaper Windows licensing, more flexibility with Backups, and less overall power consumption and HVAC costs.
tags: #servers #services #virtualization
IaaS
Overview
Infrastructure as a Service, you treat a "rented" section of someone else's hardware as your own. You can install your own Servers and other items, but do not maintain the underlying hardware. This is most often used to host Virtual Machines in The Cloud. This is a type of provided service purchased from your Cloud provider.
Identity Provider
Overview
AD/Active Directory and Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) are Microsoft/Windows based IdP (Identity Provider) Directories that provide a database of users and permissions and lives on a Windows Server, or in Azure (the Microsoft Cloud version of this that works with Microsoft 365). AD and other IdPs catalogue users, passwords, and what permissions users have once connected. This works on a "Domain" level. Your domain is the part of your email after the @. Everyone on the same domain uses a common Directory to log in. IDM (Identity Management) is the overarching term for managing these identities and satisfies the "User Management" section of they Cybersecurity Checklist.
LDAP
MDF and IDF
MFA
Overview
Multi-factor authentication provides a more secure way of logging in that requires another piece of information beyond your password to make it much harder to have your account compromised. This works in conjunction with your IdP to secure access to your services and information. Most Enable clients are on M365 and should use Microsoft Authenticator as their primary MFA method. SMS (test message) and Email should not be used as MFA methods.
NAS
Overview
Network Attached Storage. A purpose-built Server device that is used for storage of files that are not on a Windows server or a cloud service like Microsoft Teams. Great for large media files that need to be stored onsite instead of in the Cloud. Synology and QNAP are two of the most common brands of NAS. A similar type of equipment is called a SAN (Storage Area Network). SANs are more expensive, but better performing devices that are primarily used for servers.
tags: #servers #Components #hardware
On-Premises
Overview
On-Prem (On-Premises)- The opposite of the Cloud. You host your own Servers or services on equipment located at your physical location. A Co-Location is similar in that you own all of the gear.
tags: #servers #networking #BasicTerms
OS
Overview
OS - Operating System. The base level program running on a computer that lets you use your mouse and keyboard to do other things, like run a program, act as a Server, or browse the Internet. Windows 11, Windows Server 2022, macOS, Android, iOS for iPhones, all of these are Operating Systems.
PaaS
Overview
Platform as a service - One example: Microsoft can provide a fully working database. You don't maintain the server, the database software, or the hardware, just the data and how you interact with it. Used to host virtual Database Servers and other things. This is a type of provided service purchased from your Cloud provider.
Phone System
Overview
Often, this term is used synonymously with a PBX, the server that runs a phone system, like Switchvox (Digium), Teams Phones, Avaya, etc. Enable only directly supports Digium (Switchvox/Sangoma) and Teams Voice. We will work with vendors to ensure the client is getting what they need if they use another system, but rarely "push the buttons" on those systems. These are examples of VOIP phone systems.
tags: #phones #servers #services #BasicTerms #Enable_Products
RAID
Overview
A group of storage Hard drives in a Server (or computer or NAS) that act like one bigger drive and/or provide a redundant copy of data in case a drive fails. Some configurations can also increase overall performance.
tags: #servers #Components
RDP
Overview
Remote Desktop Protocol - The ability to connect from one computer to different Windows Server or computer using Microsoft software. This is built-in for Windows computers that live on the same network, but requires special server setup and licenses to make it available over the Internet. This type of connection can be made fairly safe, but is not as safe as other remote control options, like ConnectWise ScreenConnect.
tags: #servers #services #remote_access
Remote Access Tool
Overview
A type of software that allows you to connect to a device on your campus Network from any other location. Virtual Private Networks will typically allow you fuller access to the entire network, whereas one of these remote access tools are more typically direct access to a single resource. Enable uses ConnectWise Screen Connect (CWSC) for this. Team Viewer, Jump Cloud, Parsec, and many other tools exist for this purpose. CWSC is typically safer due to the granular permissions and controls we can set and the limited access this provides to the connecting device. Remote Desktop is a Windows Server version of this that can be made secure, but by default is not the safest option to offer over the Internet.
SaaS
Overview
Software as a Service - Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and PCO are examples. You get a service that is hosted on someone else's Servers. All hardware and upkeep for the platform are handled by the vendor, but you control your own data. This is a type of provided service purchased from your Cloud provider.
Server
Overview
A system (either physical or virtual (VM]) running a server based Operating System that computers or applications connect to in order to perform a task or access information and files. Enable directly supports Microsoft Windows based servers.
SMB
SSO
Overview
Single Sign On - the ability to use a single username and password to connect to multiple services. For instance, you can setup many ChMS or financial applications to work with your Microsoft 365 username and password so that your employees use this one user and password combination for multiple services. This is both more user friendly and much safer because we can use MFA and other policies to make this user interaction much harder to hack.
Virtual Server
Overview
A virtual machine (VM) runs on a Virtual Host to provide a workstation or Server without needing separate hardware. We must pay attention to licensing requirements for all VMs we configure on a virtual host.
tags: #servers #virtualization #services