Server installation and configuration guide  "So you are ready for a server, what is next"? (Were you looking for more information about Qual-IT servers? Click here >>) A server installation is a complex job and usually takes a minimum of two days upwards depending on the number of users involved. The server itself needs to be assembled to your spec, prepared for you and the Windows Server software loaded and configured for your infrastructure before we go onsite. In addition to this, certain things have to be done with your broadband provider and also your domain host (or e-mail provider). We have to make sure you are running on a static IP address and also change your mail exchange records to stop using your POP account service and route all mail straight to your new server. This way it is extremely fast sending and receiving e-mail and your Qual-IT spam assassin system will operate extremely efficiently. Do not worry about all of this, we will be here to help you all the way through this complex process so that the whole installation is seamless and headache free, starting with this prerequisite guide here. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us on 0845 867 3851.

Step 1 : Before we will arrive onsite

The hardware:

The equipment we supply (that we will have quoted for) must be paid for in advance. Clients who have credit agreements still need to pay in advance for hardware before we will ship and can pay for labour on their usual terms. We need 48 hours (2 working days) to source the equipment after you agree the quotation or estimate.

Your PCs and laptops:

Must be either Windows XP professional or Windows Vista business. We recommend Windows XP professional at this time. If you do not have these systems on all of your equipment you must let us know and we will then arrange a quotation for the upgrade of any computers that require it.

We can connect Apple Mac computers albeit with limited functionality. To use the e-mail system on your apple mac you will need the latest version of Microsoft Office for the Mac which includes Entourage, the Mac version of Outlook. You can buy Entourage on its own if you do not require Word and Excel. Access to shared files and printers with a Mac is also possible.

Microsoft Office:

New PCs do not come with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook) and our engineers are not able to give you this software free of charge, nor can we load this software onto any existing computer unless you have the original retail disk and product key (25 digit number).

You will need to ensure all computers have a legal copy of Microsoft Office XP (2002) or better and that you have the disk and product key as this may be required onsite when we reconfigure the computers.

Because of new activation technology it is no longer possible to install one Microsoft Office disk on multiple computers.

We recommend the latest Office 2007 package for use with your new server, if you require Microsoft Office please contact us and we can provide an extremely competitive quotation.

Please call 0845 867 3851 for pricing on software upgrades for your existing equipment.

Your broadband service:

You must have ordered and have available to us a static IP address for your broadband connection before we will arrive onsite. With BT broadband services you can do this via your account online, or by telephone.

You need a static IP address to maintain reliability of your server system as dynamic addresses change regularly, therefore external services such as VPN and remote access become unreliable and so does our job supporting your system remotely.

Also you need to ensure you have the fastest broadband connection available a minimum of 8 Meg download and 450k upload is essential. We have given you some idea here of how it is working remotely at different speeds. Inside your office the broadband speed is of less importantance.

Step 2 : The installation

Equipment shipping and install time:

Our engineers will often arrive onsite along with the equipment at the arranged install date after the prerequisite steps in step 1 above have been completed. 5 user installations are typically 2 to 3 days, 10 users 3 to 4 and so on, but this does however all depend on how much data we have to transfer onto the new server system from your PCs. Installation times are extended further depending on how much software you use and if you have Blackberry phones or other devices to connect to your new server.

Additional time onsite may be required for the configuration or sharing of special programs you use including accounts and database packages, and how you want the e-mail system, shared calendars and contacts to operate.

WARNING: If you access your work email outside of the office, i.e. at home on a laptop or desktop computer or on a portable device such as a mobile phone or Blackberry we need to be told as these devices will need to be setup for use with the new server system. They may either stop functioning or interfere with the operation of the server if we are not informed.

Step 3 : Mail exchange switchover

Your POP email accounts will be terminated and the server will then handle all e-mail. You can connect remote workers and mobile devices such as Blackberry phones easily and e-mail delivery will be instantaneous. We will require you to request the following from your e-mail or domain provider after the installation.

Dear e-mail provider/domain host

"We are now running our own mail server and do not wish to continue the use of the POP mailboxes. Please would you alter our mail exchange record to point to our new server at IP address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"

Where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is your new static IP address.

WARNING: When you do this there MAY be a 48 hour period whereby your e-mail addresses do not exist and people cannot email you. This is normal with a DNS change like this, we advise you request this on a Friday afternoon.

Backup

We provide a free package called Q-Backup and recommend that you use it with external portable disk drives to give a low cost and reliable backup solution. We will however never be responsible for your data or the operation of the backup system. It is always your responsibility to look after your data, whichever tools you decide to use. Our system comes with a very comprehensive manual - please read it.