One area Dell are really strong on is Servers.

I have a couple of my own and manage many more out in the wild.

One of the reason’s they are good is the factory partial pre-install of the Operating System (OS). This allows you to get up and running quickly.

So what do you get in the Box of a typical Server with OS these days:-

1 x Server (in this case a PowerEdge 840 with a DDS5 Tape Drive).
1 x UK Power Cord
1 x Dell TOE (TCP/IP Offload Engine Update CD)
1 x Getting Started With your system book
1 x Windows 2003 Small Business Server Read Me First Chart
1 x Windows 2003 Small Business Server CD Media Pack
1 x Windows 2003 Small Business Server - Information Update Pamphlet
1 x Additional CALs if any (CAL = Client Access License)
1 x Dell PowerEdge and PowerVault Systems - Product Guide
1 x 4mm DDS Cleaning Tape for the Tape Drive
1 x Dell PowerVault Documentation & Driver CD

Dell Open Manage Quick Install Guide and CD Set including :-

1 x Bootable Installation and Server Management CD Ver 5.2
1 x Systems Management Console CD Ver 5.2
1 x Service and Diagnostic Utilities CD Ver 5.2
1 x Documentation CD Ver 5.2

The above CD’s would come in handy if you have to re-install the OS in the future, as they do a bit of hand holding during the process.

Notes: I wish Dell would include at least 1 blank Tape with the system.

Tip: As with all computers sometimes cables come loose in transit, if you have a problem on your initial boot for example it cant find the hard disk or some other internal component. Don’t panic just open the case and check all your cables are firmly in place.

Tip: Ensure you keep all the important bits of the server together for example the CD’s/CAl’s safe.

In my many years supporting Dell Servers I rarely have problems. However when I do it has been Hard Disk or DDS tape drive related - the moving parts basically. Cover yourself and get 3 years on-site warranty.

If I think about it the most common problem I hear about is the Backup tape being stuck in the system and it wont eject. The solution to which is to power down the server and eject the tape as soon as the system has power. If your tape is still stuck you have to have an engineer to retrieve it.

Severs are unique in that they are switched on and then left on for the duration of their life with very little user intervention so whilst they are very important they tend to cause the least trouble.