Hardware needs for most of our solutions, whether a database server or a light duty webserver, can be met using comparatively inexpensive hardware/software combinations. For single purpose server solutions such as a database or webserver a Linux OS based solution works. If you want to introduce file sharing or user management into your organization then a Mac OS X based solution works well. Since Linux OS is free and open source you don't pay for it. You do need to purchase hardware and for that there are two options. First, we can build you a system, and, second, we can purchase a machine from a major manufacturer. The benefit of a major brand is that they come with warrantees. A Mac OS X Server based solution is nearly free of cost. Apple has stopped charging for it. What you have to do is buy the desktop software and from there you can add on the server software at no additional cost. We prefer these two hardware/OS combos as they are stable, efficient, and have advantageous licensing costs compared to Windows technology.

To give some sense of scale for the above suggested solutions let's say they work for the small to medium size organization with up to 200 users. For a webserver you may increase that number to 1000 or more users. Both depend on the specifics of the solution and at some point hosting these solutions "in the cloud" must be considered.

Macintosh hardware for website and database serving of open source solutions is a good choice. We can deliver to you a complete Macintosh OS X server system that is ready to plug-in, power up, and add to your network. It will include the hardware and software needed to run your solution including daily backup.

What we like about Macintosh based solutions:

• Total cost of ownership is comparatively low. The OS X Server operating system is very inexpensive to purchase. In fact it's almost free. What you do have to purchase is the desktop version of OS X. You can then "unlock" the server version. The cost for OS X desktop is less than $50.00. There is no per seat licensing for OS X Server or any free and open-source database system. The hardware may range in cost from about $1000 to $3000 or more depending on your needs.
• Hardware is relatively efficient. OS X Server is Unix based and can be configured to run lean.
• Security is solid. When we build a system for a webserver and/or a database we finish the build by locking it down securely. Since we aren't running a lot of services it reduces the vulneabilities.
• Stability is good. Mac OS X Server is a relatatively stable solution. It will need attention from time to time.
• Performance. You can count on persistent high performance on servers, workstations, and on your network from Macintosh hardware.
• Community support. There is an abundance of support for all Mactintosh systems.

What we don't like about Macintosh based solutions:

• Cost. Perhaps we're being a bit picky here, maybe even cheap, but you will spend more money on a Macintosh based system but you will get a lot for your money.