Business IT Support - What are "weekly server maintenance checks"?

Keith

Hi,

I'm currently obtaining quotes for our outsourced IT company who mainly look after our servers and resolve IP conflicts around the firm. I carry out the rest of the regular IT support with desktop issues and the user account maintenance.

We have someone come in twice a week and part of their role is to check that the server is working as it should be. I'm now getting quotes from alternative support companies but I'm not sure what they are quoting for with this "weekly server maintenance checks".

I check daily that the backup has ran, I come in and restart the servers. So what is this SMC? And can it be done automatically?

Thanks
Keith

Lil306

Keith wrote: »

Hi,

I'm currently obtaining quotes for our outsourced IT company who mainly look after our servers and resolve IP conflicts around the firm. I carry out the rest of the regular IT support with desktop issues and the user account maintenance.

We have someone come in twice a week and part of their role is to check that the server is working as it should be. I'm now getting quotes from alternative support companies but I'm not sure what they are quoting for with this "weekly server maintenance checks".

I check daily that the backup has ran, I come in and restart the servers. So what is this SMC? And can it be done automatically?

Thanks
Keith

Ask them?

My guess is they're checking the error logs under event viewer :rotfl:

InsideInsurance

SMC can be a number of things, as with most TLAs

Most importantly, dont accept a quote that includes "weekly server maintenance checks" as that is too vague and if you want your IIS log file reviewed weekly and it isn't explicitly mentioned then they could easily turn round and say IIS was never part of their scope.

victor2

Depends greatly on the size of the network and what you're running on it.
Just question what you wouldn't be able to sort out yourself in a reasonable time for the company.
A Server Maintenance Check may be no more than checking if all updates have been applied and that you aren't in danger of running out of disk space. Or it could involve a more sophisticated level of monitoring.
How would you deal with a server disk failure for example? Compare that to the sort of response and fix times that a support company could give.
If you've got anything that could be deemed as "mission critical" then you are almost certain to need the backup of a good support company. If you could get by without your computers for say a week, then maybe you don't.

scheming_gypsy

Sounds like they're just showing their faces to give a reason for you to pay their bills.

All we checked was:
backups
event viewer for any issues
disk space
log files

just the basic stuff really; as long as you have backups and a decent RAID system in place, along with a selection of essential spares... you don't need an outsourcing company to do weekly checks.

S0litaire

When I was doing support to small business, once a months was, usual for maintenance checks (Logs, Backups and general clean up of the system). But I also had remote server access so could jump on when requested to check things out.

The once a month on-site visit also included Windows Updates (if required), they ran overnight and went on-site to make sure the update didn't FUBAR anything on the network! (which oddly the updates did from time to time!! lol)

But if in doubt get the support guy to write up a log on what they carry out on-site and remotely. I had a log book that was kept at all the locations and I filled out every visit and got the manager, boss or my contact at the company to sign off on the work at every visit.


It keeps both sides honest... ^_^