So is your server ready for a once-over? Here are eight signs.

1. It crawls. When your server gets slow, it's time for some new iron.  We recommends taking a look at both disk and CPU (central processing unit) usage. When you're at about 80%, it's time to start looking around.  Slow servers, of course, mean a less productive work force. Can you afford that?
   
2. It sucks up your time. If you're spending more time on dealing with server problems than you are willing to commit, it's time for an upgrade.  Ask yourself: If you weren't working on a particular server problem, how much money could you earn by doing something else?
   
3. It's noisy. As fan drives and hard drives age, you will notice they will become noisier.  This is typically a good indicator that hardware failure is just around the corner. Computers are like cars; they have only so much mileage before they start falling apart.  If you can't spring for a complete upgrade when you hear funny noises, at least make sure everything is backed up.
   
4. It's out of warranty. When the only people who know enough to support your server are retired and collecting Social Security, you know you have a problem.  If the manufacturer has stopped supporting the hardware and software — which means it's more than three years old — then there's a good chance you need some kind of upgrade.
   
5. Something doesn't feel right. Maybe your hardware specifications don't match your vendor specs. Maybe it takes longer and longer to do the same function.  If you, or your IT person, have a sinking feeling about the server, chances are it could be ready for an upgrade of some kind.
   
6. There's no more room. If the requirement of the software that runs on the server exceeds the servers' specifications, then you need a new server.  Small business users shouldn't just try to manage a space or memory crisis in the short term, but to think about the company's long term needs. Planning is the key. Will you be adding more staff that will need access to this machine? Will you be upgrading the software that runs on the server in the near future? These are questions that you need to ask yourself.
   
7. Its performance is otherwise impaired. Does your server seize up often?  Does it have problems resolving conflicts? Even if things run smoothly otherwise, these occasional hiccups may be a sign that the server is running up against the limits of its performance. Most businesses have a hard time tracking these issues until it's too late. We recommend monitoring tools that report on the health and status of their servers. They provide information for capacity planning and alerts of trouble signs.
   
8. The big one happens. There usually isn't a telltale sign that your server needs to be upgraded, in terms of hardware, until a catastrophic failure occurs. After a meltdown, there's normally a scramble to replace operating systems and applications. Frequently, those are discontinued, or support has been discontinued, and that's usually when a business discovers that it should have upgraded long ago. It is much calmer to upgrade in a planned manner than to scramble at the last minute to resolve a crisis.