Server Setup, Admin &
Virtualization in Fort Frances
Windows Server, Linux, Hyper-V, VMware, and Active Directory — installed, configured, and managed for businesses that still need on-premises infrastructure.
Talk servers with us →On-premises infrastructure
done properly.
Cloud isn’t always the answer.
Sometimes a real server is.
For most small businesses, we recommend moving away from on-premises servers and into the cloud — see our cloud services page. But not every business is a good fit for cloud-only, and pretending otherwise leads to broken setups and frustrated staff.
You probably still need a server if: you have on-premises line-of-business software that requires it; you have large local file shares with poor internet making cloud impractical; you have equipment that talks to specific local hardware (manufacturing, security systems, point-of-sale); or you have strict on-premises compliance requirements.
When that’s the case, we set servers up the way they should be set up — properly virtualized, properly backed up, properly secured, properly documented. And we’ll tell you honestly whether your situation actually requires on-premises or whether you’ve been told it does by someone who profits from selling you hardware.
Server Administration FAQ
Need a server set up, replaced,
or migrated to the cloud?
Tell us what you’re running and what’s not working. We’ll quote the right path — hardware, virtualization, or cloud — flat rate.
Do small businesses still need servers?
Most don’t — cloud services have replaced what servers used to do for typical small businesses. But some do: businesses with on-premises line-of-business software, large local file shares, equipment that talks to specific local hardware, or strict on-premises compliance requirements. We help you decide which side you’re on.
Can you set up Active Directory for our business?
Yes. We set up Active Directory or Azure AD/Entra ID for businesses — proper organizational unit structure, group policies, user/computer management, and integration with Microsoft 365 if applicable. Done properly, AD makes managing 10+ users dramatically easier and more secure.
Do you do virtualization with Hyper-V or VMware?
Yes. We deploy and manage Hyper-V and VMware environments — virtual machine creation, snapshots, replication, and migration. Virtualization is the right call for almost any business still running on-premises servers; it cuts hardware costs and makes backup and recovery much simpler.
Can you migrate from an old physical server to a new one?
Yes. We do physical-to-virtual migrations, server hardware refreshes, and OS upgrades — all without losing data and with minimal downtime, usually done overnight or over a weekend.
How much does a new server cost installed?
A typical small-business server with installation, Windows Server licensing, and Active Directory setup runs $5,000–$12,000 depending on specs and licensing. We quote hardware separately from labour so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.
Do you support Linux servers too?
Yes. We work with Linux servers — Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux — for web hosting, custom applications, and infrastructure work. We don’t push Linux when Windows is the right answer, or push Windows when Linux is — we use what fits.