Questions to ask a value-added reseller (VAR) providing you with a server
Mie-Yun Lee, Editorial Director, BuyerZone.com
- How long have you been in business?
- What is the typical size of your clients in terms of number of computers, etc.?
- Do you typically install networks into offices that don't have a network in place,
or do you do more work adding to existing networks?
- What percentage of your network installs are Microsoft, Novell, other?
- What do you think are the strengths, weaknesses of using [Microsoft, Novell] for
our network?
- How much maintenance will this take? Can this be handled by you or by our in-house
staff? At what rate?
- Do you guarantee your work? How?
- How do you ensure that the backup and/or RAID works correctly?
- Are the technical folks working on our account certified to perform the installation?
How about the maintenance?
- Would it be okay for us to buy the equipment, based on your recommendations, and
then have you install and set up the equipment?
- Can I have the names of some companies for whom you have just done work and that
are similar to our situation? How about some clients that you have had for a while?
- I'd like to get a basic understanding of what you think we need. Based on what we
discussed (hopefully, there was some discussion), what do you think we need? (If no
discussion has taken place, ask: What questions do you need to have answered in order
to identify what networking needs to take place?)
- How could we phase in this project? What will the plan look like?
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