Servers are central to an organization’s IT infrastructure. These are responsible for data storage, management, backup, and recovery. However, decision-making can be challenging for many companies as they grapple with choices between rack servers, tower servers, or compact blade servers.
But with the right support, you can make the process easier.
So here are the key things that will help you choose the best servers for your needs.
Get a better understanding of server types:
Based on your budget assessment, system requirements, business goals, and location, you will find servers in three configurations:
Tower servers:
These are standalone devices that require a separate cabinet for storage. Tower servers are generally the most cost-effective option as they do not require additional hardware and cooling units.
These tower servers are valuable for small businesses that cannot spend additional money on building a dedicated IT infrastructure. You can get decent computing power and virtualization services with tower servers. This
However, tower servers can take up a lot of space if you want to add more. Under such conditions, you may decide to upgrade to rack servers.
Rack server:
These servers are installed in a cabinet and require their own server room. The cabinet can accommodate multiple servers stacked on top of each other in slots. Rack servers are a great option for minimizing floor space usage. Most growing businesses that require robust systems prefer these servers.
Rack servers are highly scalable; you can easily add more servers to your data center as needed. However, rack servers require additional cooling systems, which incur additional costs. So be considerate about this.
Blade server:
These are the preferred options for many large companies due to their efficiency. They offer better performance and more computing power with much less cabling. Additionally, you can manage blade servers through a single interface, resulting in easy infrastructure monitoring and management. However, they require an additional cooling system and are the most expensive servers of all available options.
Things to look at before opting for a server:
Identify your server requirements:
The first step in building an IT infrastructure is to determine server usage. You need to consider not only your current needs and priorities, but also future expectations. Identifying your short- and long-term expansion goals and plans can help you save big down the line. Once you know your needs, it also helps make decisions regarding storage (hard drives), memory (RAM), and power (kWh) requirements.
Consider server location and maintenance:
Another important consideration when choosing a server is determining the location for the server installation. Some of the factors that may influence your decision are risk, benefits and costs. Based on these factors, you can opt for either local or host servers.
Local server:
When planning on-premises servers, you need to ensure you have the space and expertise to maintain them. Additionally, servers can be noisy and tend to generate heat, so you need to consider whether you have enough dedicated space suitable as a server room.
On-site data centers are cost-effective for small and medium-sized businesses that choose tower servers. It also reduces the additional costs associated with outsourcing data center management services.
However, with on-premises you need to budget for power consumption and the employees who work on the servers.
Host server:
Another option is server hosting. Companies can choose host servers in dedicated data centers and receive on-site support and maintenance services.
When you outsource server maintenance, you get maximum uptime with a dedicated team working to keep the system running.
They also have additional backup power supplies that on-site facilities may not have. However, servers in dedicated data centers require separate cooling and power systems.
If you are considering outsourcing data services, you need to hire a well-known and trustworthy company to do the job. To do this, you must do good research and check the scalability and flexibility options before settling on one.
Performance Requirements:
Evaluate the required CPU power, memory (RAM), and storage capacity based on the anticipated workload. Ensure the server’s specifications meet or exceed your performance needs.
Form Factor:
Decide on the tower server form factor, such as rack-mounted, tower, or blade, based on available space and infrastructure. Rack servers are suitable for data centers, while tower servers are ideal for smaller offices.
Operating System Compatibility:
Consider the operating system (OS) you plan to use and ensure it is compatible with the server hardware. Common choices include Windows Server, Linux distributions, and virtualization platforms.
Redundancy and Reliability:
Look for redundancy features like dual power supplies, hot-swappable components, and ECC memory to enhance server reliability and minimize downtime.
Bottom Line:
Choosing a server for your business may seem daunting, but it isn’t. If you are clear about your business goals, you can easily choose a server based on the criteria above and set your business up for long-term growth and success.
