Cavalier
Technical Services
hardware & software
While almost any personal computer can function as a network server, a dedicated server is designed with features that make it ideal for production environments. These features may include a faster CPU, high-performance RAM, and multiple hard drives to safeguard your data. Notable distinctions are the redundancy in power supplies, network connections, and even the servers themselves. Servers are built to operate continuously without interruption, so high availability is crucial. This makes hardware reliability and durability paramount. Mission-critical enterprise servers are designed to be very fault-tolerant and utilize specialized hardware with low failure rates to maximize uptime, as even a brief outage can cost more than the initial investment in the system.
The traditional form for smaller organizations is similar in size to a tower desktop computer, yet it boasts all the features of a server.
A rack server is standard in environments where multiple servers are housed within a metal rack structure. These servers are measured in Rack Units (U), each being 1.75 inches in height. A typical rack stands 7 feet tall and supports up to 42U of servers and devices. The advantage of a rack server is that it minimizes floor space usage while centralizing all servers in a lockable cabinet. Additionally, a rack helps control costs for cabling, battery protection, and cooling by keeping all servers within a confined area.
A blade server is a highly compact server that shares a central enclosure, providing both power and networking features. Some blade enclosures can support 16 servers in just 10U, saving up to 60% more space compared to traditional rack servers.
Hybrids are 2U or 4U servers that include multiple independent servers within a single chassis. They are ideal for organizations looking to save space without fully committing to a blade environment. If you already have a server, it might be time to upgrade—technology advances quickly, and newer servers can better protect your data, reduce electrical costs, and support new virtualization solutions. Whatever your server needs are, our sales professionals will recommend the appropriate server solutions.