Stephen OduntanWhen it comes to enterprise hosting, there are a lot of factors to consider, one of which is the type of server to use. Two popular choices are blade servers and rack servers.
In this blog post, I will compare blade servers vs. rack servers, by highlighting the key features, and differences between the two.
While blade servers may seem like the newer and trendier option with high processing power, there are a lot of advantages to using rack servers.
Rack servers are the preferred choice for many businesses because of their reliability and performance. We use rack servers in our enterprise hosting products for the same reasons!
What Are The Main Components Of A Server?
Before we dive into the differences between blade servers and rack servers, let’s understand the main components of a server.
A server typically consists of a central processing unit (CPU), storage drives, memory (RAM), and a power supply. Additionally, servers also need a chassis or enclosure.
But What Is a Server Chassis, Exactly?
A server chassis, also known as an enclosure or cabinet, is a physical structure that holds servers inside it. A chassis is a way to store, manage, and protect multiple servers in a single location.
They come in many shapes and sizes, but they typically have a standardized size that allows them to be stored in a rack.
Now that we’ve covered our basics, let’s dive in to understand the key features and differences of blade servers and rack servers.
What Is A Rack Server?
A rack server is a type of server that is designed to fit into a standard rack. A server rack is typically 42U in size, meaning it can hold up to 42 servers.
Rack-mounted servers might be older than blade servers, but that doesn’t mean they’re outdated. Rack servers are the go-to option for many hosting companies for years.
Key Features Of A Rack Server
- A rack server space-efficient as they can be easily stored in a rack
- They are modular and can be configured to fit specific needs
- They are cost-effective because of the two features mentioned above.
- They are scalable and can be upgraded as needed
What Is A Blade Server?
A blade server is a type of server that fits into a special chassis. The chassis contains multiple bays, each of which can hold a single server blade.
Blade servers have gained popularity in recent years. They are designed to be smaller and more compact than traditional rack servers.
Blade servers are popular because you can fit multiple servers in a smaller space than rack servers. But, this can also be a drawback—if you have a lot of blades, you’ll need a lot of chassis to hold them all. This is also why blade servers also tend to be more expensive than rack servers.
Key Features Of A Blade Server
- Blade servers are compact and space-efficient
- A blade server often has high processing power
- They are highly scalable and can be easily upgraded
- They are designed to be energy-efficient
Blade Server vs Rack Server: Key Differences
The main difference between blade servers and rack servers is their size. Blade servers are designed to be as compact as possible, while rack servers are designed to fit in a standard server rack.
This key difference has many implications when it comes to things like cost, performance, and scalability.
When it comes to cost, rack servers are more cost-effective and easier to replace or upgrade than blade servers. Rack servers are also highly customizable, with different models available to meet specific needs.
Additionally, rack servers tend to be more reliable than blade servers due to their more robust components.
Blade Servers And Rack Servers Environments
When it comes to picking between blade servers and rack servers for your business, the environment in which they will be used is an important factor to consider.
Blade Server Applications:
Blade servers are best suited for data centers and businesses that require a high degree of scalability or power efficiency. Blade servers are also a good choice for companies that need to manage many servers in a small space. Data centers typically use multiple blade servers for their high processing power needs.
Rack Server Applications:
Rack servers are an ideal choice for businesses that require a balance between cost and scalability. They are also a great choice for companies that need to store and manage multiple servers in one location.
Blade Server vs Rack Server: Which Is Better?
When it comes down to choosing between blade servers and rack servers, it depends entirely on your specific needs.
If you require a lot of servers in a small space, blade servers may be a good option for you. But, if you value flexibility and cost-effectiveness, rack servers are typically the better choice.
On the other hand, blade servers are designed for high-density environments. If you need to fit a lot of servers into a small space, such as a data center, blade servers can be a great choice.
Our two cents? The most significant benefit of rack servers is their flexibility. Because they can be bundled together into a single server rack, you can have as many or as few servers as you require.
Additionally, because rack mounted servers are the older and more established option, they tend to be more widely available (and have better support).
While both blade servers and rack servers have their benefits and drawbacks, rack servers are the superior choice when it comes to enterprise hosting.
Enterprise Data Centers: Blade Servers Vs. Rack
We all know technology is obsolete the moment a new piece of hardware comes out – but how has this evolved in the Enterprise data center market?
Walking into a data center, the visual landscape hasn’t changed much. Physical racks filled with servers, connected to power and networking switches, with cold air coming in, hot air being exhausted out.
But inside this physical shell, the landscape has completely changed due to virtualization a/k/a “the cloud.”
This leads to hardware selection. Rack vs. blade servers — which one is going to be more efficient?
At a high-level a blade server seems like the definite choice. Most 2U blade chassis servers can hold up to 4 independent nodes, each their own CPU(s), motherboards, storage, RAM, etc. In other words, 4 nodes for the physical space of 1.
Unfortunately this is not as cut-and-dry as it may seem.
While blade servers allow you to conserve space and provide CPU density it comes with the cost of memory and storage limitations. In addition, one must take into consideration the additional power draw a single physical blade server is going to require as well as the additional heat within a physical rack.
For example, a single physical blade chassis contains 4 independent nodes, but each of these nodes may only allow room for 4 storage drives, and 16 dual in-line memory modules. If you consider a single Raid 1+0 storage array (mirror and stripping) – each of these independent nodes can only handle one (since 4 physical drives are required per Raid10 array). In addition, if you fill all 16 DIMMs with 32GB you have a hard memory cap at 512GB.
On the other hand, a traditional 2-U rack server can hold 2-4 CPUs with up to 16 storage bays and 32 DIMMs. This would allow for up to 4 Raid 10 storage arrays with up to 1TB of memory (considering the same 32GB per DIMM example).
The decision really lies into where your bottleneck lies – CPU vs. RAM vs. storage. I already mentioned heat and power considerations but one must also take into consideration risk-tolerance as well as hardware/firmware compatibility.
At SirsteveHQ, our physical devices undergo an extensive battery of tests before thrown into production to ensure we’re not only developing the most efficient physical infrastructure but as well as the most reliable to power the most extensive mission-critical applications.
Conclusion: Final Thoughts
As technology continues to evolve, more and more people search for the best hardware that suits their business needs. One of the most important decisions is choosing the right server.
Choosing between blade servers and rack servers depends on your business needs. We suggest you pick one that fits your infrastructure, company size, and latency requirements.
If you’re in the market for a server for your enterprise hosting needs, we recommend going with a rack server. At SirsteveHQ, we use rack servers for our enterprise hosting products for a reason.
Rack servers are cost-effective, reliable, and highly customizable. For the best in enterprise hosting, check out our enterprise hosting plans.
With a focus on scalable, reliable hosting solutions to meet specific business needs, SirsteveHQ offers cutting-edge hosting solutions that can take your business to the next level. Contact us to learn more about our hosting plans and find out how your business can benefit from our expert services.
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