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An IT expert has advised that local data centers and huge server service providers must now consider moving away from the rack servers to blade server for their high tech serverBy Ross Moyo
Considering serious power needs in Zimbabwe, cooling demands and efficiency, the expert said local data centers in Zimbabwe running the old rack server must start seriously considering an upgrade for their Network Attached Storage (NAS).
The statement comes few days before CBZ bank servers were taken down by heat and cooling effects , a move that could have been manageable better by blade servers.
Speaking at the Tech Convergence Fora (TCF) hosted by TechnoMag recently in the capital City, Dr Whisker Rukanda an ICT expert said there is need to scale up and upgrade server resources for most data centers in Zimbabwe.
Rack servers in an EIA 19″ rack
A rack server, or rack-mounted server, is any server that is built specifically to be mounted within a server rack. Rack servers are a general-purpose machine that can be configured to support a wide range of requirements. They are most commonly found in data center environments but can also be used in smaller computer closets. Unlike traditional servers that look much like a PC, a rack server is wider. So it can be secured into the rack using mounting screws or rails, depending on the design. If you only require a small number of servers, they are the best choice economically due to the lower upfront costs.
A blade server is a modular server that allows multiple servers to be housed in a smaller area. These servers are physically thin and typically only have CPUs, memory, integrated network controllers, and sometimes storage drives built in. Any video cards or other components that are needed will be facilitated by the server chassis. Which is where the blades slide into. Blade servers are often seen in large data centers. Due to their ability to fit so many servers into one single rack and their ability to provide a high processing power.
Benefits of a Blade Server
Power Consumption – In many cases the chassis for the Blade Server will supply the power to multiple servers, reducing total consumption.
Hot Swappable – Blade servers can be configured to be hot swappable so if one blade has a problem, it can be pulled and replaced much more easily. This helps to facilitate redundancy.
Less Need for Cables – Rather than having to run individual cables for each server, blade servers can have one cable (often fiber) run to the chassis, thus reducing the total cable requirements.
Processing Power – Blade Servers can provide an extremely high processing power while taking up minimal space
Dr Rukanda also said gone are days when servers should all be stacked in one physical hub.
The idea of stacking all servers in physical hubs is no longer a viable option and in fact it has been overtaken by events as it brings risk and exposure to one physical place.
Dr Rukanda said, “but it’s no longer viable and competitive enough to be having a physical hub where you have all your servers stacked in there,”
Rukanda said that additionally, ongoing maintenance, power, and cooling costs can add up when it comes to physical servers. Another disadvantage will be Scalability were Scaling physical servers can be challenging and expensive. Dr. Rukanda said adding more capacity requires purchasing additional hardware, which can take time and effort.
According to the Tech expert, Rack servers have some possible disadvantages, such as: Cooling requirements: Rack servers still rely on a powerful cooling system despite being easier to cool. This could result in increased energy costs. With Less efficiency, Rack servers are generally less energy-efficient compared to more efficient blade servers.
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