A rack server is a high-performance and space-saving option for companies requiring solid computing performance. Selecting the appropriate rack server can make a huge difference in your network speed, data security, and efficiency.
Whether upgrading your existing infrastructure or setting up a new server environment, understanding the key features of a rack server is essential.
The following are the top 10 attributes you must examine when choosing a rack server.
1. Excessive Processing Capability for Peak Performance
One of the most important aspects of a rack server is its processing capacity. The level of processing capacity on your CPU has a direct impact on how fast your server can execute tasks, applications and workloads.
In addition to multicore processing, a high-performance server should feature as many high clock speeds as possible to support the most demanding and highest-impact applications quickly.
For better results, choose processors from industry leaders such as Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC. These CPUs’ brilliant performance thrives on virtualisation, AI, and database workloads. Also, the multi-socket rack servers let you install two or more processors on a single server, doubling or tripling computing power.
2. Cutting-edge Storage Solutions for Speedy Data Retrieval
Storage is one of the most important components of a rack server, as it directly affects how fast your system can read and write data. A quality rack server will be flexible enough to support a wide variety of storage configurations, such as:
- Solid-state drives (SSDs) allow for faster read and write speeds.
- Solid-state drives (SSDs) for fast-access storage.
- NVMe drives are the new standard for extreme speed and are a great match for data-heavy applications and workloads.
An optimal solution combines fast SSD storage and high-capacity HDD storage faster than tape. Choose a server with hot-swappable drives to replace a faulty drive without taking your server offline.
3. Advanced Storage Options for Faster Data Access
A rack server with the highest-speed network connectivity keeps petabyte-plus devices in lockstep with latency-sensitive applications. Ethernet ports supporting 10GbE or higher speeds support faster data transfers to and from the cloud, lowering the latency associated with a cloud-based application and data centre.
While some servers ship with integrated network interface cards (NICs), organisations can customize servers with add-on cards for other servers. Features such as fibre-optic connectivity and redundant network paths help increase both speed and reliability.
4. Efficient Cooling and Thermal Management
Another great benefit of a rack server is the smart cooling system that protects against overheating to help provide long-term dependability. It can take up a lot of heat because its components are highly powerful, so cooling is important.
Here’s how cooling makes servers work better:
- Lowers the risk of hardware malfunction from excessive heat exposure.
- Reduces wear on processors and storage drives.
- Provides reliable performance with an unbeatable workload.
Servers that use high-performance liquid cooling technologies or other cutting-edge cooling methodologies keep temperatures in an ideal range. Opt for a server with built-in smart, dynamic cooling that automatically scales fan speeds to workload needs.
5. Redundant Power Supply for Maximum Uptime
A hot-swappable, redundant power supply is an essential feature on a rack server, allowing for non-stop operation if one power source should fail. Servers built for high availability often come with redundant hot-swappable power supplies such that the system switches to the backup unit if one dies.
This capability is particularly valuable to data centres and other enterprises with a critical need for round-the-clock server uptime. As you’re choosing a rack server, choose the ones with hot-swappable power supplies, which can be removed and replaced while the system is still running.
6. Robust Security Features to Safeguard Confidential Information
Security is the number one priority for any enterprise using a rack server. Cyber dangers and 3rd-party breaches can endanger delicate information. Fortunately, modern rack servers are equipped with built-in security features, including:
- Additional hardware-based encryption to secure data at rest.
- Secure boot Remain unchanged mechanisms to prevent hostile changes.
- Audit trails to monitor who has accessed records, when, and with what purpose. Role-based access control (RBAC) restricts access to only those users necessary and authorised to access sensitive information.
Physical servers with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chips come with another security layer that verifies the system’s integrity at boot-up. Always opt for a server with robust security features to better protect sensitive business information.
7. Virtualisation Support for Increased Flexibility
For companies that depend heavily on virtual machines (VMs), it’s vital to pick a rack server equipped for virtualisation. Virtualisation helps you use your server more efficiently by running multiple operating systems and applications on a single server.
Any server ready for virtualisation must handle the full gamut of virtualisation technologies, including VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V and KVM. Select processors with built-in virtualisation extensions, including Intel VT-x and AMD-V, to improve performance in virtualised environments.
8. Convenient Manageability with Remote Access Capabilities
Remote management of a rack server must be effortless, especially when you are miles away from your data centre. Fortunately, modern servers now include remote management tools that let you monitor and control your servers remotely without being in the office.
Here are some of the most essential remote management features.
- IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) for out-of-band hardware monitoring
- BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) for out-of-band management of the system.
- Interactive, web-based dashboards for tracking performance in real-time.
A server with rich remote management capabilities minimizes manual intervention, making operators more efficient across more servers in large-scale deployments.
Conclusion
When selecting the rack server, find the best fit for processing power, memory support, storage capacity, and security capabilities. Powerful development servers mean faster development speeds and better reliability and scalability in the long run.
Whether you’re powering cloud applications, hosting websites, or managing enterprise workloads, investing in high-quality rack servers can make a world of difference to your IT infrastructure.
