Server components at a glance - What's inside a server?
In today's blog post, we take a closer look at the "inner workings" of a server. What are the most important components, what are they there for and how do they interact? And are there actually differences between server parts and PC parts? All this in our new blog post.
The most important organs in the server - for optimum performance
Generally speaking, the server itself is only as strong as its components. Similar to the most important organs in the human body, all parts must work together optimally. The heart of the server is probably the processor, RAM and hard drives are short and long-term memory and the mainboard acts as the central nervous system. It is therefore by no means true that the performance of the server only depends on the processor - an unsuitable architecture, too little RAM, incorrect storage sizing or a lack of redundancy can also contribute to bottlenecks and failures. So let's take a closer look at the various server components:
The processor
The market leader in the server processor sector has been Intel for some time. Even though Intel and AMD are always trying to outdo each other, the Intel XEON series has often prevailed over AMD's EPYC processors in the professional sector. But is there a one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which processor to use?
Unfortunately not, but there are some parameters that can help you choose the right CPU. For example, the clock rate indicates how fast a processor moves, and the number of cores shows how much computing power the respective CPU has. Whether you should use a single, dual or multi-processor system again depends on the type of application. For example, single-processor systems are suitable for particularly small workgroups as file, mail or database servers. However, it must be borne in mind that there is only limited scope for upgrading and that these systems are only worthwhile for small companies that are not growing or as entry-level servers. The dual-processor models are probably the most common systems and are suitable as file or exchange servers, for database applications or as a virtualisation platform. Multi-processor systems are used in particular where very large data packages need to be backed up/sent or for extremely large databases.
We are currently in the 3rd generation of Intel Scalable processors - when it comes to new products. However, the models are probably not yet affordable for everyone - and for many, especially small and medium-sized companies, they are still too oversized. This is because the 1st and 2nd generation of scalable Intel XEON processors still cover many of the needs and requirements of SMEs. Workload optimisation, improved security functions and better performance are just as much a part of this as affordability. The Intel XEON E series processors also continue to find their place in the server and workstation sector. If you want to improve the performance of your rack server by upgrading or replacing the processors, you can also purchase individual server processors and matching heatsinks in our online shop.
The hard discs
In addition to the RAM, the "long-term storage", i.e. the HDDs or SSDs in a server, is also decisive for its performance. Rack servers have the great advantage that a large number of hard drive bays are available in a small space - 2U storage servers with 24 or 26 hard drive bays are not uncommon. Depending on the type, rack servers can be equipped with 2.5" or 3.5" bays, meaning that it is important to select the correct hard drive size: either SFF (Small Form Factor) or LFF (Large Form Factor) drives. In addition to the right HDD size, it is also important to ensure sufficient capacity and the right type of hard drive: This means either the inexpensive but "slower" HDD or fast - but comparatively still more expensive - SSDs. The use of the latter makes particular sense where availability and speed are important. In other words, in the area of data analysis, for system disks (faster booting) or when it generally comes to the "hot" data in the company, which should be available without long waiting times. As a higher capacity can still be achieved with HDDs, SAS HDDs or SATA HDDs are usually used when it comes to data backup, archiving and backup copies. Regardless of which type you choose, it is also important here: When choosing hard drives or SSDs for your rack server, only use high-performance professional hardware.
Other components
So we now know that in order to increase the performance of our system - or at least to achieve optimum performance and availability - we need to size our rack servers in line with requirements. However, other components also play a major role in the server sector - especially when it comes to redundancy and reliability. We are clearly talking about the power supply units. If a power supply unit in the rack server fails, a second one is available to bridge the gap - and as many server PSUs are hot-swappable, the defective server power supply unit can be replaced during operation. Servers can also accommodate additional network cards for more connectivity and better throughput (transmission speed).
Can server components be compared with PC components?
A crucial question - but anyone who has read the individual parts carefully will have noticed that server components are designed for a completely different performance spectrum to a "normal" PC. It's like comparing a lorry with a car - as the loads are much greater, the individual parts are also designed differently - even though both are vehicles (or computers). This is why, for example, the RAM or CPUs of a server do not fit into a PC.
We also have a large selection of high-performance server components on offer for you in our server shop.
Our broad and deep product portfolio includes parts for a variety of different server models and generations. You will always find a list of compatible devices in the item description - if you are not sure whether RAM, HDD or NIC is suitable for your server, you are welcome to contact us at any time: via e-mail at info@serverando.de, via our contact form or by telephone on +49 (0) 9402- 93 8505 0.