Blade, Rack, or Tower Server: Which One Is Best?

There’s no time in the world of modern business to deal with a server that isn’t equipped to handle the needs of your company. There are three different types of servers, and each serves a purpose according to its size, convenience, and optimization. Let’s look at all three to help in the decision of when to choose a blade, rack, or tower server.

Blade Server

A blade server holds multiple server blades that are called modular circuit boards. They save space yet offer high processing power. Blade servers are often scaled-down, meaning they contain the CPU, memory, and network controllers. Other components are shared. They’re a great multi-purpose server and handle enterprise applications and processes well. The initial install is expensive, and blade servers require significant climate control.

Rack Server

Rack servers mount inside of a rack and are a general-purpose server, meaning they handle the challenge of a wide range of applications. Thanks to their vertical stance, they take up little space, which means you’ll have more room in the data center for other components.

The rack server has everything it needs to stand alone, as it contains its own CPU, power source, and memory, making it efficient and cost-effective.

Tower Server

A tower server is scaled down, but this makes it an excellent choice for a business that needs a more customized server. Things like graphics cards and additional memory are added as needed, making the tower server easier to configure as a communication, general-purpose, or web server.

Tower servers are a lower initial cost than a blade or rack server, but they cost more to run due to their heavy cooling needs. They also take up their fair share of space in the data center, needing lots of additional components to run efficiently.

Understanding when to choose a blade, rack, or tower server helps as your business grows and the needs of the server change. Servers are designed to improve a business and its efficiency. Choose wisely for years of use from the right server.