What a server is.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT FROM A DESKTOP
Designed to run continuously Built for rack mounting
Redundant components: power supplies, fans, sometimes more
Remote management independent of the operating system Error-correcting memory
WHAT ERROR-CORRECTING MEMORY DOES
Detects and corrects memory errors that would otherwise cause silent corruption or crashes.
WHY THAT MATTERS
Over years of continuous operation, such errors are inevitable.
WHAT REMOTE MANAGEMENT PROVIDES
Power control, console access and monitoring, even when the system is off or unresponsive.
WHY THAT MATTERS
It removes the need to attend physically for most problems.
WHAT FORM FACTORS EXIST
Rack-mounted units of various heights Blade systems, sharing infrastructure in a chassis Tower servers, for small environments
WHAT DETERMINES CHOICE
Density required Expansion needed Cooling and power available
WHAT TO SPECIFY
Processor, memory, storage, and network capability, matched to the workload.
WHAT TO PLAN FOR
Expansion, and eventual replacement.
