When considering rack mount servers, 2U rack servers are the best option. They are less expensive and do the most intensive work, even with a small form factor (the server height is only 3.50 inches). Besides, you get scalability, more expansion cords, easier cooling, and more. But to make the most of these servers, you must select a suitable 2U server. With plenty of options, you need specific criteria to identify the suitable one. This article will walk you along to help you with that.
Let's start by understanding what components are integral for 2U rack servers and what brand you should prefer.
When it comes to Rack servers, processors are integral components. Most 2U Rack servers feature Intel's Xeon Scalable processors that are known for their processing power, storage capacity, and expandability. These processors allow businesses to tailor their devices depending on their current and future workloads. Besides, they offer a wide range of scalability features based on your budget. If you want to give an edge to your business in data management, Xeon processors are your option.
Alongside, there are a few criteria you need to consider while selecting the Xeon processors and hardware system to support 2U rack servers. Here they are:
Select the Best Suited CPU:
If you select Intel Xeon Scalable CPU, you will find processors in four different designations: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. For small businesses and light to medium workloads, Bronze and Silver are the best. A little more affordable are the Gold ones.
The Bronze processors come with 6-core and 8-core options and support. Besides this, they support single and dual sockets. On the other hand, silver model processors have 4 to 12 cores and come with 1.8 to 2.6 GHz speeds. They support hyperthreading and turbo boost power and can help support heavier workloads, making them better than Bronzes. The Gold designation comes with a memory range of 2400MHz to 2667 MHz. They support 1P, 2P, and 4P servers.
Address the Thermal Concerns:
When considering Intel Xeon rack servers, check thermal restrictions in TDP (thermal design power). Higher TDP may impact your processor choice. Bronze and silver processors don't have such an issue, as they have low TDP, but higher TDP may cause problems.
With a lot of choices in hand, it's easier to get carried away with high-end models. But they can turn out to be expensive. With high TDP, Gold processors may cost you six times more than bronze ones.
But the good thing is all Xeon CPUs use the same switch. Hence, they are easier to upgrade. For example, if you feel your bronze CPU isn't sufficient for your workload, you can upgrade to a heavier and faster core like Silver or Gold. So analyze your business needs and select your option accordingly.
Select Appropriate Storage:
As a business, you would need servers for the long term, so they must be scalable enough (in terms of storage) to handle the workloads in the future. The more storage capacity you choose, the better. Doing so will help you avoid costs related to upgrades and downtime.
For storage, you can choose from SATA or SAS, or NVMe. SATA drives offer price to capacity whereas SAS provides better performance, but they are expensive and require a separate SAS controller and RAID card. You can also select NVMe for its high processing speed. Also, specify RAID (for storing the same data in multiple hard disks or SSDs) as your first line of defense against drive failure.
Consider Backing Up Your Data:
Along with storage and RAID, you must also plan to implement a backup strategy for your business. Doing so helps your critical data on 2U rack servers be protected against system failure or any other disasters. There are various types of backup software and NAS & SAN hardware that you can pair with your servers.
Remote Monitoring is Integral too:
As a business, you also want to ensure management and security no matter where you are. For this, you need improved web consoles that can help you gauge the information related to your servers. OS remote control is a good option for the same. Also, to ensure better safety, look for servers with dedicated management ports, to help you separate your information from other data services.
Conclusion:
When servers are tailored to your needs, you get better control of your operations, security, and management while considerably saving on critical aspects like money and power consumption. Consider these pointers when planning to add the 2U rack server to your data center.
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