Data centers consider rack units, IT cabinets and rack servers a first choice. Different designs and equipment of rack servers provide strong, demand-oriented computing power within a small space in a stable and durable rack enclosure.
Just three years after the introduction of the first web server in 1990, Compaq’s ProLiant series was the first rack server to be developed. Ever since, rack servers have contributed to efficient computing and information processing in data centers. They ensure that secure, cabinet-like enclosures house critical servers and server components in a small space. Their introduction was accompanied by the proliferation of the, now ubiquitous, server rooms.
The term rack server describes the structure of the hardware and software advantages. Rack servers consist of servers and components mounted in standardized 19-inch racks as slide-in units. The rack housing includes mounting slots (rack bays) which mean hardware components can be screwed together securely and stably. The stacking principle ensures easy ventilation of the server system and a higher density of hardware in a smaller space.
The enclosure and mounting grid known as a rack serves as a frame for housing the servers. In the rack, server hardware with server components can be mounted as horizontal or even vertical racks. With their standardized width of 19 inches and various height units, rack servers can be efficiently installed side by side. The installation depth is 60, 80, 100 or 120 centimeters. Other important components are the guides, rails and brackets for cables, sensors, ventilation and cooling units. Depending on safety requirements, they can also include systems for extinguishing gas in an emergency.
Other important components of rack servers are:
Applications for rack servers are manifold. Due to their configurability and the simple scaling and expansion of server components, they’re suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as large data centers. By stacking servers in the rack, resources are consolidated more efficiently and in a space-saving manner.
The main tasks rack servers usually perform include:
Other areas of application include:
Pros | Cons |
✔ Efficient accommodation of servers and server components in a small space | ✘ Less compact and flexible than blade servers |
✔ Easy to scale server components and maximize computing power with rack functionality | ✘ Due to server density, active cooling and ventilation are important to avoid overheating |
✔ Reduced cabling thanks to cable management systems | ✘ Additional operating systems, memory, hard disks or hypervisors for virtualization can be costly |
✔ Secure, stable setup due to standardized sizes and servers bolted into enclosures |
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✔ Wide range of applications for enterprises and data centers |
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✔ Simple maintenance, repair or quick hot-swap replacement of servers through movable rack rails |
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✔ High reliability due to redundancy of servers, ventilation units, power supplies or hard disks |
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✔ Less expensive to purchase than compact blade servers |
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Rack servers differ in their features and dimensions. Racks with the 19-inch standardization are used most frequently and are usually divided into 2-post racks and 4-post racks. Depending on the width, several server components can be mounted horizontally or vertically in the racks. Vertical height units (rack units) are another important distinction. These have the standardized dimension of 1.75 inches (4.445 centimeters). By default, racks comprise 42 height units.
Since not all slots are equipped from the start, blind panels are also used, i.e. placeholders that provide a better appearance, for example. Basically, the choice of rack server and components depends on the individual performance and space requirements, because this also determines the required height and installation depth
Trends toward more powerful, efficient data centers and growing demand for computing power and performance are driving server hardware to become ever more compact and smaller. Although rack servers are among the most widely used server technologies, rack alternatives such as blade servers and cartridge servers are catching on. These offer more mobility, save space and power, and enable easy scaling and configuration through modular server components.
Micro servers are increasingly being considered as alternatives. However, classic tower servers are another option for small companies without server rooms and demands for high computing power.
The first commercial blade server was launched in 2001 and optimized the server technology of rack servers. Blade servers circumvented a major weakness of rack servers – the space problem caused by many server components in fixed rack-mount frames. Blade servers use a modular chassis with key components in the form of multiple, ultra-thin server blades. This means companies benefit from smaller server hardware with the same or greater computing power. Expansion and maintenance are less complicated, as new components are simply slid in or out of the chassis.
However, blade servers are significantly more expensive to purchase, configure and set up. The replacement of components can also be more complex due to a vendor lock-in. Compared to rack servers, blade servers, which are mostly used for dedicated applications, allow for fewer extensions. That’s because the connections for additional hard disks or PCI slots are usually reduced. Therefore, rack servers are still the first choice for many companies due to their price-performance ratio.
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