Comparison Between Tower Server, Blade Server and Rack Server
A server is a basic computing machine that is used for processing requests and also to provide services and functioning capabilities to other programs, computing devices, and clients. Traditionally, servers are given additional processing capabilities and higher storage capacities than a usual computer.
Tower Servers, Blade Servers, and Rack Servers are the types of servers commonly used in the market to perform the tasks of providing working capabilities of clients and other basic computer applications. The need for servers in a work environment generally depends on the kind of work, expansion rate, and space available for computing and other electronic devices to run. Further on, the efficiency of functionality depends on the estimated load on the server, storage capacity, and implementation.
Comparative Study of Tower Server, Blade Server, and Rack Server
Tower Servers
Tower servers are the most primitive type of server currently in operation. It is a very space-efficient device, to the extent, it is often confused with the traditional CPUs of desktop computers. From the outside, the tower servers look very similar to traditional tower computers. These servers are designed with efficiency and they range from lower-end devices with lower prices to high-end tower servers with high processing speed and storage capabilities.
Tower Servers usually consume a lot of space to install and use which is due to their big and bulky structure. The huge structure makes it difficult to manage and physically move it from time to time. Due to their large sizes, they are not stackable, and moving them from time to time is not possible.
Each Tower server usually requires its KVM (Keyboard, Video, and Mouse) switch which is a requirement for the management of these servers. If there are a lot of network devices and peripherals that are to be connected to the servers, the cabling process is not an easy job in these tower servers.
Tower servers do not usually come with additional features preinstalled which include advanced graphics cards, dedicated cooling fans, KVM kits, and more.
The scalability and expansion capabilities of a tower server are great and they can be easily upgraded according to the necessities. The tower servers are also very cost-effective as they are the cheapest of all the servers which are currently available. The tower servers have low component densities, so they usually cool down easily.
Weighing in the pros and cons, this type of server is an ideal choice for small businesses and organizations which are looking to expand in the future cost-effectively.
Rack Servers
Rack servers are usually smaller in size than tower servers and they are placed inside a rack. These racks are very similar in structure to the normal racks which we use to track our files and folders A rack server is generally designed to be positioned in a bay. They are vertically stacked together along with other devices, which include storage units, cooling systems, cooling fans, SAN devices network peripherals, and batteries.
The racks in which the servers are placed adhere to IEEE standards, the sizes of which are measured in rack units or “U’s”. Each U refers to a width of 19 inches and a height of 1.5 inches. The advantage of the usage of these racks is that the usage of these racks makes the servers stackable with other electronic devices. Each rack may consist of multiple servers along with additional devices. Hence, this makes rack servers much more convenient to use and consumes lesser space than a tower server.
The cable management becomes easier with a rack housing all the devices together, as they are easier to arrange due to the presence of all the management tools in the rack. However, there is still some cabling to take care of in Rack Servers but they are considerably lower than that of tower servers.
With the advantages of rack servers, there is also a presence of several disadvantages. Rack servers often need a lot of additional cooling systems due to having a higher component ratio than tower servers. With the increasing number of devices on a rack and also the number of racks, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain the system.
Keeping in mind all the points, rack servers are best suited to medium-scale organizations which have the monetary resources to afford and maintain them.
Blade Servers
Blade servers are the latest innovation in the server market. It is the most advanced type of server currently on the market. They are also called hybrid rack servers. In this system, the servers are placed inside blade enclosures, forming a blade system. The biggest reason for the popularity of the blade servers is that they are the smallest type of server available currently and thus this makes it great for the conservation of space.
A blade server system also meets the criterion for IEEE standardization of rack units and each rack is measured in the units of “U’s”. The Blade compartments can also fit in other electronic equipment very similar to that of the rack servers. The Blade enclosures usually come with a modular design to limit the usage of energy and space. These servers also contain a hot plugging system to easily identify and handle each server on an individual basis. As the blade servers have higher processing powers and efficiency, they are often used in grid computing.
Almost all of the latest blade servers are made and designed in such a way as to make it possible to add or remove a server in the system without shutting the server down. It is also really easy to reconfigure or upgrade the existing systems by adding up new communications, processors, and storage units with near to zero disruption in running services.
Cabling in the blade servers does not require any confusing tasks. You still need to work with cables but they are not as difficult as in tower and rack servers. They have a really great size and form- factor so they occupy the least space and are very compact.
To accommodate all its better features it does come with high configuration costs but it is still very easy to upgrade. Although it does require a fair bit of work in setting it up.
Comparison Table between Tower Server, Rack Server, and Blade Server
| Factor | Tower Server | Rack Server | Blade Server |
| Size | Usually Tall in size | Smaller | Most Compact in Size |
| Component Density | Low | Moderate | High |
| Cooling Needs | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Costs | Moderate | High | Highest |
| Stackable | No | No | Yes |
| Cable Management | High | High | Low |
| Usage | in small and cost-effective data centers | Ideal for 25 servers and limited space in the data centers | High-Speed Work Capabilities with Small occupying Space |
Choosing the correct type of server for your needs is really difficult and hope this article has served your purpose in choosing the server of your choice.
