I am pinned on which to go with. I have two quotes from Dell. One is for a server that is tower based with a raid 5 config. The other is rack mounted. The two still have the same specs, but one costs 2 times more after purchasing the racks to go with it. Why would I do or do not do this? Basicly I need the PROS: and CONS:
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Rack mount server vs Tower...
- Thread starter NEXCOMPAC
- Start date
Rack mounts have the advantage of saving space. It is easier to stack multiple servers vertically in a rack than it is to do with a tower unit.
That is the only advantage I can think of for a rack mount. Disadvatages are many though.
Rack mounts run hotter and are significantly noisier (because of added fans for the heat).
Rack mounts often lack the flexibility of adding additional cards or a limited number if you need to replace the onboard nic or add some other hardware.
Others will have opinions either way I am sure and welcome their input too.
I hope you find this post helpful.
Regards,
Mark
That is the only advantage I can think of for a rack mount. Disadvatages are many though.
Rack mounts run hotter and are significantly noisier (because of added fans for the heat).
Rack mounts often lack the flexibility of adding additional cards or a limited number if you need to replace the onboard nic or add some other hardware.
Others will have opinions either way I am sure and welcome their input too.
I hope you find this post helpful.
Regards,
Mark
Buying a rack mounted server:
[red]Pro's [/red]
1. Size. You can fit a good amount of servers into a single rack (depending on the size)
One location for your servers.
Lockable rack, which means harder to get "physical" access (generally speaking. However, if someone wants in bad enough, they will get in).
[red]Con's[/red]
1. Cost. Are generally more expensive
2. Cooling. A rack will be more heat intensive (depending how many servers you have in one rack).
Tower servers:
[red]Pro's[/red]
1. Some servers will still be able to be rack mounted.
2. Price
[red]Con's[/red]
1. Size. Generally speaking, towers are larger than rack mounted servers. Depending how many servers you plan on having, you'll need to make sure you have plenty of room.
Just some of my thoughts.
[red]Pro's [/red]
1. Size. You can fit a good amount of servers into a single rack (depending on the size)
One location for your servers.
Lockable rack, which means harder to get "physical" access (generally speaking. However, if someone wants in bad enough, they will get in).
[red]Con's[/red]
1. Cost. Are generally more expensive
2. Cooling. A rack will be more heat intensive (depending how many servers you have in one rack).
Tower servers:
[red]Pro's[/red]
1. Some servers will still be able to be rack mounted.
2. Price
[red]Con's[/red]
1. Size. Generally speaking, towers are larger than rack mounted servers. Depending how many servers you plan on having, you'll need to make sure you have plenty of room.
Just some of my thoughts.
No real performance enhancements, the rack mount servers fit in with the rack mount routers/switches, and the rack mount patch panels.
You can get a rackmounted KVM....Same as a traditional KVM, but pulls out and opens like a Laptop, control switches across the top of the keyboard change the current viewed PC.
I prefer the idea of rack mounts if you need to put them in locaion other than your main server room, off site/second server station/office. Especially with the niffty pull out KVM.....(just dont put it to high/low (I put one too low and it had a massive, 5/6U above it that weighed a tonne, and had some routers underneath, was too low to stand at comfortably, and too high to sit at. It was in our offsite company hotel and I wouldn't be going back there before I left the company, so I just put up with it for those few days were were working on it....i bet they have moved it now.
Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant
HND, BSc HONS, CCNA, BCS, IETF, DMTF
You can get a rackmounted KVM....Same as a traditional KVM, but pulls out and opens like a Laptop, control switches across the top of the keyboard change the current viewed PC.
I prefer the idea of rack mounts if you need to put them in locaion other than your main server room, off site/second server station/office. Especially with the niffty pull out KVM.....(just dont put it to high/low (I put one too low and it had a massive, 5/6U above it that weighed a tonne, and had some routers underneath, was too low to stand at comfortably, and too high to sit at. It was in our offsite company hotel and I wouldn't be going back there before I left the company, so I just put up with it for those few days were were working on it....i bet they have moved it now.
Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant
HND, BSc HONS, CCNA, BCS, IETF, DMTF
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