Server Purchasing Cheats: Choose what you want to know

If you decide to change the company's server after considering the comprehensive conditions and requirements, then we will surprise you if you look at our opinions before purchasing. Once you've decided which server is best for your business, it's time to focus on the specific product offering.

You understand what requirements you need to meet with the new physical server, but there is always a gap between what you need and what you can buy. How do you coordinate? In addition to the long list of emerging hotspots, let's take a look at some of your choices, and the characteristics they determine are important to your environment. In other words, let's filter all the unwanted comments together.

As stated in the first chapter, the physical servers there are many different types, styles and models. The most commonly deployed physical servers are small, floor-mounted, tower, desk or desktop servers, as well as 1U and 2U rack servers. But in order to find the best option, you should consider a lot of special areas.

on the kernel process frequency, sockets, cores and threads


each server has a processor or chip, which is responsible for access to memory and I /O The actual calculation work in the device.

Just like a server, there are many processor choices around your mind: 32 or 64 bit, X86 open or proprietary, single or multiple core, and a variety of smart power supplies. Management mode, memory, and I/O selection. In addition to the basics, some processors offer advanced features that automatically switch the core (depending on the workload requirements of the application or operating system software tools) to save energy during idle time, or increase or decrease clock speed to initiate performance or Slow down to slow speed.

server processor may include one or more cores, which means a single socket may have two or four support one or more active threads processor. A server with a single set, a single core, and a single thread can only execute one instruction or operation at a time. On the other hand, if the software allows, a single-threaded, dual-socket quad-core server can execute eight instructions simultaneously without constraints. Similarly, a four-socket, quad-core server can process 16 instructions, allowing the hypervisor and operating system to potentially allocate these resources to the virtual CPU for application performance load balancing.

If you need performance or processing power that exceeds what a single server can provide, choose between a server blade, a standalone rack, or a floor-standing server cluster. Assuming that operating systems, hypervisors, and applications can take advantage of concurrent threads, cores, and sockets, this increased density can determine a wide variety of performance and application requirements. However, if your current application, operating system, or hypervisor doesn't take full advantage of all of these features, don't sell them out.

Remember, licensing model has changed. Some applications and software are no longer licensed only by server size, but based on the number of cores and sockets. Perform the necessary investigations with due diligence to ensure that you meet the licensing requirements when using multi-socket multi-core processors.




navigation computer memory depends on the memory. Server memory, including external disk storage, is used to store system system software and all related tools, utilities, applications, and data. The main memory or random access memory, also known as dynamic memory (DRAM) chips, is packaged in different ways. The common form is two inline memory modules. The memory access speed of dynamic memory involves older DDR2 (667MHz) or newer DDR3 (1333MHz) terms. The main memory RAM on the server is the fastest form of memory, second only to internal processors or chip-based registers - L1, L2 or local memory.

general, better memory, but the memory speed is also important. Different versions and implementations of virtualization schemes support different memory configurations and limitations. Check the compatibility list for specific vendor support configurations and memory requirements. Also check the vendor's support for 32-bit and 64-bit processors, single-core, dual-core, quad-core, or octal processors, as well as I/O cards and networking and storage.

Networking relationship


storage and built-in user to see servers or server blades to network and disk storage to provide any general-purpose accessory function. What is in accordance with 10Gb Ethernet? Together with the serial, video and USB ports, how many ports and 3G or 6G disk memory disk attachment SAS? Also take a look at the extended capacity of the blade server plus the intermediate card or the PCI-E card for the network, storage and other external devices.

PCI SIG Multi-root IO Virtualization (MR-IOV) is a relatively new feature in the server world that enables advanced connectivity, including adapter sharing. MR-IOV allows multiple adjacent non-corresponding servers to share a PCI-E adapter card, which also virtualizes servers that cannot be integrated without virtualization. MR-IOV can also boot scalable capacity by placing adapter cards on shared external expansion slots across the physical limits of high-density servers.

architecture, stacked, packaged up and cool them


your cupboard or shelf have free space to install an additional server? If you have a blade system, do you still have room to install additional blades? The free space in the cabinet or frame, and even the floor space, as long as the physical packaging of the server is large, can affect the type of server you should consider.

For example, if you do not have the floor space available but there is room for cabinet or machine frame, you have to find servers that meet this condition. On the other hand, if some of the new server's features are to reinforce the old system, there may be more room in the future, and you still need temporary space during conversions and updates.

based on physical, equipment and environmental considerations (location technology), including starting, cooling and heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, the server can affect your choice. Remember where you have the primary source of energy available, where your non-stop backup energy is supplied and where the generator is located. Even if there is enough floor, frame or cabinet space, there may be limits on energy availability or cooling capacity.

comes to energy efficiency is the boss. Many energy-using companies offer incentives, rebates, and other programs to reward energy-saving and efficiency-enhancing behavior. Many rewards are based on a reduction in totals of energy consumption through consolidation or renewal, while others reward those who reduce or maintain applications when searching for energy efficiency on servers that are certified or licensed on Energy Star sites. These usually have advanced smart energy management functions and an effective energy supply of more than 80. Check your local energy and solution provider for a list of available projects. But the plan that started early must be initiated at the beginning of all updates.

Do you need a SAN or NAS?


although there is a tendency to use storage area networks and network storage that comes to networking and shared storage towards development, there are still a lot of server internal disk drive. For these applications or environments that still require dedicated internal storage, there are many options for performance and capacity, most of which are moving toward physically smaller and energy efficient 2.5 foot SAS devices. Many servers also install (or provide as an option) a PCIe SAS RAID debugger for booting internal and external storage execution.

evaluation and comparison of server performance


server performance comparison may be unable relatively speaking, even under the best of circumstances also like comparing apples and oranges ratio. With this in mind, when evaluating the server, consider the energy and cooling requirements for both performance and normal and high processing workloads in power-saving mode.

All metrics can also be used to determine server performance: the percentage of CPU utilized by the processor, response time, transactions, information, computational operations, I/O operations, etc., files or video served per second. And the number of MHz or GHz. However, effective performance should be evaluated by the condition that all components work under different loads or operating conditions.

There are many different workload and benchmarking tools (including Iometer and Microsoft's ESR, as well as Standard Performance, Evaluation Corp. and Transaction Processing Performance Council products), but the best testing and comparison tools It is no matter how much it is similar to the application or workload supported by the server.

you need and what you want


your requirements divided into three groups: what you need, what you want and you have the favor. It sounds simple, but it ensures that your basic requirements are met without being altered by others, and they attempt to sell you more advanced or optional features during the procurement process.

Be a well-informed buyer and do research. Knowing your requirements, all server selections and available features will ensure that you meet both corporate and IT needs.