Understanding the Blade Server

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Within the world of the server, there is an inner world of technology-talk that may confuse the common human trying to understand the basics.  When stripping it down to the basics, one must always first focus on general terms and what they mean within their context.  One of the more common phrases of vocabulary in the computer server world, today, is 'blade server'.  What exactly is a blade server?

The very first architecture of which became the blade server, was created by both David Kirkeby and Christopher Hipp.  Generally speaking, a blade server is a computer server that has been taken down to a basic form and a modular design, so that energy and space are minimized and saved.  Easy enough to understand
, right?  But how does a blade server compare to that of a normal computer server?

A rack mount standard server can usually function with only the need for a network cable and a simple power cord (at a minimum); while a blade server has had many portions removed to saved space.  Yet, the blade server is still considered to be a functional computer running on minimal power.  A blade server is seen to be more efficient because of its space saving techniques, and is now becoming the new and improved version of your standard rack mount server.

When it is necessary to have a number of blade servers, a blade enclosure, which holds numerous blade servers, is used.  A blade enclosure can provide the system with better solutions for cooling, networking and even power.  When interconnecting several blades within a blade enclosure, it is referred to as a complete 'blade system'.

A major issue that data centers come to face when depending on servers, are the cooling procedures to keep their systems online.  Blade servers normally produce less heat than that of an average server.  This is great news to an IT technician relied upon to keep systems up and running twenty-four hours a day, and seven days a week.

Most servers use small to large sized fan systems to cool themselves.  The newer blade systems use liquid cooling systems.  These new liquid cooling systems consistently adjust themselves to meet the cooling requirements of the overall system.  This means less down time for the data center.

Blade servers, like many other products, do not have all the solutions for its field.  Although, there are several ways in which creators of third party software are starting to eliminate those problems and create an overall standardization.

It is often proven that the best systems have products with the same vendors.  This way it is a more consistent system with some flaws eliminated by piecing solutions.

As servers, and specifically, blade servers, evolve we are continually able to produce better business and personal results with our complete systems.  Who knows what great pieces of technology will grow within the server world, next?

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