Rack Servers

The rack server is the IT powerhouse of small businesses. Rack mount servers provide superior processing power in a small footprint. These servers allow IT teams to expand computer and storage capacity easily. Businesses can start with a small server rack and add individual servers as the company grows and data center requirements evolve.

PowerEdge rack servers offer industry-leading technology that can improve performance, scale easily and simplify IT while providing superior processing power for a diverse set of workloads.

Advantages of a rack server for small businesses

Offering significant advantages for IT teams, rack mount devices are a superior business server option for companies both large and small.

Greater flexibility
Rack servers enable IT teams to install multiple servers in the same enclosure. Teams can install several dedicated servers in one place, each with a different function such as email, software, and storage. Housing each server in the same location helps provide added security and protection from wear and tear.

Scalability
Rack servers are designed to be installed in enclosures that hold multiple servers on top of each other. This makes them great for a small business that wants to be prepared to expand and scale IT resources.

A rack server for every application

With PowerEdge rack servers, businesses get state-of-the-art technology to address various complex workloads.

Artificial intelligence workloads
Machine learning and artificial intelligence involve workloads with massive data sets and require servers with extreme parallel processing speed. PowerEdge servers are AI powerhouses that combine accelerator cards, expandable memory, ample storage, and exceptional processing power to enable businesses to keep pace with AI workload demands.

Cloud workloads
PowerEdge servers for Hybrid Cloud IT are cloud-ready servers that allow administrators to choose where to run workloads strategically. Cloud workloads enable businesses to operate most efficiently - whether on-premise, in hybrid clouds, or multi-cloud models.

PowerEdge rack servers are cloud-ready, allowing for enhanced data mobility and critical workloads' consistent operation. It not only will enable organizations to scale more efficiently but enables your business to remain more operationally flexible than ever before. Also, its cyber-resilient infrastructure provides a significant level of security.

What is a rack server?
A rack server is a server mounted within a framework that enables multiple servers to be stacked vertically. Rack servers come in a standard width – usually 48.26cm (19 inches) – but with varying heights that allow different servers to contain more or fewer components. A 1U server occupies one unit within the server rack or roughly 4.445cm (1.75 inches) in height. Rack servers are typically available in sizes from 1U to 5U.

What are the advantages of a rack server vs. a blade server or tower server?
Tower servers are standalone devices that resemble a desktop computer. Their cost and adaptability make them ideal for smaller businesses that don't require many servers. When more servers are needed, tower servers can quickly consume too much space, as they occupy a large footprint.

Rack servers enable multiple devices to occupy a smaller footprint. Installation within a server rack makes server management and organization of cabling and components simpler. Rack servers make it easy to expand capacity by adding additional servers, and the cost of cooling and power consumption is typically less than blade servers.

Blade servers are thin circuit boards housed in a server enclosure containing multiple servers side-by-side. Each board has a minimal amount of components, enabling many servers to reside within a small footprint. Blade servers share common components like switches, ports, and power connectors through the chassis, providing greater server density. While blade servers offer more processing power in a smaller amount of space, they also require more ventilation. And the upfront cost of acquiring blade servers can be higher than rack or tower servers.