Guide to Server Basics 

If you’re a small-business owner with multiple computers, it is probably time to consider investing in a server. Servers
help keep your data secure and organized and will help you run your business more efficiently. Servers provide your
business with a single solution for

● Centralized Email management

● Consolidated Internet connectivity
● Internal Web site development
● Remote access monitoring
● Mobile device support
● File and printer sharing
● Backup and restore

. . to name just a few

Choosing the right server solution starts with understanding how the server will be used. What type of applications
will it be running? How critical are these functions to your company?

below question we will learn : 

 
1. What is a Server? 
2. When do I need a Server? 
3. Why do I need a server? 
4. What type of Server do I need? 
4.1. Why Tower Servers? 
4.2. Why Rack Servers? 
4.3. Why Blade Servers? 
5. Server hardware configuration explained 
 
 What is a Server? 
 
​Simply put, a server is typically a more powerful computer than your average desktop. It 
is specifically engineered to deliver information and software to other computers that are linked to it by a 
network. Servers have the hardware to manage Ethernet-cabled or wireless networking, usually through a 
router.  
Servers are built to handle heavier workloads and more applications taking advantage of 
the specific hardware to increase productivity and reduce downtime.  
 
Servers also offer remote-management tools, which means an IT person can check usage, 
and diagnose problems from another location. That also means you can perform routine maintenance such 
as adding new users or changing passwords.  
 
When do I need a server? 
Start by asking yourself these questions to understand when it's time to invest in a server:

● Are you using two or more computers in your business?

● Do you have a mobile workforce? 

● Do your employees share documents between multiple 
computers?
● Can you afford to lose valuable files and data? Can it be 
replaced or restored? 
● Do you need to share access to peripherals, such as printers and
fax machines?
  
What type of a server do I need? 
The server you choose should reflect the number and type of
applications you want to run on it. You need to know how many
users (clients) it will have. Many common applications – such as
print serving, sharing office documents like Word and Excel files –
impose such light processing demands that a single low-cost server
may be able to handle your entire company with ease. Other tasks,
like hosting large databases or image libraries, require more
processing horsepower along with big, fast hard disks and capacious
network pipes to match.

When buying a server there are three considerations:

1. Server type: Tower, Rack or Blade?

2. Hardware configuration
3. Server software

Towers, Racks or Blades? 

You can choose from the following three types of servers:

Tower Server​:​ This is the most basic of servers on the market. It costs and takes up as much space as the average
desktop. Tower servers are great for small businesses that

● Have limited space concerns and need centralized processing

without a data room
● Need easier monitoring and maintenance of networked resources
● Want to reduce susceptibility to intrusion and attack through a
central location

A tower is most typically recommended for your first server. You will also be able to choose the number of
hard drives and processors on your server. For an office with less than 25 employees, a server with one
processor and 2-4 hard drives should be sufficient. If you have more than 25 employees or if you're planning
to run data intensive applications, a server with two processors and 4- 6 hard drives is recommended.

Rack Servers
This system stacks the servers in racks in much the same way that a CD rack
stacks CDs. This is a space-saving option but is more suited for companies
that

● Want to maximize space in a centralized data center

● Need flexibility to mix and match serve s to match
applications and workloads
● Require large dedicated storage internal to the server.
Rack servers are better for small businesses that are well-versed in the world of servers or a medium- sized
business that requires more servers.

Blade Servers 
This system is the most compact server of the bunch. This server was named for its ultrathin shape.
Multiple blade servers can fit vertically into a single enclosure, sharing certain hardware components like power
supplies. Because of their ultra-compact size, you can fit more servers into less space. Consolidating a traditional
server infrastructure into space- and power-saving blade enclosures means:

● More processing
● Less space
● Less power
● Less time and money spent on management

Blade servers are great for businesses that require much larger computing capacity, or for businesses that plan
to develop a data center.
  
Server Hardware Configuration 
 
Servers use the same basic architecture or configuration as your desktop computer. However, a server has
enhanced hardware features such as

● Multiple multi-core processors

● Faster memory options for increased application performance
● Multiple hard drives for increased data capacity and redundancy
● Specialized networking cards

. . . and more.

System board 
The system board, also referred to as a ‘motherboard’, is the computer's main circuit
board to which all the other components of your server are connected.
The major components on the system board include the processor (or CPU), supporting circuitry 
called the chipset, memory, expansion slots, a hard drive controller, and input/output (I/O) ports for 
devices such as keyboards, mice, and printers. Some system boards also include additional built-in 
features such as a graphics adapter, SCSI disk controller, or a network interface.  

  Processor 
 

The processo is the central brain of the server. The speed and number of processors in your server has an
enormous impact on your server’s ability to support applications. Processors are continually changing and it
can be difficult to determine which one is right for your application. You should consider three main
features when selecting a processor.

Clock speeds 
This is how fast the processor operates, usually measured in gigahertz (GHz). Generally,
the faster the better, that is, servers with higher speeds deliver better performance. This
may translate into the ability to support more simultaneous Outlook accounts, handle
more web requests during peak demand periods or perform faster queries on your
customer database. Buying a higher frequency processor improves current system
performance but also helps ensure your server is able to handle future
Core count 
The number of physical processors within the processor itself. Today, most server CPUs have two or
four cores. Multiple cores enable better multitasking on servers that will run multiple applications. For
example, virus scans may run on one core while data backup is handled by another independent core.

Cache size 
 Each processor has built-in high speed memory located directly on and close to the central processing
unit (CPU). Larger cache size reduces the frequency that the CPU needs to retrieve data from the system
memory that sits outside of the CPU. For most applications, this improves the responsiveness of the
system and provides a better user experience. Typically, CPUs with higher core counts and frequency
have larger cache sizes to provide optimal performance.

Some Term Need to discuss- AMD, Intel Xeon and Itanium Series Processor, ​CPU/GPU​, ASIC, RISC, CISC

Memory 
 
When you open a file or document, your server needs a place to temporarily keep track of that file. It uses
high-speed specialized chips called random-access-memory, or RAM. The actual file is saved to your hard
drive once you ‘save’ the file. RAM is designed for fast access and quickly remembers where the file is
stored in your permanent hard drive system.

A general rule of thumb is to add as much RAM as you can – the more RAM available, the more
operations your server can handle at the same time, without having to access the hard drives (which
are slower than the RAM on the system board).

Some term needs to discuss- ECC Register, DDR3, DDR4

Storage, or Hard Drive System 

 
Hard drives provide your server with a large library of all the files it can access. Think of it like an
ever-expandable file cabinet. The size and type of hard drive systems depends on just how much data
you need to store.

Internal Storage 
Most servers are configured with a very large hard drive much like the hard drive in your
desktop. However, server hard drives are specially designed for fast access times and the
ability to add multiple hard drives internally.

Eventually, you may need to add more hard drives and attach external hard drive​ ​systems​.

RAID 
R​edundant ​A​rray of ​I​ndependent ​D​isks – combines hard drives into one large, logical storage
system that writes data across more than one disk for greater reliability. To use a RAID hard
drive system, you will need to include a RAID card Dell PowerEdge Raid Controller (PERC) which
manages the data writing across these disks.
 Network Controller 
 
The network connection is one of the most important parts of any server. The network controller
manages the inputs and traffic from the clients (other computers) in your office. But most of the servers
have minimum dual NIC support. Additional NIC can be added through the PCI slot.

Power supply (SMPS) 

 
Because a server usually has more devices than a typical desktop computer, it requires a larger power
supply (300 watts is typical or higher). If the server houses a large number of hard drives, it may require an
even larger power supply.

Dual and Hot Swappable SMPS shall be available in a server.

Then you need to consider which form factor options will fit your needs: Tower and Rack or Blade.

Server RACK:
A server rack is a structure that is designed specifically to house technical equipment including
routers, switches, hubs, and of course, servers. The rack makes it possible to securely hold
multiple pieces of equipment in one area. Server racks are typically going to be used by
businesses and kept either in data centers or communications closets.

Equipment designed to be placed in a rack is typically described as rack-mount, rack-mount

instrument, a rack-mounted system, a rack-mount chassis, subrack, rack-mountable, or
occasionally simply shelf. The height of the electronic modules is also standardized as multiples
of 1.75 inches (44.45 mm) or one rack unit or U (less commonly RU). The industry standard rack
cabinet is 42U tall, however, 45U racks are also common.

Benefits of a Server Racks- 

- Organise
- Wire Management
- Efficient Cooling
- Security

Some size of server-

- 1U, 2U 4U: More U increases no of HDD/SSD Support in the server.
- Blade Server generally take 6U Space in the RACK