Distributed server architectures based upon "blades" are rapidly emerging in
the data centers of corporations and Internet service providers.
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Historically, servers only assumed the form factor of a re-purposed desktop
computer or rack-mountable appliance. These servers utilized high-quality
components and leverage additional memory and hard disk capacity. Now server
form factors are evolving into single PC cards that can be plugged into a
chassis as a single module.
Bladed servers stack numerous independent lower-end servers within a single
chassis. Chassis can accept anywhere from eight to 24 blades. Each blade is
an independent system with its own memory, processor and network connection.
Due to their compact size, multiple blade servers can be placed in a single
server rack or enclosure, allowing numerous systems to share electricity and
HVAC resources.
Gartner DataQuest (dataquest.com) predicts that worldwide server blade
shipments will increase from 84,410 units in 2002 to more than one million
in 2006. The IT research firm anticipates that revenue from server blades
will reach at least $1.2 billion during this time period. Blades are thus
becoming the one major segment of the server market that is experiencing
escalating growth.
The popularity and fast growth of the blade server can be attributed to
cost-savings that the device accrues to its users, especially hosting firms
and service providers. Because more than 250 blade servers can be
effectively placed into a single rack, it is possible for hosting firms with
data center operations to quadruple their hosting capacity with the devices.
By comparison, most of today's low-end servers have only a single computer
in one enclosure, allowing only one 42 systems to fit in an
industry-standard rack.
Because blade servers are small, consume less power and generate less heat
than an average server, they are emerging as an ever-popular option for
niche Web hosting services. With the cost of data center space at
approximately $300 per square foot and with energy costs increasing
throughout continental North America due to deregulation, blade servers have
become the de facto standard for increasing data center profitability.
The systems are typically used as Web servers and caching servers that
deliver Web pages to Internet browsers, SSL servers for encrypted
communication, and streaming servers for audio and video transmissions. Most
hosting companies and service providers appreciate the devices because they
are easy to install and employ dedicated software that improves their
administration, performance and reliability. The devices are also
increasingly being utilized as firewall devices and to increase capacity in
corporate data centers.
Blade severs are excellent devices for hosting companies with large existing
data center deployments who want to capitalize upon existing PCI expansion
space. The inclusion of a single blade allows a hosting company to double
its computing power or hosting offering, utilizing the same amount of
physical space. The main disadvantage concerning PCI-based blade servers is
that the processors are usually not as robust as traditional high-end
servers. This factor limits the use of the server to functions such as
low-end Web hosting.
While blade severs have the capacity to serve streaming video and other
demanding applications, often the emerging technology is used for back up or
storage purposes. Lower-end models usually depend on server or operating
system virtualization, causing the server to run much slower than
traditional equipment.
It is thus incumbent upon a reseller to determine whether a hosting company
is utilizing blade servers for mission-critical deployments and whether
those servers can accommodate demanding applications.
Resellers who operate their own equipment might want to consider utilizing
blade servers as an effective technology to add firewall or other security
specific capacities to their colocated equipment.
