Blade Server FAQ
A blade server is a modular, high density server system designed to maximize space utilization. A blade only contains the motherboard, CPU, memory and optional hard-drives and relies on the blade enclosure to provide power and connectivity.
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Size
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The first attraction of a blade system is its size. A regular 42U rack cabinet can accept a maximum of 42 1U servers, while the same cabinet can accept up to 128 blades. The size can either be used to increase the number of servers per server room or create smaller ones. A blade cannot function on its own. In order to save space, all the Input /output (I/O) ports, such as network or video ports are centralized on the blade
enclosure. It also allows for each hot swapping of defective blades.
Power
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Just as the blade enclosure centralizes the I/O ports; it also centralizes the power supply. Depending on the type of enclosure, the power supplies can either power all the blades or, in the case of an enclosure with several power supplies, have one power supply control a specific set of blades. Every manufacturer offers the option to have
redundant power supplies. -
Networking
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Blade owners have two types of network connections available to them. The first one has one port per blade, while the second has ports shared between different blades. Network connections can be easily upgraded or changed with modules fitting in the enclosure like a blade. Blades also simplify cable management as it centralizes connections for all the blades in one area of the enclosure and eliminate cables from the connection component to the individual blades.
Cooling
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Cooling is critical to servers because the heat generated can cause hardware and software problems if not properly ventilated. Blades, because of their size and concentration of components, are more vulnerable than conventional servers. To dissipate the heat, blades use some of the same methods as other servers, namely high speed fan running at a high speed. However, some models hosting high concentrations of high end CPUs are now using water cooling to improve their thermal dissipation performance.
Shortcomings
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Blades are not perfect and have some shortcomings. The first one is the small amount of room dedicated for storage. Blades are mainly designed to provide raw power and will necessitate external storage for most applications. The second one is the increased concentration of servers. The higher concentration increases the need to have a proper cooling system. This may necessitate redesigning the HVAC system to maintain appropriate temperatures in the server room.
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