Server hardware is constantly evolving, and as a dedicated server administrator, it is a good idea to stay abreast on the latest technology and find out where server technology is headed in the future. The following are some of the new technology that has recently been released or is coming soon.
72-core processor – Do [...]
In some situations, the type of server hardware you use is the least of your concerns, but if you are setting up your own data center, you will need to decide which type of server you prefer. The three main types of servers are: towers, racks, and blades.
Towers – You probably recognize towers, as they [...]
If you have spent any time reading or even overhearing conversations about cloud computing, you have undoubtedly heard of the term Software as a Service (SaaS). Other common cloud terms include Platform as a Service (PaaS) and even Storage as a Service (STaaS). Another cloud model that is quickly gaining steam is Infrastructure as a [...]
For the past two decades, hard disk drives (HDD) have ruled the storage landscape. Servers in particular have relied on high-performance HDDs to store data for short-term use. For long-term storage, many organizations may have used tape backup, although even those have gradually been replaced with hard drives. Now, solid state drives (SDD), which use [...]
Under normal operations, it would probably be unnecessary to clone your dedicated server’s hard drive. There are, however, instances when it makes sense. Your hard drive may show signs of failure, and a pre-emptive cloning to a new drive could save your data and avoid the prolonged downtime that would come with restoring backups. The [...]
If you go back further enough in time, you might find some servers running on SPARC architecture, but other than that, only three processor brand types have truly been dominant in the server market. Those are Intel, AMD, and IBM’s PowerPC. Lately, Intel and AMD in particular have dominated the server market with x86_64 architecture. [...]
Most servers come with 64-bit processor architecture. For example, Intel’s Xeon line of processors as well as AMD’s Opteron processors are both capable of 64-bit instructions. Most modern desktop processors are also 64-bit. Nevertheless, there are still some users who might opt for 32-bit operating systems. Is there really a substantial difference and what are [...]
Over the next couple of weeks, Dedicated Server School will post several articles in a series called “Back to the Basics”. Much of this will be a rehash of content we have already published, but it will be provided in a more uniform set of informative posts for those new to dedicated servers.
Part 1: [...]
As energy costs continue to rise and new environmental regulations come into effect, many businesses are looking for ways to reduce data center costs. A server uses a lot of power for processing and cooling. By using low-powered servers for certain tasks, you can reduce energy costs and help save the environment.
When Is a Low-Powered [...]
One of the most unappealing yet necessary tasks that PC users often perform is defragmenting of their hard drives. In the old days of small, slow hard drives, defragmenting was the only way to speed up performance and use every last byte you had available.
Times have changed considerably since then. Most modern hard disk drives [...]
One of the methods some system administrators use to speed up their servers is to install solid state drives in place of traditional hard drives. Solid state drives (SSD) are considerably different in hardware architecture from a standard hard disk drive (HDD). These differences give solid state drives a decisive edge in read access times.
The [...]
This is a difficult question to answer. When you are shopping for a dedicated server, however, it is bound to come up at least once. RAM (memory), hard disk space, and bandwidth all cost money. It does not matter if you are purchasing your own dedicated server or using a remotely-hosted solution. These things cost [...]
A while back, we took a look at Intel’s Xeon processor numbering scheme to get a better idea of how their server CPUs are identified. Intel, however, is not the only server processor manufacturer on the block. Its direct competitor, AMD, has a server line called Opteron processors.
According to AMD’s specifications, every processor in [...]
There was a time when all you had to know about a processor was the clock speed. Then, you knew your 486 was faster than your friend’s down the street. Those days are long gone, and the complexity of processor power and naming systems for them makes deciphering the actual speed and power a bit [...]
Your hard drive is one of the most important components of your server. Whether you have one single drive or several linked together, It is crucial for you to keep them at optimal performance and speed. There are many tools that can help you manage your drives, and hdparm is just one of them.
The first [...]
Whether you are leasing a server from a remote service or buying your own on-premise dedicated server, it is important to know what is under the hood and what you are getting for your money. The following are five tips that should help you evaluate servers and make an informed decision.
1. Look for server-grade CPUs. [...]
One of the most frightening things that can happen to a server is to be hit with a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. For the company, organization, or individual responsible for the website or multiple sites being victimized, it can generate a feeling of helplessness. Although there may not be [...]
It is easy to assume that a dedicated server host will provide you with the latest hardware, but the only real way to make sure of this is to evaluate the hardware specs they provide. Many new server administrators pay close attention to operating systems, control panels, and software, but neglect one of the [...]
The seemingly endless number of possible mail server configurations is no surprise for most IT support personnel. Whether an organization is operating on a shoestring budget or is well-funded, mail servers are often crammed with unnecessary applications that take up too many precious resources. This dubious practice can cause the mail server to perform poorly [...]
64-bit architecture is not something new, but there are still a lot of 32-bit computers on the market. While high-end servers almost always have 64-bit Xeon, AMD64, Itanium, or PowerPC processors, when starting out, you may be faced with the choice between 32-bit or 64-bit. Which should you choose?
Before you decide, you should [...]
When you lease a remote dedicated server, you really have no physical way of knowing that you got what you paid for. There are, however, a couple of ways to find out what hardware your server actually has using some basic Linux commands. These commands tell you what hardware is in use and [...]
“How do I setup a CS server?” is a common question amongst Counter Strike fans interested in hosting their own games. The first thing to do is know your server requirements and shop around for the best deal on a dedicated server. Just one word of CAUTION though! The best looking deal isn’t always necessarily [...]
Liquid Web’s SSD servers just got better. Today, they announced the availability of the world’s most advanced NAND clustering technology designed for server based application-centric storage, the Fusion-IO ioDrive.
Fusion-ioDrives are high-performance solid state (SSD) hard drives designed with the revolutionary silicon-based storage architecture ioMemory that can easily match the I/O performance of the world’s [...]
Servers provide computing power to facilitate transfer of data across a network to enable applications, operating systems, file transfer, email, printing and communications among client computers. Each particular type of server is generally defined by its configuration and software which enables it to communicate with intermediate client machines.
Whether you are powering business communications, web site [...]
If you want to build your own dedicated server you will need to ensure that you get the very best hardware that you can find. There is nothing so important as the server where all of the files necessary to run your business are stored. You don’t want to go the cheap route here.
Many people, [...]
When it comes to the world of computers, the way terminology is used often makes it difficult to figure out what a certain technology should actually do. Application server is one of those terms that fit the bill, as it has many different uses. A major server developer, Oracle’s J2EE (Java Platform Enterprise Edition) server [...]
A rack server is a computer designed to be incorporated into a central framework known as a rack. The rack itself contains several bays, mounting slots that are designed to securely hold the hardware unit in place.
The Differences in Physicality
Though similar to a tower in terms of functionality, a rack server is quite [...]
Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Services) and Apache have been the dominant force in the server industry. Although Apache is the most widely installed, the IIS server application is more prevalent on the enterprise market, similar to many other Microsoft products. Both programs are solid choices, but each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Apache
The [...]
I was over at WebHostingTalk and I bumped into this topic here, in which a forum poster asks how much CPU load is too much CPU load for a dedicated server. The answer most given to him throughout the course of the topic is that too much is when it affects performance (though [...]
I was browsing around today and stumbled upon Gigenet’s “Bargain Basement” section. I was pretty impressed with what I saw- 2.2GHz Athlons with 2GB of RAM starting around 99$ per month, with around 2000 GB of bandwidth. I’m not sure how managed the servers are- Gigenet claims something called “Pinnacle Support”, and they [...]
