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What is a rack mount server?

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Rack mount server

Rack mount server is also known as rack mount server, rack mounted server, or rack mount computer. It is a computer that can be placed in a rectangular structure called server rack.

Server racks offer many benefits, including better space conservation, increased scalability and maximum air flow when combined with a cooling device. They also make it easy to perform regular computer maintenance and diagnostics. Their design makes it possible for technicians and operators easily to ibm x3250 servers into and out of them.

What’s a rack mount server Do ?

Rack servers are like all servers and provide specific services to clients as well as data. These servers are often found in data centers that contain hundreds or even thousands of rack cabinets and server racks.

These reliable machines, which are high-powered, have been certified to military and industrial standards like MIL-STD-810H and MIL-STD-461. They can withstand extreme temperatures and vibrations during transport and operation, as well as humidity in areas where there is a lot of atmospheric moisture.

What is the working principle of a rack mount server?

Rack servers can slide easily in and out of server racks mechanically. This allows system administrators, technicians, and operators to quickly diagnose and swap parts, without having to shut down the whole system. This feature is crucial for mission-critical applications and programs, where prolonged downtime can lead to financial loss, injury, or even death.

A rack server’s performance and resources are computed to meet the specific needs of an application or program.

Remote military installations in the desert might need high-powered rack databases, email, web and file servers to support their on-site computations and access to intelligence. Commercial warehouses and industrial oil rigs may have a number of rack servers that store, process and store data from security cameras, production line computers, and fracking control system systems.

What is the width of a rack mount server?

Most rack servers measure 19 inches wide and can fit in a standard 19-inch rack. Industry racks are typically available in the 19-inch configuration, but can also be ordered in 23 and 24 inches.

Rack units are used to measure the height of server racks and rack servers.Server Racking is the process of determining how many rack mount server racks a server rack can accommodate.

Rack mount computers are often described as [number]U when you shop for them.

Simply multiply the rack number by 1.75 inches to determine the height of your server/rack in inches.

A rack server might have a height of 1U, which is 1.75 inches vertical space. Therefore, racks must have dimensions of at least 1U or 1.75 inches vertical space for rack servers to be able to slide in them.

A rack server with 4U rack dimensions would have 7 inches of vertical space. A typical server rack of 4U height can store one 4U rack server. This would make it a perfect 7-inch fit. But, it can also hold:

  • Four 1U rack servers that require 1.75 inches of vertical space each
  • Two 2U rack servers that require 3.5 inches of vertical space each
  • One rack server (3U) and one rack server (1U), respectively, require 5.25 and 1.75 inches vertical space.
  • Two 1U rack servers and one 2U rack server are required. Each server requires 3.5 inches vertical space and each 1U server 1.75 inches vertical space.

Server racks are naturally taller than 4U racks.

The 42U and 44U racks are also common rack heights. They equate to 73.5 inches and 77 inches, respectively. Racks this high can hold a variety of rack servers of different sizes. Or, you can use twenty-one 2U rack server racks for the 42U rack or twenty-two 2U server racks for the 44U rack.

What is the difference between a tower server and a rack mount server?

 Tower and blade servers occasionally make an appearance.

Tower servers are a single, upright computer that looks similar to a desktop PC tower.

They are also taller than rack mount or blade counterparts.

Tower servers can be quite expensive, but take up more space and are difficult to scale.

However, they are smaller than their tower counterparts. The blade server is a great choice for programs and projects that focus on space conservation and high processing speed.

Blade servers consume less power than rack and tower servers, as their chassis is the only power source.

Blade servers use less cabling than counterparts, but they are much more expandable due to their small size.

How do I choose a server rack?

The server rack you choose will depend on the needs of your enterprise, program or operation.

You’ll need to determine how many servers your project will require, as well as the height (RUs) and width of your server rack. Compare these measurements with the height and width of your servers to choose the appropriate rack size.

 

Which rack server is best?

The rack server that’s best for your program or operation will depend on the host of variables we discussed earlier: size, weight and power (SWaP), as well as scalability, expandability and upgradability.

Generally, the bigger the server, the more expansion and storage options you have, but keep in mind that, as you add more components, the server gets heavier and may need more power.

1U vs. 2U rack server: What’s the difference?

A 1U rack server will generally be able to support the same CPUs and RAM as a 2U server; however, it will generally have less space for PCIe slots and storage due to its small size.

3U vs. 4U vs. 5U rack server: What’s the difference?

Like the 1U and 2U rack servers, a 3U rack server will support less PCIe slots and storage options compared to the 4U or 5U rack server.

A 5U rack server can really pack a punch. For example, a Trenton Systems 5000 Series Rugged Server can support up to 18 PCIe Gen 3 slots natively, up to 48 front-access/hot-swap SATA 6 Gb/s drives, 4 internal, fixed 2.5″ 6 Gb/s SATA drives and up to two SlimLine Optical drives. Pair this with PCIe expansion kit and/or JBOD, and you’ve got yourself quite the formidable machine.

Rugged Servers: What Do You Mean ‘Stress-Tested?’

Durability

In the rugged computing industry, servers and workstations usually have their hardware – think CPUs and memory modules – stress-tested to adhere to the in-field performance expectations of customers. They also meet certain military and industrial standards, including MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and MIL-S-901. Each of these standards tests for a specific purpose. The MIL-STD-461 tests for electromagnetic compatibility, while MIL-STD-810 and MIL-S-901 test for various environmental stressors and high-impact physical shock, respectively.

Trenton’s rugged servers not only meet these requirements, but our rack mount design allows you to easily customize, replace, or repair your server’s components. You just simply remove and get to work. That way, you don’t have to overhaul the entire system just to solve a minor issue. 

Trenton also temperature-tests its servers in accordance with MIL-STD-810, ensuring a wide range of temperature variability on all fronts.

 The chamber lets us control the environment while the probes report on temperature fluctuations. Our engineers then calculate the minimum and maximum temperatures for each component. Whether blazing hot or bone-chillingly cold, you’re in business.

 

Rugged Servers: What Do You Mean ‘Stress-Tested?’

 

Durability, reliability, and security are three key characteristics that every worthwhile, stress-tested rugged server should have. After all, you want your particular application, whether military, industrial, or commercial, to be as consistent, stable, and low-maintenance as possible.

 We ensure that your commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or custom server is able to withstand even the harshest of conditions on land, in air, and at sea.

 

But just what exactly does “stress-tested” mean, and how does it guarantee durability, reliability, and security in rugged computing?

 

Durability

In the rugged computing industry, servers and workstations usually have their hardware – think CPUs and memory modules – stress-tested to adhere to the in-field performance expectations of customers. They also meet certain military and industrial standards, including MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and MIL-S-901. Each of these standards tests for a specific purpose. The MIL-STD-461 tests for electromagnetic compatibility, while MIL-STD-810 and MIL-S-901 test for various environmental stressors and high-impact physical shock, respectively.

Trenton’s rugged servers not only meet these requirements, but our rack mount design allows you to easily customize, replace, or repair your server’s components. You just simply remove and get to work. That way, you don’t have to overhaul the entire system just to solve a minor issue. 

Trenton also temperature-tests its servers in accordance with MIL-STD-810, ensuring a wide range of temperature variability on all fronts.

 

Reliability

Stress-tested servers are tried-and-true machines with a long service life. Some rugged computers and components last, at best, three to seven years. That’s pretty good, but why stop there?

We’ve all been there. We buy a computer that seems like it fits our needs, and after just a few years, it fails, or you encounter issues that cost exorbitant amounts of money and time to fix. Now we have to go out and buy another computer or drop more dollars on an expensive repair or replacement part. Ugh. We’re already stressed just thinking about it.

Security

Stress-tested servers wouldn’t be worth their salt without tight security, especially given the increasingly sophisticated efforts of hackers to steal, destroy, or leak sensitive information.

Security breaches can be stressful, destabilize your business or organization, and cause immense damage to the server you spent time and money on perfecting. Trenton Systems stays abreast of the latest cybersecurity trends and technologies to ensure that this doesn’t happen.

We constantly monitor for the latest security updates, and our engineers implement solutions quickly, whether with regard to our customizable BIOS, firmware, Intel’s Management Engine (IME), and other technologies.

 

The Lowdown

Stress-testing is a complex process that involves taking a rugged server and pushing it to its limits to ensure durability, reliability, and security. Improperly stress-tested systems are at risk of failure during operation and not meeting required military and industrial standards. When lives and national security are at stake, this is particularly unacceptable.

Trenton Systems understands that its customers need a durable, reliable, and secure rugged server so that they can carry out their duties without fear, worry, and stress. Time and time again, Trenton has proven that its powerful military and industrial servers can withstand the test, and stress, of time.

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