Boosting server performance: moving to dedicated blade server racks

Server image
Savvy IT leaders reclaim money

IT managers with multiple dedicated servers quickly realise that it takes a lot of time and resources to maintain their efficiency, but there is a more systematic approach in moving from rack to blade server configurations.

Both can boost performance and reduce costs, but blade servers offer the most flexibility.

Dell has cited statistics in a white paper, that show blade servers can pack more stealth into less space. It says the Dell M1000e can fit up to 16 blades in the space required by 10 rack-optimized 1U servers, a 60% density increase providing enhanced performance that can even further reduce the number of servers required for the given workload.

Savings

The company points out: "Savvy IT leaders realise that increasing data centre efficiency while reducing power and cooling costs enables them to reclaim money, time, and human resources that can be refocused to support strategic needs.

"Companies are choosing blade servers as a key component of their IT strategy when building out new data centres, implementing server refresh, virtualising more of their environment, or simply looking to simplify the management of their server farms."

Moving the supporting hardware such as cooling, I/O interface, memory and power supply that servers require to the blade enclosure can further improve their overall performance and flexibility. But it is important to ensure that each enclosure is full, as those that are not fully utilised will often cancel out any savings.

This level of flexibility is vitally important in highly virtualised server installations. Blade servers make it easier to manage load balancing and server throttling, and thereby continually react to usage workloads and power needs.

Throttling

Dell makes a case for its PowerEdge servers that use throttling for many purposes, including optimising the amount of work done for the energy consumed. This can optimise component temperatures inside the server during peak workloads, an important feature in achieving high performance.

For IT managers tasked with cost reductions, the investment in blade servers will deliver a number of clear advantages. The flexibility that servers such as these offer, coupled with their ability to react to a changing load environment makes them ideal for businesses that are looking to leverage their server installations to deliver improved performance.

Latest in Pro
Cyber-security
The definitive guide to credential collaboration
Eurocom Raptor X18
At $15,000, this massive 256GB RAM laptop makes Apple's MacBook Pro look affordable, tiny and very, very slow
Squarespace
Build a website for less with 10% off Squarespace subscriptions
An American flag flying outside the US Capitol building against a blue sky
The FCC is creating a security council to bolster US defenses against cyberattacks
UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer
UK PM says AI should soon replace civil servants
Image depicting hands typing on a keyboard, with phishing hooks holding files, passwords and credit cards.
Microsoft warns about a new phishing campaign impersonating Booking.com
Latest in News
Google Gemini Flash 2.0 Images
I tried Gemini's new AI image generation tool - here are 5 ways to get the best art from Google's Flash 2.0
An image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from a hands-on event
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could resurrect an intriguing camera feature
Eurocom Raptor X18
At $15,000, this massive 256GB RAM laptop makes Apple's MacBook Pro look affordable, tiny and very, very slow
Cristin Milioti in Black Mirror season 7
Netflix launches trailer for Black Mirror season 7, giving us a look at its first-ever sequel episode and an unexpected returning character
A graphic of the PC Gaming Show
Get ready for a bounty of PC games on June 8, as the PC Gaming show is back
A close up of The Daily podcast from Pocket Casts' web page
‘Podcasting shouldn’t be locked behind walled gardens’: Pocket Casts slams Spotify and makes its web player free to all