While the demand for cloud computing has steadily risen over the past several years, so too has the supply of affordable and reliable virtualization technology like Intel® Xeon®-based platforms. At this year’s Intel® Developer Forum, the company highlighted this trend and provided solutions to help businesses and individuals maximize the value of their investment in hardware and infrastructure.
Based on the response to our recent article on Intel® Xeon® Server availability, it’s clear that many of you are interested in knowing more about the state of the industry and how to position your business for the future. We sat down with two industry experts to get their take on the matter, and what it means for you, the reader. Their comments are listed below.
Dennis Waliser
Dennis Waliser is an industry veteran who has been designing and building computers and networking equipment for over 30 years. He is currently Senior Director of Worldwide Marketing at Dell EMC—the company he cofounded—where he leads the marketing, sales, and technical support functions for public cloud, storage, and networking technologies.
Dell EMC has built a strong reputation for providing reliable high-performance computing and storage hardware and software to the HPC and cloud computing markets. In the past year alone, over 50,000 servers have been shipped with the company’s hardware and software, including Intel® Xeon® processors, Lustre filesystem, and OpenStack™.
Dell EMC’s commitment to open source software and the ecosystem of devices and applications that it powers is also demonstrated through the numerous developer engagement activities the company spearheads, including the popular Dell EMC WorldTour, which brings together developers and IT professionals for a week of intensive workshops and one-on-one pairing to learn about the technologies the company promotes.
John Koethe
John Koethe is the Director of Worldwide Sales and Marketing at Mellanox Technologies, a worldwide supplier of data center connectivity and interconnect products. He is responsible for leading the company’s worldwide sales and marketing teams and reporting to the company’s Executive Vice President of Operations.
Mellanox provides a complete portfolio of high-performance interconnect solutions for the data center that include adapters, switches, and high-speed transceivers for 10GE, 100GE, and 1Tbit/s networks. The company also offers a full line of networking fabrics, including single- and multi-rack devices for connecting servers and storage devices within data centers and for extending the data center’s connectivity to adjacent offices and campuses.
What is the availability of Intel® Xeon®-based servers?
When it comes to buying pre-packaged hardware such as servers, the devil is in the details. Despite the fact that all the major components needed for a working server are already there, the level of service you get from the vendor can vary widely. On one hand, you have boutique server providers who sell just what you need and nothing more. On the other, you have large vendors who sell pre-configured barebones servers without any add-on cards. In between, you have the larger vendors, such as Dell and HP, who provide a wider range of choices in terms of what you can choose from within their portfolio of servers, with the added bonus of customizing the device for you.
The truth is, unless you’ve got a specific need and know exactly what you want, it’s best to go for the option that comes with the more features. This is especially important if you’re looking for a truly dedicated server as you won’t get the full experience if you’re renting one.
Why are there so many variations in the types of hardware and software that come with a server?
As we described above, the range of options available for servers is quite diverse. Some vendors choose to specialise in barebones devices, while others focus on providing an array of add-on cards that you can choose from. Regardless of which option you go for, you’re bound to land on a device that’s pre-configured for your needs and doesn’t come with a lot of extra features that you don’t need. This is why there are so many variations in the types of hardware and software that come with a server.
How does the cost of hardware and software vary?
The cost of all the major components needed for a working server will vary widely depending on the vendor and the time of year. For example, the cost of a single-socket server with 4GB of RAM will vary between $400 and $500, while a dual-socket server with 16GB of RAM can cost up to $2000. The cost of the RAM alone for a 16GB server will be around $400.
The prices of specialized add-on cards and components, like the CPU, storage and networking cards, vary based on the type of usage you’ll put them in. For example, 10GE networking cards for a single machine will cost you $400-500, while the same card for a server, used for connecting many machines, will cost you $2000 or more. Storage cards for laptops vary between $80 and $150, while for desktops, the price is often around $300-400. The total cost for a barebones PC with 4GB of RAM, used as a dedicated server, will be around $1500-2000.
What is the best option for someone looking for a dedicated server?
If you are looking for a dedicated server without any add-on cards and you know exactly what you want, it is best to look for vendors who offer this type of service. The main reason behind this is that if you do need to add extra functionality later on, you’ll have to do it yourself through add-on cards and onboard devices. This is not the case with dedicated servers, where the hardware and software are all you need and no add-ons are required.
The downside of going for a dedicated server is that you’ll pay more for the privilege. This can range between $500 and $2000, depending on the size and the configuration of the device. On the plus side, you’ll have full control over the machine and the software that comes with it and you won’t have to worry about the support being provided by the vendor.
If you are looking for a more affordable and flexible option, it’s best to go with a vendor who offers a range of options. This way, you can choose a server that comes with all the major components you need and can be expanded later on with either onboard devices or add-on cards, as and when required.
How does commercial support for a dedicated server vary?
The price for the hardware and software of a dedicated server makes it easy to overlook the cost of support. After all, you’re paying for what you need, so the cost should not be a significant factor. This is why support can vary so much from vendor to vendor and why you need to do your research before committing to a particular plan. You may find that some vendors provide excellent support for free, while others want you to pay for this. It is always best to find out what support plans are offered before committing. This way, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into.
Is the demand for dedicated servers rising?
The rise of the commercial cloud has led to a rise in the demand for dedicated servers. This is mainly because businesses and individuals often want to avoid the complexity of dealing with the varied demands of multiple users on shared hosting servers. Instead, they want a robust device that can keep up with the heavy workloads these days.
As a result, vendors are catering to this need with more and more options and variations of dedicated servers. This also means that unless you know exactly what you want, it’s best to go for the option that comes with all the major components. This ensures you get the best price and value for your money.
The commercial cloud market is a vast area where many vendors compete for your business. To ensure you make the right decision, be sure to research each vendor’s server offerings and support plans before buying. This way, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into and what choices you have available to you.