10 Data Center Server Hardware Must-Haves

Take your data center to the next level by adding components that will not
only enhance security but will also enhance your overall service level. There’s
no substitute for quality. Even redundancies will not substitute for quality
in a data center where customers expect 100 percent uptime, iron-clad security
and superb performance. These 10 hardware additions will help you maintain
excellent service and outstanding security for you and your customers.

1. Blade Server

When making your 2011 hardware purchases, leave room for a few key items you really require to make good service great.

Blade servers require less space, less energy and less time to deploy. One of the major advantages of blade servers is that they now ship with solid state drives as standard internal storage. As blade technology matures and hardware formats continue to shrink, they will become the computing mainstay of the world’s data centers.

2. Flywheel UPS

This not-new technology is making a big comeback as a green energy source for data centers. They’re green because there’s no huge bank of lead acid batteries in which to store usable energy. Flywheel UPS systems can store a huge amount of power in a relatively small and light package. In the case of a power outage, the Flywheel UPS supplies glitch-free power until the main generators come online to provide long-term power to equipment and facilities.

3. Retina Scanners

Data center security is of extreme importance to prevent unauthorized physical access to sensitive systems. Retina scanners provide a very high level of security against would-be terrorists, thieves and vandals. Keycards and secure tokens can be stolen, but retinas are unique and can’t be easily misplaced, stolen or duplicated like other kinds of security devices.

4. 100Gb Ethernet Switches

High-speed Ethernet is a requirement for passing huge amounts of data between systems. 100Gb Ethernet is the next transition on the road to extreme broadband connectivity inside your data center. Server-to-server communications must be near instantaneous for critical workloads, and 100Gb Ethernet puts you one step closer to that goal.

5. Wireless Access Points

With the surge in tablet computing, netbook use and inexpensive laptop availability, support personnel are looking for mobility in the data center. Without wireless access, system administrators and hardware personnel are limited to using completely wired crash carts or remote systems for supporting “hard to get to” racked servers. Remember to use a secure access code to minimize unauthorized use.