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Businesses often develop on-premise solutions to address their scaling needs as they grow. One such solution is deploying a bare metal server, which provides a robust and reliable infrastructure for any business’s IT operations. Bare metal servers are becoming increasingly popular among small and medium businesses due to their cost-effectiveness and scalability, making them an attractive choice for those looking to deploy an on-premise solution to accommodate future growth.
This blog post will examine the advantages and challenges of using a bare metal server as part of an on-premise IT infrastructure solution. We will also provide information about the hardware components needed, the best operating system for a bare metal server, and the required networking and storage components.
What is an on-premise solution?
An on-premise solution is an IT infrastructure built and managed within an organization’s internal environment, consisting of things as servers, storage devices, and networking components. This system gives businesses greater control and flexibility over their data and security requirements while reducing the costs associated with cloud hosting solutions. Organizations can ensure their systems are secure and managed adequately without sacrificing performance or scalability by utilizing local hardware resources such as a bare metal server. Additionally, an on-premise solution allows for greater customization because it is tailored to the specific needs of each business. Considering all these advantages, an on-premise solution with a bare metal server is ideal for companies developing scalable IT solutions.
What is a Bare Metal Server
A bare metal server is a single-tenant physical server that is not virtualized. This gives businesses complete control over their hardware and software configurations, allowing for greater customization and improved performance and security. Additionally, bare metal servers are highly scalable, meaning they can be upgraded or downgraded depending on the needs of the business. They are also more cost-effective than cloud solutions since firms do not need to pay hosting fees or additional infrastructure costs associated with a cloud environment. Furthermore, bare metal servers can be used with other on-premise components like storage devices and networking equipment to create a robust, secure, customizable IT solution. Ultimately, deploying a bare metal server as part of an on-premise solution is ideal for businesses seeking greater control over their IT infrastructure.
Several key hardware components must be considered when deploying a bare metal server as part of an on-premise IT infrastructure solution. A basic setup requires at least one processor and memory module, hard drives or solid-state disks (SSDs), power supplies, cooling systems, and cables. Depending on the requirements of the business, additional components may be added to increase performance or provide more reliable data protection. For example, companies looking for maximum reliability might want to add redundant power supplies or RAID controllers to ensure that all essential data is protected from loss due to power or hardware failure.
Another essential component is the operating system. The most popular choice for on-premise solutions is Linux, as it offers an extensive range of tools and applications that can be used to achieve almost any task. Windows Server OS is another option, although many businesses find that the licensing costs associated with this platform make it prohibitively expensive compared to Linux.
Finally, networking and storage components must be taken into account and configured to ensure the optimal performance of the bare metal server. This includes setting up routers and switches to provide connections between different physical locations, firewalls for security purposes, and data storage solutions such as NAS drives or SANs, if large amounts of data need to be stored and accessed.
• Cost efficiency – Businesses can significantly reduce their IT costs because renting or purchasing space in a data center is unnecessary.
• High performance – Bare metal servers are highly reliable and offer superior performance due to their dedicated hardware components being selected specifically for application needs.
• Flexibility – Businesses can quickly scale up or down depending on their needs and have the freedom to customize their infrastructure as needed.
• Data security – All data stored in a bare metal server is kept in-house, providing extra peace of mind for businesses concerned about potential cyber-attacks or data breaches.
Deploying a bare metal server as part of an on-premise solution can be a cost-effective and reliable IT infrastructure hosting method. With the ability to customize components for specific business needs, companies can ensure their server will remain fast and secure.. Additionally, as all data is stored in-house, businesses have more control over who has access to sensitive information. Finally, with the flexibility to scale up or down whenever necessary, businesses can easily adjust their infrastructure according to changing requirements. These factors make a bare metal server an attractive option for companies looking to keep their IT infrastructure in-house.
The challenges of an on-premise solution with a bare metal server include the following:
• High upfront costs – Purchasing, setting up, and maintaining the hardware components can be significant.
• Rapid scalability – On-premise solutions are not as quick to scale as cloud-based solutions. Planning ahead is important.
• Lack of expertise – It may be difficult for businesses to find staff with the necessary skills and experience to maintain their IT infrastructure.
• Security risks– Keeping data in-house may present risks if proper precautions are not taken.
An on-premise solution with a bare metal server can benefit businesses, but some potential challenges must be considered before deploying such a system. The high upfront costs associated with purchasing and setting up the hardware may be significant, and businesses may need to find staff with the necessary expertise to maintain their IT infrastructure. Additionally, on-premise solutions are only sometimes as flexible or scalable as cloud-based
solutions, so this needs to be considered when planning for future growth. Finally, proper security measures must be implemented to mitigate any potential risks of data breaches or cyber-attacks. By weighing the advantages and disadvantages carefully and taking steps to address any potential challenges, businesses can ensure that their IT infrastructure is secure and efficient and future-proofed.
Overall, an on-premise solution with a bare metal server can offer many benefits to businesses looking for high performance and cost savings in their IT infrastructure. However, before using one, careful consideration should be given to the potential challenges associated with such solutions. By considering these at the outset, businesses can ensure they make the best decision for their particular needs and budget.
With EdgeNext’s expert team of engineers and experienced IT professionals, businesses can be sure their bare metal servers will be configured correctly and maintained efficiently. Contact us today to learn more about our on-premise solutions with a bare metal server!
Reference:
IBM. What are bare metal and dedicated servers? https://www.ibm.com/topics/bare-metal-dedicated-servers
Kinsta. What is an SSD? https://kinsta.com/blog/what-is-ssd/
TechTarget. RAID (redundant array of independent disks). https://www.techtarget.com/searchstorage/definition/RAID
EdgeNext. Bare Metal Server. https://www.edgenext.com/bare_metal_server/
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