4.1. The Basics

Hardware sold for use as a server is qualitatively different from hardware sold for use as an individual workstation. Server hardware has different features and is engineered to a different economic model. Special procedures are used to install and support servers. They typically have maintenance contracts, disk-backup systems, OS, better remote access, and servers reside in the controlled environment of a data center, where access to server hardware can be limited. Understanding these differences will help you make better purchasing decisions.

4.1.1. Buy Server Hardware for Servers

Systems sold as servers are different from systems sold to be clients or desktop workstations. It is often tempting to “save money” by purchasing desktop hardware and loading it with server software. Doing so may work in the short term but is not the best choice for the long term or in a large installation you would be building a house of cards. Server hardware usually costs more but has additional features that justify the cost. Some of the features are