1.1 Install Physical Hardware
📘CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005)
A server chassis is the physical case that holds the server’s components, such as the motherboard, CPUs, RAM, storage drives, power supply, and networking hardware. Choosing the right chassis depends on your IT environment, the space available, and the performance and scalability needs.
There are three main server chassis types:
1. Tower Servers
Description:
- Looks like a traditional desktop computer, but built for server tasks.
- Stands vertically (tower shape).
- Can have multiple internal drives and expansion cards.
- Usually designed for small-scale environments.
Key Features:
- Form Factor: Vertical, free-standing.
- Scalability: Moderate; you can add storage, RAM, or expansion cards, but limited by physical space.
- Cooling: Uses built-in fans; cooling is usually sufficient for small deployments.
- Noise: Can be noisy due to fans.
- Accessibility: Easy to access components—great for upgrading or repairing.
Common Use in IT:
- Small office servers handling file storage, print services, or basic web services.
- Can host virtualization for a small number of VMs.
Pros:
- Affordable.
- Easy to maintain and upgrade.
- No need for a dedicated server rack.
Cons:
- Not space-efficient in larger data centers.
- Limited scalability compared to rack or blade servers.
2. Rack-Mount Servers
Description:
- Designed to fit into server racks, which are standardized frames (19-inch wide in most cases).
- Can be stacked vertically in racks, saving space in data centers.
- Height measured in “U” (1U = 1.75 inches); common sizes are 1U, 2U, 4U.
Key Features:
- Form Factor: Flat, horizontal, fits into a rack.
- Scalability: Highly scalable; multiple servers can be stacked in a single rack.
- Cooling: Rack-based airflow systems; often uses hot/cold aisle arrangements in data centers.
- Accessibility: Slide-out rails make it easier to access components in a rack.
- Management: Often supports remote management via IPMI, iLO, or DRAC.
Common Use in IT:
- Medium to large business data centers.
- Hosting databases, virtualization platforms, email servers, or enterprise applications.
Pros:
- Efficient use of space.
- Can hold many servers in one rack.
- Easier to manage and monitor multiple servers.
Cons:
- Requires a rack enclosure.
- Slightly harder to upgrade individual servers compared to tower servers.
- Cooling can be more complex.
3. Blade Servers
Description:
- Ultra-compact servers designed to fit into a blade enclosure.
- Blade enclosure provides shared power, cooling, networking, and management.
- Individual blades are thin, modular server boards that slide into the enclosure.
Key Features:
- Form Factor: Modular; “blades” slide into a chassis.
- Scalability: Very high; many blades can share the same chassis infrastructure.
- Cooling: Enclosure provides centralized cooling, reducing energy use.
- Networking & Power: Centralized in the chassis; reduces cabling complexity.
- Management: Often includes integrated management for all blades.
Common Use in IT:
- Large-scale data centers.
- Cloud computing environments.
- High-density virtualization or high-performance computing (HPC).
Pros:
- Space-efficient and energy-efficient.
- Centralized management simplifies administration.
- High scalability in dense environments.
Cons:
- More expensive upfront.
- Enclosure failure can affect multiple blades.
- Upgrades may require replacing the whole blade or chassis components.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Tower Server | Rack-Mount Server | Blade Server |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Vertical, standalone | Horizontal, rack-mounted | Modular, slides into enclosure |
| Space Efficiency | Low | Medium | High |
| Scalability | Moderate | High | Very High |
| Cooling | Built-in fans | Rack airflow | Centralized via enclosure |
| Cost | Low | Medium | High |
| IT Use Case | Small office | Medium-large DC | Large-scale DC/cloud |
| Maintenance | Easy | Moderate | Complex |
Exam Tips for SK0-005:
- Remember form factors: Tower = standalone, Rack = stacked in racks, Blade = modular in enclosures.
- Know the typical use cases for each type.
- Scalability and space efficiency are often asked in multiple-choice questions.
- Blade servers are high-density and shared resources, tower servers are for small deployments.
- If asked about U (rack unit): 1U = 1.75 inches high.
