David G | Source Tech

Dell PowerEdge R620 vs R720

Created on: May 23, 2017

Updated on: June 7, 2021

Built for maximum memory capacity and enhanced performance, the Dell PowerEdge R720 and R620 are both effective solutions for your data center. The Dell R620 has the key feature of having a large memory capability despite its small size, making it a great server for data centers with limited space. The Dell R720 also has advanced memory capabilities, with the key feature of handling very demanding workloads such as high-performance computing (HPC).

Below is a side-by-side comparison of these two servers and how each of them can be a great solution for your data center needs.

Model	R620	R720
Product Image
Form Factor	1U Rack	2U Rack
Processors	2 Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2600 product family. Up to 8 cores per processor.	2 Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2600 product family. Up to 8 cores per processor.
Memory	Up to 768GB (24 DIMM slots) DDR3 up to 1600MT/s	Up to 768GB (24 DIMM Slots) DDR3 up to 1600 MT/s
Drive Bay Configurations	Up to ten 2.5” hot-plug SAS, SATA, or SSD or up to four hot-plug 2.5” SAS, SATA, or SSD + two PCIe SSD	Up to eight 3.5” drives or up to sixteen 2.5” drives
Max Internal Storage	Up to 10 TB	Up to 32TB
Storage Controllers	Internal controllers: PERC S110 (SW RAID) PERC H310 PERC H710 PERC H710P External HBAs (RAID): PERC H810 External HBAs (non-RAID): 6Gbps SAS HBA	Internal controllers: PERC S110 (SW RAID) PERC H310 PERC H710 PERC H710P External HBAs (RAID): PERC H810 External HBAs (non-RAID): 6Gbps SAS HBA
I/O Slots	3 PCIe slots: (10-drive-bay configuration) Two x16 slots with x16 bandwidth, half-height, half-length One x16 slot with x8 bandwidth, half-height, half-length or 2 PCIe slots: One x16 slot with x16 bandwidth, full-height, 3/4 length One x16 slot with x16 bandwidth (or x8 with one processor only), half-height, half-length	7 PCIe slots: • One x16 full-length, full-height • Three x8 full-length, full-height • Three x8 half-length, half-height
Power Supplies	Titanium 750W power supply; Platinum 495W or 1100W power supply 1100W DC power supply	Titanium 750W AC power supply Platinum 495W, 750W or 1100W AC power supply; 1100W DC power supply
Remote Management	iDRAC7 with Lifecycle Controller iDRAC7 Express	iDRAC7 with Lifecycle Controller iDRAC7 Express
Systems Management	IPMI 2.0 compliant Dell OpenManage™ Essentials and Dell Management Console Dell OpenManage Power Center Dell OpenManage Connections: • OpenManage Integration Suite for Microsoft® System Center • Dell plug-in for VMware® vCenter™ • HP Operations Manager, IBM Tivoli® Netcool® , and CA Network and Systems Management	IPMI 2.0 compliant Dell OpenManage™ Essentials and Dell Management Console Dell OpenManage Power Center Dell OpenManage Connections: • Dell OpenManage Integration Suite for Microsoft® System Center • Dell plug-in for VMware® vCenter™ • HP Operations Manager, IBM Tivoli® Netcool®, and CA Network and Systems Management
Operating Systems	Microsoft® Windows Server® 2012 Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, x64 (includes Hyper-V® v2) Microsoft Windows® Small Business Server 2011 SUSE® Linux® Enterprise Server Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® Citrix® XenServer™ VMware vSphere™ ESX and ESXi Red Hat Enterprise Vitualization®	Microsoft® Windows Server® 2012 Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, x64 (includes Hyper-V® v2) Microsoft Windows® Small Business Server 2011 Novell® SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® Citrix® XenServer® VMware vSphere® including ESX™ and ESXi™ Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization®

Memory Capabilities

The Dell R620 contains memory options of up to 768GB with 24 DIMM slots. This means that it has expandable memory options giving it a memory footprint that is difficult to compete with. The 3 PCIe slots as well as scalable I/O capabilities enhance its memory performance. This high memory capacity makes the server a good option for demanding virtualization environments with many virtual machines for each server.

The Dell R720 also has expandable memory up to 768GB along with 7 PCIe slots and advanced I/O capabilities. You can combine the memory density of the Dell R720 with a GPU accelerator in order to further boost performance.

Workload Capabilities

Have a small data center? The Dell R620 is the option for you. It is packed with powerful processing capabilities within its small compact size. HPC application clusters are effectively handled through its computational density capabilities. It is powered by the Intel Xeon E5-2600 processor that makes it powerful at handling virtualization and workgroup collaboration applications.

The R720 is also a performance powerhouse. Equipped with the same Intel processor, it has the additional ability to support dual RAID controllers. This makes it handle highly demanding workloads such as e-commerce platforms, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and data warehouses. HPC is also within the realm of capabilities of this powerful server.

Storage

Organizations today are storing more data than ever, making storage a very important factor in choosing the right server. The R620 can handle up to ten 2.5” drives hot-plug SAS, SATA, or SSD or up to four hot-plug 2.5” SAS, SATA, or SSD + two PCIe SSD, with a maximum internal storage of of 10TB.

When a greater capacity of storage is required, the R720 boasts up to eight 3.5” drives or up to sixteen 2.5” drives with a maximum 32TB internal storage.

Server-Specific Features

The Dell R620 and R720 each have additional specific features that make them stand out from each other. The R620 contains advanced network features that allow you to tailor your network throughput in a manner that matches the needs of your applications. The server also contains flexible NIC technology through the Dell Select Network adapters. This gives you an array of options (such as speed and technology), letting you select the necessary network fabric without using up a PCI slot.

The R720, on the other hand, is a virtualization powerhouse. You can expand your virtual memory through redundant failsafe hypervisors or Dell’s Virtual Integrated System (VIS), which both allow you to maximize the capacity of your applications. With the R720, you can also boost the performance of your HPC environments by using a combination of the server’s advanced memory density with GPU accelerators (of which a range of them are supported).

Support for Dell OpenManage

The Dell R620 and R720 are both members of the PowerEdge family from Dell, a line of servers which are designed with performance scalability and advanced features for your data center in mind. Both servers are equipped with Dell’s flagship remote management software called Dell OpenManage.

OpenManage contains the Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) which is packed with features that allow IT administrators to manage Dell servers in physical, virtual and even remote environments. In fact, this remote access can be achieved without the need of a system’s software agent.

What’s more? With OpenManage, you can seamlessly integrate with 3rd party systems management solutions all while maintaining a single point of control.

The Dell R620 and R720 servers are both designed for advanced memory capability and performance. The choice should be based on your specific budget and requirements. Speak to the experts at SourceTech, consultants and providers of high quality new, used and refurbished servers for over 20 years.

Enterprise IT Security

Created on: May 15, 2017

Updated on: June 20, 2021

It’s no revelation that the world is becoming more dependent on technology, making the role of IT security more important than ever before. Many companies today are still storing data that is crucial to their day-to-day operations on their own servers or with third party vendors. It’s staggering how many personal records are stolen and the amount of data that is breached through point of sale systems, third party systems and unencrypted data – yet it’s the same systems that we have invested all our trust in to keep our data safe.

So the question is, how can we protect our crucial data? Apart from the laws written to discourage hackers, businesses need to be proactive and develop a multi-faceted IT security strategy. Here are four places to start:

Firewalls

Firewalls are the first line of defense against cyber threats such as malware and phishing attacks. They are often installed on the external perimeter of your network in order to sieve what comes in. Effective firewalls can keep harmful and unwanted files from penetrating your network. An emerging practice is to install additional internal firewalls that serve as a second line of defense incase malicious files are able to penetrate the outside wall.

Advanced firewalls and network routers are able to analyze incoming content in real time in order to effectively prevent malware from penetrating your network.

Secure Emails

Emails have become one of the main channels through which malware, viruses and phishing messages penetrate an organization’s network. In fact, phishing has become a major way through which hackers are able to solicit information from members of your organization. It is therefore important to filter incoming emails and detect spam.

Secure and encrypted email channels should be used for communicating, and employees should be discouraged from using personal email accounts to handle sensitive company information.

Use Security Software

Security software applications have become a necessary component of IT security. It is no longer effective to simply filter URLS that Internet users in your company may navigate to. Effective security software should also be able to scan for malware, scan web traffic in real time, recognize the reputation of IP addresses, and prevent data leakage.

Security software should be comprehensive and have the ability to consolidate these essential security functions under a common umbrella that is easier to control.

Protect Wi-Fi Networks

Encrypting your Wi-Fi networks is an important way to maintain the safety of your network and prevent hackers from gaining access to your systems. An unsecured network can be penetrated and valuable information such as passwords and account information compromised.

WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) along with an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a best practice for securing your Wi-Fi networks. AES is an advanced level of encryption that protects data from when it is encrypted all through to the decryption phase. It is the same encryption system that is used by the federal government.

Summing Up

For over 10 years, SourceTech Systems has been a leading supplier of newly refurbished servers for a wide range of companies and government entities. With our experience and knowledge of systems and workstations, SourceTech is a one-stop resource for companies looking to buy or sell Cisco, Dell, HP and Sun equipment. Source-Tech provides exceptional customer service and offers services including on-site maintenance, installation, and project management rental and leasing.

Dell PowerEdge M630 Server Review

Created on: April 13, 2017

Updated on: April 13, 2017

Does your data center process a large amount of information? Are you in need of a solution that is powerful and effective? The Dell M630 Blade Server is the choice for you. It is designed to be ultra-efficient, with a large amount of DDRM memory and an easy to manage platform. Below are features of the PowerEdge M630 server that make it your ultimate data center solution.

Greater Processing Power

The Dell M630 Blade Server stocks the Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 v4 which is designed to increase the performance of your virtual windows. The larger amount of cores and 15% greater memory bandwidth allow you to achieve higher performing virtual machines.

Improved Peak Performance

The Dell M630 is your ideal solution for high-performance computing (HPC). With a memory capacity of 24 DDR4 DIMM slots, and with up to four 1. Inch SSD drives, the advanced memory capabilities of the server and high- bandwidth makes it ideal for HPC capabilities.

Tailor Your Server to your Workloads

You can now toggle with the storage inside the server with drive options from two and a half inch HDDs to express flash PCle SSDs (up to four of them). Modifying server storage to match your needs allows you to tailor your servers to your workloads for both present and future needs.

Dell select network adapters, contained in the M630 server, allow for network flexibility by being offered a choice between fabric, speed and vendor (through the modular integrated NICs). You can, therefore, enable quick access to the storage facilities of your server or cloud platform while accurately addressing and allocating workload bandwidth requirements.

Easier Server Lifecycle Management

It is now even easier for you to manage your servers due to the newly automated and intelligent Dell OpenManage Systems. The automation process simplifies IT operations while making the dell servers more effective and reliable to use.

The Dell m630 is also equipped with the remote access controller (integrated Dell Remote Access controller- iDRAC), which allows IT administrators to manage dell servers in physical, virtual and remote environments. This makes sever management more automated and efficient.

The Chassis Management Controller (CMC) from the previous model (Dell M620) has also been incorporated into the M630 server. In addition to providing optimum power and cooling efficiency, the CMC tool monitors multiple chassis at the same time, while managing the converge infrastructure in each chassis

Dell OpenManage

Another feature carried over and improved from the M620Blade Server is the Dell OpenManage systems management portfolio. Through Dell OpenManage, you can integrate with third-party systems management solutions (such as Microsoft, VMWare and BMC) all while maintaining a single point of control.

The all-new OpenManage mobile provides you with enterprise level monitoring and control of both Dell and third-party systems management solutions all on your smartphone. OpenManage provides a host of other specialized control options such as automated OS deployment, configuration replication mechanisms and compatibility with set system configurations.

In conclusion, the Dell M630 is the perfect solution for your heavy data center requirements due to its advanced memory capability, supreme performance via the Intel processor and an easy to use interface.

Speak to the Experts at SourceTech

Here at SourceTech, we have been providing IT infrastructure for all size companies for over 30 years. Our in-depth knowledge of the industry, competitive pricing and exceptional customer support will ensure that you are getting the best out of your purchase. View our inventory of used dell servers for sale and speak to the experts at SourceTech Systems for all of your hardware needs.

HP BL460C Gen8 Server Review

Created on: April 7, 2017

Updated on: April 7, 2017

Data centers are increasingly in need of better, more efficient servers to handle their ever-increasing data processing requirements. The HP BL460C Gen8 Server was designed with this in mind. It is packed with features that make it easier to use while at the same time upgrading its performance, scalability and expandability. Features of the HP BL460C Blade Server, that make it the perfect solution to manage your data center, include:

Better Customer Interface

The server is equipped with HP SmartDrive carriers and HP Smart Socket guide, which contain user-centric and intuitive design features that help reduce downtime issues. System maintenance capabilities are also simplified through the installed integrated lifecycle automation feature. This feature provides seamless monitoring capabilities through the HP Active Health System and the standard provisions tools are embedded across all ProLiant servers.

The server also offers smarter data protection through its dynamic workload acceleration feature. It can detect the workload in real time through instant analysis and respond to increasing drive capacities that pack a lot of data. Storage is also optimized as a result of the flexible and adaptable workload acceleration.

The server also uses its Automated Energy Optimization Feature (AEO) in optimizing its workloads across your data center. AEO uses sensors to identify location and inventory capabilities using HP Insight Control in order to analyze and respond to incoming data.

Advanced Systems Management and Monitoring Capabilities

The HP BL460C Server comes equipped with HP Agentless Management, which allows you to monitor your hardware automatically and receive alerts when necessary. Just plug in an ethernet cable and power cord and begin to enjoy the benefits of the HP iLO 4 chipset which powers the HP Agentless Management system. Get more control over your hardware and closely monitor its performance.

The HP Active Health System provides around the clock monitoring of your server and records changes in the hardware status as well as advanced system configuration. Problems are identified faster by using the unified diagnostic tools provided.

Improved Storage and Performance

The HP BL460C comes with advanced memory capabilities, which boosts system performance. With 512 GB capacity and 256 GB capacity at up to 1866 MHz, the server is equipped with HP SmartMemory (a new technology only available on ProLiant Gen8 servers) that supports RDIMM, unregistered DIMM and load reduced DIMM. This offers unmatched quality and performance.

You can now update technology based on networking demands and customize server networking due to the FlexibleLOM. This can be done without overhauling your existing server hardware, and you have the choice of bandwidth and fabric functionality.

High-Performance Processor and Easier Access to Mezzanine Cards

The server comes with easy access to the FlexibleLOM card, where mezzanine cards can be removed quickly and efficiently. Insertion and removal of individual DIMMS are made much easier on every ProLiant BL460C Gen8 Server Blade due to the new DIMM tool.

The BL460C comes equipped with Intel Xeon E5-2600 v2 processors, which are of higher performance, more efficient and adaptable with other Intel components (such as QuickPath Interconnect and Turbo Boost Technology). The Intel Xeon processors have up to 12 cores and 24 threads, which help deliver up to 24% higher performance.

Here at Source Tech, we have been providing IT infrastructure for all size companies for over 30 years. Our in-depth knowledge of the industry, competitive pricing and exceptional customer support will ensure that you are getting the best out of your purchase. View our inventory of used HP servers for sale, including the HP BL460C Gen7 and the latest model (Gen9). Speak to the experts at Source Tech Systems for all of your hardware needs.

Dell M620 Server Review

Created on: April 3, 2017

Updated on: June 12, 2021

Advanced Memory Capabilities

The Dell PowerEdge M620 offers memory capabilities of up to 768GB of RAM which you can scale up. The server is powered by Intel’s powerful processors (the Xeon E5-2600 v1 or v2) along with Dell’s unique network adapter that provides you with powerful performance, and the ability to allocate your network throughput to match your application needs. It also provides internal storage options of up to 2.4TB with two 2.5” SAS hard drives.

The M620 server is designed for managing high-density virtual environments. Virtualization environments demand high memory capacity and the M620 was designed to specifically fit this purpose. Users running High-Performance Computing applications will find that this server will provide outstanding computational density and powerful processing capabilities.

Remote Access and Systems Integration

The Dell M620 is equipped with a remote access controller (the integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 7- iDRAC7) which allows IT administrators to manage dell servers in physical, virtual, local and remote environments. This feature is available with or without a systems management software installed.

Through the iDRAC, one can integrate with leading third-party systems management solutions (such as Microsoft, VMware and BMC) all while maintaining a single point of control and capitalizing on existing systems management investments. Dell servers are able to achieve this remote access and integration through the systems management portfolio that it utilizes (Dell OpenManage). OpenManage simplifies the lifecycle of deploying, monitoring and maintaining Dell PowerEdge servers.

Power and Cooling Efficiency

The PowerEdge M-series servers from Dell allow you to combine the right features and performance scalability. The M620 achieves this through combining the capabilities of the Chassis Management Controller (CMC) of the Dell PowerEdge M1000e’s. The CMC allows M-series blades to be managed in different ways (individually, as groups, within a data center or in multiple geographical locations) without requiring additional hardware. Power and cooling efficiency in the M620 are also maximized by using blade enclosures that were used by the M1000e.

Therefore, by combining maximum power efficiency, performance, exceptional features and extreme density, the Dell M620 server achieves the capability of handling taxing workloads while providing excellent performance.

Here at Source Tech, we have been providing IT infrastructure for all size companies for over 30 years. Our in-depth knowledge of the industry, competitive pricing and exceptional customer support will ensure that you are getting the best out of your purchase. View our inventory of used dell servers for sale and speak to the experts at Source Tech Systems for all of your hardware needs.

Dell PowerEdge R630 & R730 Server Review

Created on: February 16, 2017

Updated on: February 16, 2017

Dell’s 13th generation servers including the R630 and R730 provide cost-effective compute power in a modular package for standalone or aggregated use. Both models are customizable with diverse storage options and include Dell’s new iDRAC NFC local management for app-based smartphone and tablet server access.

Powerful, Versatile Server Building Blocks

The R730 2U rack mount system is an excellent building block for scalable activities including web servers, enterprise applications, and startup-to-global fast growth hyper-scale data centers. The R630 is a powerful 1U configuration for small- to medium-sized businesses and corporate outposts, ideal for virtualization and database servers. Both have sockets for 2 Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 product family CPUs and up to 768GB of DDR4 memory.

Agent-Free Remote or Local NFC Management

Oversight of each PowerEdge server is available using bezel-based local iDRAC Quick Sync NFC management and configuration using the Open Manage Mobile app, plus remote management using iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller which provides comprehensive system monitoring and upkeep from outside the operating system.

Putting PowerEdge to Use

Alone at your startup’s new offices or scaling to fill your growing datacenters, the R630 and R730 servers handle large volumes of data in Oracle or other database systems, VDI and server virtualization using software such as VMware or Hyper-V, and low-latency website or e-commerce hosting. The R730, with increased power and performance including increased GPU capability, shines in advanced VDI, HPC, and imaging environments.

Ample On-Board Storage

R730 includes 7 PCIe 3.0 slots plus a dedicated PERC (PowerEdge Raid Controller) slot. R630 offers 3 PCIe slots and PERC. Onboard storage supports a variety of internal drive bay and hot-pluggable devices including 8 or more SAS, SATA, SSD and other types in varying form factors, with up to 32 2.5″ devices in the R730.

With an eye to high-performance data handling applications, Dell supports 24 bays of flash drives in the R630, and options can increase cache and lower latency for performance-sensitive external data access applications such as for financial markets and e-commerce. Total onboard storage capacity in the R630 can be up to 24TB, providing a powerful, ultracompact 1U system with plenty of room for databases and virtualization storage.

The R730 steps up the data-transfer speeds and supports ultra-quick NVMe Express Flash PCIe drives. 12GB/s storage subsystem speeds are complemented by optional SAN cache enhancements.

Expanding Your Options

For responsive in-house application use, fast website and e-commerce use, or VDI to serve call centers and other large-scale client populations, the R630 and R730 can meet and exceed your requirements either standalone or in scalable configurations. Both allow your IT systems to grow as quickly as your company’s needs do. XaaS providers can scale their offerings to customers using these flexible server offerings.

Use the PowerEdge R630 for compact versatility when needed, or harness the focused power of the R730 to meet demands. Company SharePoint, Hadoop, Lync, Exchange and other critical services run comfortably on Dell PowerEdge R630 servers, while the R730’s additional power allows demanding applications such as medical imaging to run smoothly.

View our inventory of Dell Servers for sale and speak to the experts at SourceTech Systems for all of your hardware needs.

HP BL460C Gen9 Server Review

Created on: December 30, 2016

Updated on: December 30, 2016

Running as part of an integrated lights-out operation, teamed with other servers and managed by HPE’s OneView management software, or as a stand-alone virtualization server, the HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Server Blade brings updated HPE technology and Intel Xeon processor power to customers at an affordable price.

ProLiant server blades are evolving to provide tuned performance options which allow purchasers to start with plenty of CPU horsepower. They then strategically add boot options, memory, persistent memory, and SSD or hard drive storage that complements the native processing power. High-speed access to high-volume storage options is also configurable to meet the virtualization, data handling, and shared access needs of small businesses and large-scale data warehouses and server farms.

HPE provides integrated support for the StoreVirtual flexible storage model which works with Hyper-V or VMware running on the blade server. Between 4 and 22 cores, depending on blade model, are available in the choice of a single or dual Intel Xeon E5-2600 3.5 GHz chip configuration. A maximum of 55 MB L3 cache enhances throughput and performance.

Sixteen memory slots accept new 128 GB DIMMS for 2TB maximum, either HP’s DDR4 Smartmemory or industry standard 3rd party memory. The blade includes space for two drives and several boot options including optional dual Micro SD, USB 3.0, and optional 64/128 GB M.2 support. Emerging options such as nonvolatile memory are also available. Both legacy and UEFI BIOS options allow versatile boot configurations.

Embedded controller options provide a variety of storage fabric configurations including the Smart Array, Smart Host Bus Adapter, and Dynamic Smart Array controllers to allow the BL460c to move data at speeds (including 10GB or 20GB FlexFabric, persistent storage, and other options) commensurate with its processing power. SSD options allow up to 7x increase in random access data performance for key applications.

Increases in memory, storage, and processing power are met with helpful decreases in power requirements and a much improved TCO over previous generations and the competition.

Available with standard iLO lights out operation or optional BladeSystem Advanced system, OneView Advanced, or HP Insight Control, the server blade provides scalable technology that can be purchased as a commodity compute resource or custom configured for specific datacenter purposes. Hot-swappable fans and multiple enclosure-based power supplies provide the reliability required to keep uptime to a maximum, while monitoring software keeps operations personnel aware of any hardware concerns before they become an availability issue.

HPE software-defined storage options and hyperconverged configurations make this ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Server Blade the basis for forward-looking facility buildouts, ready to handle any of the emerging datacenter paradigms with agility.

For more information on HP servers or to receive a quote, speak to the experts at Source Tech Systems today.

Computer Technology Trends for 2017

Created on: December 27, 2016

Updated on: December 27, 2016

1. Virtual Reality (VR)

VR equipment is an affordable holiday gift heading into 2017, available at “big box” stores for under $100 for use with smartphones and gaming systems. Smartphones are making VR accessible and mobile, enabling the VR and AR (augmented reality, like heads-up displays or “Pokemon Go”) markets to take off in the next few years. VR is an “immersive” technology, providing an experience which is not only entertaining but informative, useful in training and simulation where users can actually wire their brains and learn in a manner similar to live experience – and often much safer. VR production with special 360-degree cameras is ramping up in Hollywood, and “you are there” recorded content is available from YouTube and other sources. Entertainment destinations such as SeaWorld are also providing new VR experiences.

2. Nonvolatile Memory

Small amounts of nonvolatile memory have long been used in devices to store essential information when the device is switched off, but they were expensive and hard to program compared to regular memory. Regular memory requires power and refresh resources to keep information in place, much like reciting a telephone number to oneself to ensure that it isn’t forgotten. Nonvolatile memory is like human “photographic memory,” persistently holding what is stored. It is now available in large enough quantities to be used for bulk data storage similar to disk drives, but faster, and not subject to the eventual degradation that occurs with flash memory found in “thumb drives” and photographic memory cards.

3. Big Data

Maybe you’ve heard of the ongoing project SETI that sifts through huge volumes of data looking for extraterrestrial life. Big data brings the concept down to earth, using high-volume analysis to find insights and trends only visible when looking at huge datasets. Special software and extremely large storage capabilities combine with powerful computing resources to perform this specialized processing. Some of the insights are mundane but extremely valuable, such as information about customer habits and patterns, weather trends, and new ways to look at overall economic behaviors and trends. Big data provides a way for curious researchers to use their insights and creative thinking to discover information buried in a waterfall of data.

4. Capability-based Security

Capability is a transition from permission levels and other general access methods to the use of specific keys. They are handled by software applications to gain required access and share that access on an as-needed basis with other applications. Since many hacking exploits simply gain a privilege level and then use that general status to do as they please, this highly specific method can make a big difference in system security while still allowing applications to function normally. In this model, there is no “master key” of privilege, but a specific keyring that the application can obtain through secure methods which contains only what it needs.

5. Internet of Things (IoT)

Tiny, inexpensive computers have revolutionized functions as simple as those in light bulbs and thermostats. They do so by including networking, programmability, monitoring functions and much more. Refrigerators, security systems, motorized window shades and home entertainment systems benefit from custom implementations of these tiny computers. Some have used simple operating systems familiar to hackers. This allowed exploitation on a large scale for destructive purposes such as disruption of services – companies like Netflix have been affected by “botnets” created in this way. IoT security is quickly evolving to protect against this. The IoT concept is in many ways similar to industrial control (SCADA) systems. It will likely benefit from protections used in these systems, especially network access security.

Virtual Servers – the New Standard for Modern Companies

Created on: December 12, 2016

Updated on: December 12, 2016

Virtualization software offerings from VMware, Microsoft, Oracle and many other companies are competing for your business. Hardware manufacturers such as Intel and Oracle are adding CPU features to boost the performance and security of virtualized servers. Oracle is including virtual machine features in the latest versions of their operating system. Virtualization, rather than servers running on “bare metal,” is becoming standard.

It’s How Servers Are Done

Information Week reports that, after 18 years as part of the IT market, virtualization is “mature,” with an average of 75% virtualization in company data centers, sometimes as high as 90%. VMware, a leading virtualization vendor, says that benefits include:

Up to 50% savings, with up to 16 virtual machines running on one physical server
Higher quality of service (QoS) which translates to better web server performance, user experience, and resource usage
Increased flexibility with the ability to adjust resource usage, migrate virtual servers to new hardware, and more

Any Way You Slice It

By using virtual machine software, your physical server hardware becomes the space in which your virtual servers operate. You can manage that space without all the costs and time involved in allocating and using single hardware servers with fixed resources such as memory, disk, and CPU speed.

For example, you can allocate resources for both web development and test running alongside a fully configured web server, all on the same hardware but using separate “machines.” As the load on the web server increases, you can simply migrate the dev servers to other available virtualized resources.

Hard Benefits of Soft Servers

In addition to migrating servers to balance loads and use hardware resources more effectively, virtualization offers:

1. Hardware-independent infrastructure management

Hardware becomes the raw material from which server farms are custom built. Automated and manual management software watches virtual servers, resource usage, hardware status and more and uses available resources to keep your systems running and performing at their best.

2. Instant IT Response

Hardware allocation, software installation, and many more IT functions become “press of a button” activities rather complicated hands-on activities. When a department needs a server, you can finish the job while you’re on the phone with them.

3. Cost Savings

Like a cross-trained team, you can put your resources to work in whatever way you need them to function. You can use your resources more cost effectively and handle capital acquisitions by capacity needs, rather than by project or another specific basis. You don’t waste excess capacity on your systems, overbuying for future needs.

4. Isolation and Security Benefits

You’ve heard the stories about the risks to data on shared servers, where web server “hacks” gain access to databases and other resources and create nightmares for the company far beyond what they imagined. Virtualization security is also mature technology, allowing you to run separate servers for the isolation and security benefits, without investing in new hardware each time.

5. Disaster Recovery

A huge benefit of virtualization is the ability to migrate servers to available hardware, even in other facilities, when hardware servers or even whole buildings are not available due to fire, flood, or other disaster scenarios. Cloud resources can be used to augment or fill in for local operations, while still maintaining local control under normal circumstances.

The experts at Source Tech can help your team move towards the cost savings, performance, and reliability benefits of virtualization with your current hardware and your future investments. In addition to virtualized servers, you can consider VDI, the ability to use virtualized servers to provide your desktop computing as well. Give them a call and find out more.

Physical Servers vs. Offsite Virtual Hosted Servers

Created on: November 29, 2016

Updated on: November 29, 2016

Your company’s infrastructure depends heavily on the servers that you use. Servers store all of your company’s essential information, from customer and employee data to sensitive sales and marketing information. When it comes to choosing a server for your business, there are two main options – a physical server or an offsite virtual hosted server.

Choosing which one suits your business best depends on your specific needs and budget. The following compares the pros and cons of each type of server to help you decide which option will work best for you:

Physical Servers

A physical server is a piece of equipment that’s generally stored onsite in a server room or data center. The following are a few of the pros and cons for using a physical server:

The Pros of Using Physical Servers

Physical servers are typically easier to maintain. Your staff won’t require a specific skillset in order to manage and maintain your physical server.
You may have certain applications that require dedicated processing power in order to function at an optimal level. Physical servers don’t share processors, which means that they are better suited for such applications.
A physical server can be fully customized and configured to meet your unique specifications and requirements.
You’ll have instant access to your server 24/7, which can be highly beneficial in the event of business critical or high demand operations.

The Cons of Using Physical Servers

If maintenance on your physical server is required, you’ll need to plan for downtime.
You’ll need more space, more power and more cooling to properly and safely store your network on a physical server.
The purchase, maintenance and potential replacement (in case of failure) costs of a physical server are more expensive than that of a virtual server.
Once you’ve reached a maximum workload, you won’t be able to scale storage in small increments.

Offsite Virtual Hosted Servers

Offsite hosted servers or virtualized servers share hardware and software resources with other operating systems. Because they are cost-effective and provide faster resource control, virtual servers are popular in web hosting environments. The following are some of the pros and cons of using a virtual server:

The Pros of Off-site Virtual Hosted Servers

Because you don’t have to purchase physical hardware, there are fewer upfront costs.
You won’t have to have as big of an in-house IT staff in order to maintain a physical server.
With a physical server, you’ll need to purchase new hardware every time you need a new server. Off-site virtual hosted servers are more scalable and allow you to simply sign up with a new server, which costs less money and takes less time.
An off-site physical server can host multiple virtual servers. This means you can get more out of a single host than you could out of a physical server, which typically only runs at 25 percent capacity.
If a host server requires maintenance, your virtual server can simply be moved to a new host. This means that there’s no downtime for maintenance.
Your data is much easier to recover in a virtual environment in the event that the host server fails.

The Cons of Off-site Virtual Hosted Servers

Hosted servers are more complex than physical servers, which means that your IT team will need to have specialized skills in order to maintain your server.
You won’t be independently in control of your server or the applications running on them as you would with a physical server.
Even though your upfront costs won’t be as expensive as with a physical server, a virtual server requires higher monthly costs.

These are some of the pros and cons of both physical and off-site virtual hosted servers that you should compare before making a decision. If you’d like more information, speak to the experts at Source Tech.