HP blade servers are designed to be as flexible as possible, and can fit into nearly any network application. They are found in small and medium business settings, and also form the backbone for some big data initiatives. Every piece of equipment is a self-contained server, and fits into a separate enclosure that houses the modular units. Because they are self-contained, they are hot swappable and can be slotted into a system and brought up to speed right away. There is no need to worry about cooling or power subsystems, as they are built into the enclosure.
What are some of the most popular HP blade servers on the market?
With their modular design and compact form factor, this line of hardware offers respectable performance, even if it is refurbished and from a previous generation. That’s why the BL460 G6, BL460 G7, BL465 G7, BL490 G6 and BL490 G7 are still popular models in businesses around the world. All five models make use of Intel’s powerful Xeon line of processors, ranging from a quad core, 2.4 GHz processor in the BL460 G6 to a six core, 3.06 GHz processor in the BL490 G7. All models are upgradeable with a second processor, greatly boosting processing speed in every compact piece of equipment. If a company really wants a boost to its infrastructure, though, both the Gen8 and Gen9 models offer top of the line performance.
Memory is where many systems bottleneck, so businesses that rely on many resource intensive applications should consider upgrading to as much memory as possible. The BL460 G6 can be slotted with up to 96 GB of RAM, while the BL490 G7 can be fitted with up to 288 GB. As long as a company has enough memory to work with, they won’t have trouble allocating resources to multiple users. This is why sticking to a refurbished system can be extremely cost-effective for a business. In general, refurbished models offer comparable amounts of RAM, so there is often little difference in performance between HP blade servers and newer models, at least for most small and medium business applications.
The manufacturer offers two main enclosures for its hardware, the c3000 and the c7000. Both were originally released in August 2007, though they have been updated several times since then. Currently, the Platinum version of both enclosures is created with a new backplane that increases bandwidth and is compatible with highly efficient power systems that bring down power costs significantly. The c3000 has room for eight half-height HP blade servers, while the c7000 is larger, accommodating up to 16.
These enclosures are built with all of the necessary power, cooling and interconnect components, like Ethernet or infiniBand. As a business’s networking infrastructure needs grow, more hardware can be added to the enclosure without a need for additional space. This allows a company to establish its space needs right away for its network infrastructure and not have to worry about expanding going into the future.
Modular hardware is becoming the standard for many businesses, especially those that prize ease of use. HP blade servers are the gold standard in this regard and can grow with a company, making these systems a smart choice for businesses experiencing a constant level of growth.