Now that you understand the components that make up a rack solution, how do you select the right combination for your business needs? This section walks you through rack, server and storage selection. You'll also get a look at preconfigured packages that help make a lot of the decisions for you.
Select a rack
You might encounter the terms "server rack" and "server cabinet" used interchangeably. However, the rack itself is actually the basic backbone upon which other components are fixed, whereas the cabinet is an all-encompassing enclosure that neatly integrates all rack-mount technology.
On the value-oriented end of the spectrum, HP's 5000 Series racks are specifically designed for significant savings on reliable industry-standard offerings. These 42U structures are made for easy assembly and are ideal for SMB's operating on tight budgets.
HP's Rack 10000 Series system cabinet provides enterprise-class performance and value to deliver structural integrity with ease-of-use capabilities. Its universal design is suitable for a variety of HP rack-mounted server and storage products to better complement and protect your IT investments. This includes proper ventilation and locking cabinet doors for enhanced cooling and security along with detachable service panels on three sides.
Note: HP Insight Power Manager Software, which comes with HP rack solutions, lets you monitor power consumption and thermal output.
Select a server
HP offers a comprehensive server buying guide to help you make the best decisions for major purchases.
Select a storage solution
HP ProLiant direct attached storage solutions come in a variety of forms to suit all IT storage environments. HP also provides high-performance storage enclosures for clustering applications, Fiber Channel host bus adapters, smart array controllers and tape storage solutions.
HP StorageWorks solutions offer network attached storage (NAS) devices and external storage array systems, in addition to tape storage products for backup and recovery.
Many business environments find NAS and storage area networks (SANs) are more flexible than traditional direct attached storage; however, you should select the right storage solution for your current and future needs.
Consider preconfigured rack solutions
HP Factory Express offers preconfigured rack systems that cover the range of standards-based, virtualized network computing, storage and rack integration solutions that adapt to current business needs and are dynamically scalable for future trends.
Tip: An HP Services representative can walk you through evaluating components and building the appropriate rack-mountable solution for your business needs.
