Dell server form factor. Please advise!

[starscream]

Hi All.

I am ordering a new Dell server for one of my primary school's today. It is a poweredge.

In the past we always had towers as we only had one server to worry about, however, in the future I plan to have backup servers, RIS servers etc..

Only problem is we have very limited space in the server room (cupboard!). We don't have a full side racking system yet but I would like one eventually. At the moment we have a comms cab that is attached to the wall up a height. It is not very deep and can't accomodate a rack mounted server, we would need a floor standing one for that.

..my dilemma is this....


Do I buy a tower server again that can sit on the floor save in the knowledge it is fairly robust and sturdy but in a few years when we get a rack system it will still be on the floor?

Or

Do I buy a rack server now and sit it on the floor or some other precarious place and then when we get the rack it can be cleanly mounted along with any other servers we may have acquired by then?


I guess it is a choice between worrying about the present or the future. Also I can't even be 100% certain we would even get a rack system. But it would be top of my wish list.

I think both form factors cost the same.

Are there any other things to consider when picking a FF. For example, do the blades offer as much cooling as the towers? Would we need extra cooling for a rack server?

Cheers in advance.

John

[limbo]

You could always but a shelf to put in your new rack when the time come and the server can sit on that?

[Norphy]

Compromise, buy a 4U or 5U server which can be used in either configuration. I'm pretty sure than PowerEdge 2950s are like that.

[starscream]

Compromise, buy a 4U or 5U server which can be used in either configuration. I'm pretty sure than PowerEdge 2950s are like that.

ooo good idea. They don't look as pretty though! Ha! I guess they will offer better cooling? Is cooling ever an issue with the blades? Are blades 2U?

[starscream]

...scratch that, don't mean blade. I mean 1u rack servers when I say blade

[Geoff]

I have 1u Fujitsu RX220's and Dell Poweredge 860's. They cool by sucking in air at the front and throwing it out the back. You absolutely must have decent air conditioning in your server room/cupboard/hole otherwise a rack full of 1u servers will meltdown.

[Joedetic]

I've just ordered a 1U Dell Poweredge 1550 from ebay for home use. I already have a 2U server, and a couple of towers. I'm finding that the rackmount servers are becoming more appropriate because it means eventually i can get a rack and mount them properly along with my switches and routers etc. Also they look nicer

Servers are best in Rackmount i find. It's neater.

[john]

My HP Proliants that are towers, nicely converted to racks by buying a tower to rack kit for them, and it was also a double whammy bonus, they all look like G4's now rather than G2 & G3's The Towers are great to convert in the ML370 range, 20 minutes, remove some case, covers, fronts etc and away you go, tower to rack all done and dusted.