Bare metal is a term used to describe the use of physical hardware without the aid of a virtual machine or operating system, also known as dedicated servers. It is often used for applications and use cases that require the highest level of performance and reliability. We’ll go over what bare metal servers are and the role they play in data centers. We’ll also go over the advantages and disadvantages to see if bare metal is a good fit for you.
What is bare metal server?
Bare metal servers are physical servers that are dedicated to a single tenant. These servers are not virtualized and do not have a hypervisor layer. They are called "bare metal" because they are essentially just a piece of hardware with no software layer between the server and the operating system unlike traditional shared hosting products such as the virtual server, where multiple web projects are hosted within separate virtual machines on the same hardware basis.
There are two types of bare metal servers
Traditional bare metal server: Traditional bare metal servers are dedicated servers where the user-administered operating system (OS) – such as Windows Server or Ubuntu, etc. – relies on the hardware. All user applications then run directly on the operating system. Traditional bare metal servers include both dedicated servers and self-hosted servers.
Bare metal servers with hypervisors: Bare metal servers with hypervisors can also be used in a cloud environment. This model is based directly on the hardware (native hypervisor) and provides users with an administration interface for managing virtual machines. User applications run separately in virtualized guest operating systems, rather than directly on the hypervisor. Common hypervisors are KVM, the native virtualization feature of the Linux kernel, Microsoft Hyper-V, vSphere from VMware, or Citrix XenServer.
Benefits of bare metal
The benefits of using a bare metal server include high performance, low latency, greater customization, and improved security. Bare metal servers are dedicated to a single tenant, which means that there is no risk of other users accessing the same hardware and disturbances of the performance and stability of a virtual server caused by neighboring web projects - known as the The Noisy Neighbor Effect. This makes them an ideal choice for situations where security is a top priority. Additionally, since there is no hypervisor layer, there is no overhead from virtualization, which can result in higher performance and lower latency. Finally, tenants have full control over the hardware and can configure it to meet their specific needs, offering a level of control and customization that is not possible with virtualized servers.
- One advantage of bare metal servers is that they come with root access, unlike multi-tenant servers. In shared hosting, it is typically not ideal for users to have the ability to modify the root directory. Consequently, administration is restricted to project folders.
- Enhanced physical isolation and the associated security and regulatory benefits
- Greater processing power
- Complete control of your software stack
- More consistent disk and network I/O performance.
- Greater quality service (QoS) by eliminating the noisy neighbor phenomenon
Examples of bare metal use cases
Bare metal servers are often used in situations where maximum performance is required, such as in gaming, financial services, or scientific research. They are also used in situations where security is a top priority, as each server is dedicated to a single tenant and there is no risk of other users accessing the same hardware.
- Data processing and analytics, as bare metal servers can provide the necessary resources to process large datasets
- High-performance computing, as bare metal servers can provide the necessary resources to power complex calculations
- Gaming servers, as bare metal servers can provide the necessary resources to host and run games
Disadvantages of bare metal servers
There are definitely more advantages to bare metal servers than disadvantages. The two main disadvantages are sound knowledge of server administration and higher cost than other cloud hosting products. For instance, to launch a bare metal server on AWS will cost you roughly $48,000 a year. Here at Redundant Web Services you can launch a bare metal server for 10x less than AWS.
Conclusions
- Bare metal servers are a powerful type of cloud computing that provide increased control, performance, and scalability.
- They can be used for a variety of use cases, such as data processing and analytics, high-performance computing, and gaming servers.
- Bare metal servers are an excellent choice for organizations that need more control and flexibility than other types of cloud computing can provide.
Bare metal servers can also be a great choice for organizations that want to maximize their cost savings. By taking advantage of the ability to customize hardware and operating systems, businesses can save money in the long run by avoiding the costs associated with hosting multiple virtual machines. Additionally, the increased control offered by bare metal servers allows organizations to design their own security measures, ensuring that their data is kept safe and secure. With the right setup, businesses can make sure that their data is kept secure and private.
However, bare metal servers do have some drawbacks. They can be more expensive than virtualized servers, as each tenant requires their own physical hardware. They also require more maintenance, as the tenant is responsible for managing the hardware and ensuring that it is kept up to date.
Overall, bare metal servers are a powerful tool for certain use cases where high performance and security are paramount. While they may not be suitable for all situations, they offer a level of control and customization that is not possible with virtualized servers.
Traditionally bare metal servers are designed for professional web projects and have a higher cost. Redundant Web Services makes bare metal much more affordable for the smaller business who needs the benefits of a bare metal server, but doesn’t need the typical added cost associated with them..
The benefits of using a bare metal server include high performance, low latency, greater customization, and improved security