Server Hardware
Server hardware is the physical platform that runs networked services: processors, memory, storage, network adapters, power, cooling, firmware, and remote management. You choose it as a compatible system with capacity, reliability, serviceability, and security requirements, not as a list of independent parts.
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Intro
Server Hardware
Server hardware is a platform for running services over time. Its parts must work together before an operating system, hypervisor, or application can do useful work.
The useful mental model is a set of boundaries. A workload needs compute, memory, storage, network access, power, cooling, firmware, and a way to manage the machine when the host is unavailable. Every boundary has capacity, compatibility, and failure consequences.
Start with the workload
Do not begin with a processor model or a drive count. Begin with the service.
- What must the machine run now?
- Which resource becomes constrained first: processor time, memory, storage latency, storage capacity, or network throughput?
- Must the service continue through a component failure, or can it be restored?
- Who must replace parts, update firmware, and diagnose a failed boot?
- Which interfaces and firmware features does the operating system or hypervisor require?
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Sources
- https://pcisig.com/specification-overview/pci-express-base
Supports
- PCI Express architecture, interconnect attributes, fabric management, and programming interface
- PCIe as a systems-and-peripherals interconnect
- Current approved PCI Express Base Specification listing
- Quiz answers about PCIe and configuration validation
- https://nvmexpress.org/specifications/
Supports
- NVMe host communication with non-volatile memory across PCIe, RDMA, and TCP
- NVMe SSD form factors and protocol scope
- NVMe management and boot specifications
- Quiz answers about NVMe and storage-path validation
- https://www.dmtf.org/sites/default/files/standards/documents/DSP0266_1.23.0.html
Supports
- Interoperable, multivendor, remote, out-of-band-capable platform management
- Required protocols, data model, behaviors, and optional OEM extensions
- Quiz answers about out-of-band management and platform management
- https://www.dmtf.org/standards/redfish
Supports
- Current Redfish release and specification resources
- Redfish developer resources and ecosystem tooling
- Reference-link rationale for ongoing Redfish study
- https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/193/final
Supports
- Platform as fundamental hardware and firmware required to boot and operate a system
- Protection, detection, and secure recovery for unauthorized firmware changes
- Procurement and operational use of firmware-resiliency guidance
- Quiz answers about platform firmware resilience