Even with software data center options, it's important to know the physical components of the server.

Servers are commonly referred to as the computer stations of each data center.. These modular components contain all the computing power needed to route and store data for every possible use case..

Depending on the size of the data center, organizations use blade servers, rack or tower servers, so administrators can scale the number of servers depending on the need, efficiently servicing equipment and easily cooling it..

So what are server components? Let's refresh our memory.

Motherboard This piece of server hardware is the main printed circuit board in a computer system.. At a minimum, the motherboard contains at least one central processing unit (CPU), provides firmware (BIOS) and memory slots, and an array of secondary chips for I/O processing and processing support, such as a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) storage interface.. It also functions as a central connection for all external devices and offers a range of slots such as PCIe for a variety of expansion devices such as network or graphics adapters..

There are two main types of motherboards - Advanced Technology Extended (ATX) and Low-Profile Extension (LPX). ATX includes more space than older models for I/O devices, expansion slots, and LAN connections. The LPX motherboard has ports on the back of the system.

The Central Processing Unit - or simply the processor - is a complex microchip device that is the basis of all computer operations.. It supports hundreds of possible instructions embedded in hundreds of millions of transistors to process low-level program instructions - microcode - data and obtain the desired logical or mathematical result.. The processor works in close contact with the memory, which contains both program instructions and data for processing, and the results or output of these processor operations..

RAM RAM is the main type of memory in a computer system.. RAM contains the program instructions and data required by the processor, as well as any output from the processor, such as data that needs to be moved to a storage device.. As such, RAM works very closely with the processor and must match the incredible speed and performance of the processor.. This kind of fast memory is commonly referred to as dynamic RAM, and there are several variants of DRAM available for servers..

RAM is defined by its speed and volatility. RAM offers much faster read/write speeds than some other storage types because it acts as a bridge between the OS, applications, and hardware.

RAM chips are usually organized and built into modules that follow standardized form factors.. This makes it easy to add memory to the server or quickly replace it in the event of a failure.. The most common form factor for DRAM is the dual-row memory module, and DIMMs are available in countless capacities and performance specifications.. A typical server can contain hundreds of gigabytes of memory.

Hard disk This equipment is responsible for reading, writing and positioning the hard disk, which is one of the storage technologies in server equipment.. The hard disk drive (HDD), developed by IBM in 1953, has evolved over time from the size of a refrigerator to the standard 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch form factors.

A hard drive is an electromechanical device that uses a set of disk platters stacked on top of each other around a central spindle in a sealed chamber..

Data center servers also use Solid State Drives (SSDs), which replace spinning magnetic platters with non-volatile, writable memory in a standard drive interface such as SATA or SAS. The result is a storage device with no moving parts, providing low latency and high I/O for data-intensive use cases.. SSDs are more expensive than HDDs, so organizations often use a combination of HDDs and SSDs in their servers to meet the unique performance requirements of various workloads.

Network connectivity Servers are designed for client-server computing architectures and depend on at least one network connection to maintain communication between the server and the data center LAN.

A network connection is primarily determined by technology and bandwidth - the speed. Early Ethernet NICs supported 100 Mbps, but modern Ethernet adapters can easily support 10 Gbps. Modern servers can easily support multiple network connections to support multiple workloads.

Power Supply All servers require a power supply, and the power supply (PS) does the job of converting AC power to DC for the server's sensitive electronics.. PS is usually a closed subsystem or assembly installed in a server chassis.

Power supplies are usually rated by their wattage, and a typical server can draw between 200 and 500 watts, and sometimes more, depending on the number and complexity of the devices.. Most of this power is dissipated as heat, which must be removed from the server.. Power supplies typically include at least one fan designed to remove heat from the server to the rack, where the heated air can be efficiently removed.

Graphics Processing Unit Graphic processing units (GPUs) have traditionally been the preserve of personal computers, but servers are starting to use the GPU for complex and resource-intensive mathematical operations required for rendering, simulation, and graphics-intensive workloads such as AutoCad. Similarly, the growth of virtual desktop infrastructure creates a need for graphics capabilities dedicated to virtual desktop instances..

GPUs are often rated in terms of teraflops, which reflect the GPU's ability to perform one trillion floating point operations per second.. When the GPU chip is built into the graphics adapter card, there are additional characteristics such as the number of frames per second and the amount and type of dedicated graphics memory..