Home  Solutions Information Appliances vs Servers
A server appliance is a specialized network-based hardware device designed to perform a single or specialized set of server functions. It provides end users with a complete solution of hardware and software, includes a minimal operating system and requires no per-seat OS license. The device is a "closed box" system that allows for quick installation, ease-of-use, low maintenance and is typically managed through a web browser.
Server appliances can simply be taken out of the box, hooked up to the network and turned on. The appliance automatically configures itself, with final "tweaks" made by the departmental manager, via a browser. Customers with little, if any, networking knowledge can deploy these products in nearly any network architecture.
Compare the advantages of a server appliance over a traditional server.
|
Traditional Server |
Server Appliance
PowerElf |
Ease of Installation |
Difficult to install
-
Typically requires advanced IT skills.
- Interoperability problems between software and hardware are common.
|
Plug-&-play installation
-
Network ready.
- Can be installed by non-technical staff.
- OS and application software is pre-loaded and configured.
|
System Complexity |
Difficult to use
-
Multiple applications from many different vendors.
- Poor reliability.
- Frequent service outages.
|
Easy to Use
-
Centralized point-and-click GUI administration.
- High reliability.
- Stable O/S guarantees higher minimizes downtime.
|
Maintenance |
High Maintenance
-
Costly IT support.
- Downtime due to maintenance may also become a problem.
- Multiple technical support vendors for hardware and software.
|
Low Maintenance
-
Auto-update systems.
- Single vendor to deal with.
- Designed as "set-and-forget" device.
- No need for on-site IT support.
|
Licensing |
License required
-
Each workstation usually must be licensed for each application loaded.
- Adding more computers to the network usually increases the cost of the server.
|
No Licenses
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Workstations pay no licensing fees for VPN, antivirus and antispam services.
- Adding more computers to the network can be done at no additional cost.
|
Performance |
Lower Performance
-
Burdened file servers with multiple non-server related software can cause low performance.
|
High performance
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Properly designed server appliances out-perform traditional file servers with similar memory and processors, at a much lower initial cost.
- Server Appliance software is configured to work well with the hardware provided; since it comes from the same vendor.
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