Unveiling Servers: Hands‑On Guide to Types, Hardware, and Key Specs

What Is a Server?

A server is a dedicated computer designed for continuous 24/7 operation, typically without a local display. Compared with a desktop PC, a server offers higher security, greater expandability (additional disks, GPUs, NICs), and is managed remotely via a command‑line interface (e.g., shell on Linux). Interaction is performed through remote tools such as Secure CRT, and system calls are used to invoke kernel services.

Server Classifications

Appearance‑Based Classification

Servers are mounted in racks; the height is expressed in rack units (U), where 1 U = 4 cm . The example in this article is an 8 U rack‑mount server (≈32 cm) built on an Inspur/Supermicro motherboard.

Architecture‑Based Classification

CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) – commonly referred to as x86 servers, using Intel or AMD CPUs.

RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) – based on ARM, MIPS, or Power architectures; ARM chips are produced by vendors such as Huawei and Apple (M1).

Physical Layout

Front Panel

The front panel typically contains status LEDs, a power button, and drive bays for hot‑swap disks.

Rear Panel

ILO (HP) and IPMI (industry‑standard) ports provide out‑of‑band remote management, allowing administrators to control power, monitor health, and access the console without an operating system.

Internal Components

Server internals mirror those of a PC, but servers usually include a dedicated RAID controller for storage redundancy.

Motherboard

CPU(s)

Memory modules

Storage drives (HDD/SSD)

RAID controller

Power supplies (redundant)

Cooling fans

Key Server Parameters

When documenting a server, record the following attributes:

Brand (e.g., Inspur)

Model

Serial Number (SN) – a globally unique identifier used to query detailed hardware information.

Asset Number (PN) – an internal code defined by the vendor for asset management and automated operations.

Configuration – hardware specifications (CPU count, memory size, storage layout, RAID level) typically defined by system architects and procurement teams.

Brand Example

The servers described are from the brand Inspur .

Serial Number (SN)

The SN uniquely identifies the machine and can be used to retrieve all related data from inventory systems.

Asset Number (PN)

The PN is defined by the manufacturer for internal tracking and automation.

Configuration Details

Configuration decisions (CPU model, memory capacity, RAID level, network interfaces) are typically made by architects and procurement staff based on workload requirements such as virtualization, big‑data processing, or cloud desktop services.