You’ve been tasked with selecting a new server platform for your growing company. Reliability and security are top priorities, as downtime and data breaches could prove disastrous for businesses. You’ve heard Intel servers are the industry standard for stability and protection, but you want to be sure before making such an important decision.
Intel servers seemingly never fail, you were told. Intrigued, you dug deeper into what makes Intel technology so dependable. That’s when you learned about their unique hardware-based security approach and rigorous component testing programs.
This blog post will explore eight key features of Intel server technology that make it the clear choice for dependable and protected IT infrastructure service.
1. Hardware-Based Security
One of the first things that sets Intel servers apart is their built-in hardware security protections. Unlike other server platforms that rely primarily on software for security, Intel implements protections right into the physical CPU silicon. This hardware-based approach provides defenses at a lower level that are resistant to hacks and exploits targeting the operating system or applications.
Some key hardware security features include Intel Software Guard Extensions for protected execution and Intel Total Memory Encryption to encrypt all server memory on the chip level. Hardware roots of trust anchors also ensure integrity from the very start of the boot process. With security engineered into the physical processor, these servers offer a resilient foundation that software-only servers simply can’t match.
2. Stable, Tested Components
When uptime is critical, the last thing you need is server hardware prone to failure. That’s why Intel only uses the highest-quality, most rigorously tested components in their servers. Microprocessors go through intensive validation processes with over 1,400 individual checks to weed out defects.
Other parts, like memory, storage and networking gear, are also validated for reliability. Intel even runs accelerated lifetime testing that’s equivalent to 10 years of usage to catch early failures. Their components are also designed and optimized to work together seamlessly right out of the box. This extensive testing and compatibility help ensure Intel servers will run smoothly for years.
3. Intelligent Thermal Management
Keeping servers cool is key to their longevity. That’s why these servers feature sophisticated thermal management capabilities to maintain optimal operating temperatures. Embedded sensors throughout the system closely monitor heat levels. Then intelligent software automatically adjusts fan speeds and cooling modes as needed.
Some servers even have advanced liquid cooling for maximum heat dissipation. Thermal telemetry data is also collected to spot potential trouble spots before failures occur. With features that actively prevent overheating, Intel servers are built to withstand heavy workloads over the long haul without breaking a sweat.
4. Reliable Memory Performance
Reliable memory operations are absolutely critical for server uptime. That’s why Intel uses error correction code (ECC) memory in all their servers. This type of memory automatically detects and corrects single-bit errors that naturally occur over time. It ensures data integrity without performance impacts.
Intel also optimizes server memory controllers and memory bus speeds. This allows memory to run at maximum rated speeds for consistent low latency. And with Intel Optane persistent memory, some servers gain a new non-volatile memory tier that vastly improves application performance while maintaining reliability. With advanced memory technologies, Intel servers deliver dependable performance you simply won’t get elsewhere.
5. Robust Storage Solutions
When it comes to storage, you need solutions built for enterprise workloads and data protection. That’s why Intel partners with top storage vendors to integrate drives optimized for read/write intensiveness.
- Options range from fast NVMe solid-state drives to high-capacity SAS/SATA HDDs. Intel-based servers also support RAID configurations for redundancy and smooth upgrades.
- They even offer smart enterprise storage system features like Intel Cache Acceleration Software, which uses onboard memory as a cache pool for faster storage access.
So whether you need high IOPS, capacity or both, these servers deliver robust storage built for reliability.
6. Modular Design for Easy Serviceability
Downtime costs money, so you need servers designed with serviceability top of mind. Intel servers have modular, tool-less component designs that allow for simple upgrades and repairs. Key parts like processors, memory, storage and I/O modules can be swapped out efficiently. Component failure diagnostics also help pinpoint issues quickly.
Remote management tools give administrators control over servers located anywhere. This modular, manageable approach means any maintenance events won’t interrupt operations for long. And Intel’s worldwide support network stands ready to assist in ensuring your servers stay up and running.
7. Secure Remote Management
Administering a distributed server infrastructure requires robust remote management. That’s why these servers support the Intel Remote Management Module for secure out-of-band access even when the operating system isn’t functioning.
- It allows remote reboots, hardware diagnostics and configuration from any internet-connected device.
- Intel also partners with leading management software providers to offer secure web, app and command-line-based control. And with features like remote KVM over IP, even graphical console access is possible from afar.
This powerful yet protected remote management empowers flexible administration no matter where servers reside.
8. Software Optimizations
It’s not just the hardware; Intel optimizes widely used server software too. Their processors include advanced instructions that software developers can leverage to enhance performance and efficiency.
- Operating systems like Microsoft Windows Server and Linux distributions are tuned for Intel architectures.
- Popular virtualization, containerization, networking, storage and machine learning software are optimized as well. This allows Intel servers to get the most out of applications and workloads. Software-defined capabilities also aid management and security.
- Virtualization software like VMware ESXi and Microsoft Hyper-V directly incorporate Intel-specific features to improve the performance and density of virtual machines. For example, they can pass through advanced instructions like AVX-512 to guest VMs.
This boosts the performance of workloads without needing to be rewritten.
Final Words
As you can see, Intel servers feature a comprehensive set of advantages that make them the industry’s most reliable and secure platform. Their hardware-based security, robust components, intelligent cooling and easy manageability provide a dependable foundation for critical applications. Advanced memory, storage, software and remote control capabilities further support high performance and uptime. With over 20 million servers shipped to date, businesses worldwide trust Intel to power their infrastructure.