Whether you need to manage a small business or a large data center, there are several server chassis options to fit your needs. Tower cases work particularly well for organizations that only need a server or two. They offer many upgrade options in a compact size. Rack and blade server cases, instead, are a wiser choice for large data centers, as they allow to stack many servers, creating a space-saving configuration. Thermal cooling solutions extend the shelf life of computers, which makes the server chassis an excellent long-term investment.
A tower server chassis looks just like the tower of a desktop computer. It's a smart choice for smaller companies that don't have enough space for a dedicated data room or server bays. You can easily tuck a tower server under a desk, so it stays out of sight. These servers are practical and easy to use, but they only offer basic features. For this reason, they may not be suitable for large companies with higher requirements. Tower server chassis can accommodate up to six hard drives and two CPUs for added flexibility. Most chassis are durable enough to provide ample protection to tower components.
Mid and mini-tower server cases have smaller dimensions than the full-tower ones. Therefore, they're even more compact and space-saving. However, they feature less space for internal components like CPUs and fans. They support smaller motherboards with fewer expansions slots, so they offer less flexibility and upgradability than full-tower chassis. A mid or mini-tower server case may also have less space to allow proper airflow.
Rackmount chassis allow stacking your servers over each other. This configuration lets you keep multiple servers in the same place, making it easier to perform maintenance operations and upgrades. These and other computer cases are particularly common in data centers. Rack chassis can have one or multiple 1.75-inch server units. Most models feature smart cable management solutions to keep your data center looking neat. Generally, rack servers offer more power than tower servers, with support for several CPUs and expansion slots. The rack configuration makes it easy to identify a malfunctioning server and repair or replace it.
Blade server cases are slimmer and more compact than rackmount chassis. They allow positioning the servers vertically to take up less space. Blade servers share hardware components inside the case to reduce cable clutter. However, blade servers tend to offer fewer upgrade options than rack servers. Multiple blade server cases support four internal hard drives, so you may need an external storage system. Blade servers tend to be more expensive than rack servers, but they typically offer more computing power and better overall performance.