Data Center Solutions: Cloud Vs. Bare Metal

Many organizations still need, or want, to run their own data centers. Now, however, few wish to commit to running private, in-house facilities. Using the cloud and/or bare metal servers can be an excellent alternative. With that in mind, here is a straightforward guide to what you need to know about data center cloud solutions and data center bare metal solutions.

Performance – data center cloud solutions

Public clouds are essentially pools of shared computing resources that are managed through the use of virtualization. This fact has two implications for their performance.

Firstly, the fact that resources are shared means that no single tenant (client) has full control over them. In particular, they cannot implement their own customizations at will.

This is unlikely to be an issue when running mainstream, current apps that have standard infrastructure requirements. It can, however, affect the performance of niche and/or legacy apps.

Secondly, the use of virtualization inevitably drains some resources from the applications themselves. This increases latency and reduces throughput. Again, the practical impact of this will depend on the app.

Performance – data center bare metal solutions

By contrast, bare metal servers are dedicated to a single tenant, who has direct access to the hardware. This means that organizations can customize their servers however they wish. Furthermore, they will get the full value out of whatever hardware they use as there is no need for virtualization.

Both of these factors mean that bare metal servers tend to deliver better and more reliable performance than cloud solutions. In particular, they offer lower latency and higher throughput.

Cost – data center cloud solutions

Cloud data center solutions typically have few to no upfront charges. Ongoing usage is typically billed using consumption-based pricing tariffs. Most providers offer a choice of pay-as-you-go and subscription-based options. In either case, however, the basic idea is that you pay for what you use.

This approach to pricing is highly flexible. It can also be very cost-effective for small workloads. As workloads increase, however, the cloud tends to become more expensive than private infrastructure such as bare metal servers.

Another issue with the cloud is that organizations generally have to monitor their use of it closely. If they do not, they may end up paying significantly more than necessary.

Cost – data center bare metal solutions

Bare metal data centers typically require a high upfront investment for purchasing and setting up physical servers. Ongoing costs are usually charged as fixed fees. This creates a level of commitment that is not ideal for small workloads. For heavy workloads, by contrast, bare metal servers tend to be much more economical than the cloud.

Scalability – data center cloud solutions

Scalability is a crucial factor in distinguishing between cloud and bare metal data centers. Cloud environments are designed to be highly scalable, offering on-demand resource allocation. Cloud platforms provide automated scaling features that allow businesses to adjust compute, storage, and networking resources based on real-time needs.

This on-demand scaling is particularly useful for applications with fluctuating demands, such as e-commerce platforms during peak shopping periods or SaaS applications experiencing rapid user growth. The ability to scale resources quickly and efficiently helps businesses manage varying workloads without the need for substantial upfront planning.

Scalability – data center bare metal solutions

Bare metal environments, however, present challenges in terms of scalability. Scaling up typically requires the purchase and installation of additional physical hardware, which can involve longer lead times and higher costs. This process is less agile compared to the immediate resource adjustments available in cloud environments.

For businesses with predictable and stable workloads, the fixed capacity of bare metal servers may be adequate. Nevertheless, organizations needing rapid or frequent scaling may find the cloud’s flexible resource allocation more advantageous. The need for advance planning and procurement in bare metal environments can lead to potential delays and performance bottlenecks if hardware upgrades are not managed effectively.

Typical use cases – data center cloud solutions

Cloud data centers are versatile and cater to a wide range of applications. They are ideal for scenarios that require flexibility and rapid scalability. Common use cases include web hosting, development and testing environments, and applications with variable workloads.

For example, a company developing a new software application might utilize cloud resources to manage different stages of development and testing. The ability to quickly provision and de-provision resources allows businesses to handle fluctuating demands and optimize costs effectively.

Typical use cases – data center bare metal solutions

Bare metal data centers, on the other hand, are better suited for applications requiring high performance, reliability, and dedicated resources. Typical use cases include high-frequency trading platforms, large-scale data analytics, and gaming servers.

The dedicated nature of bare metal servers ensures consistent performance, making them ideal for industries such as finance and telecommunications, where performance stability and regulatory compliance are critical.

Additionally, bare metal environments are often selected by organizations with specific hardware needs or stringent compliance requirements, where dedicated hardware offers performance and reliability advantages.