Hosting Server

A storage server is a high-performance computer specifically designed to store and access small and large amounts of digital data in a secure and manageable environment. A storage server is less powerful than a standard server, yet, it compensates for this with more storage space, storage access interface, and specialized data management and retrieval utilities. Data storage servers are also often regarded as file servers and act as data backup servers. Broadly speaking, buying or renting a Windows storage server or an OS-based server is possible.

WHAT’S THE PURPOSE OF A STORAGE SERVER?

The primary purpose of data storage servers is to store files (photos, videos, databases, applications, etc.). It does not run executable programs, computational tasks, or run programs for the clients. These usually are the workstations using the storage. 

Resources on a storage server are adjustable to the needs of a specific client that wants to buy or rent the hardware. It includes the following technical characteristics:

• Storage
• Ram
• Bandwidth
• Processor

A data storage server has a GUI control panel so that users on a local network can access the storage server remotely. It saves their data through FTP or a software API in a centralized storage location.

Storage servers provide an advanced way to designate extensive data with fast access speeds that results in optimum performance when it comes to cost and volume ratios.

WHICH BUSINESSES CAN BENEFIT FROM USING A STORAGE SERVER?

For many businesses, data is essential and can be a valuable asset. A small business can set up a workstation in their office and use it as a storage server to save the information and share its data with other local computers using LAN or Internet.  

Typically, suppose your business has 1-10 computers. In that case, you either don’t need servers for data storage or can assign workstations to be your storage servers as they can easily manage the data from the rest of the nodes. 

Suppose your office has more than ten computers (For example, a WebHost isp hosting service provider company); you are standing a chance of running low on storage at any time. Hence, instead of reconfiguring and upgrading your office computers often, it is time to invest in a regular server or consider looking for cloud storage options.

However, a growing business demands more employees, computers, storage hardware, and data security. To cut costs down, a company can utilize storage hosting services with cheap hosting plans. It is a common practice for the following types of companies to rent a server for data storage:

• Video editing
• Gaming
• Real estate
• 3D Graphic design 
• Database hoster 
• E-Commerce
• Stocks, crypto, and forex
• Internet service provider
• Web hosting company

However, the list can be much longer as the business landscape is not static, whereas the need for storage snowballs.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STORAGE SERVERS?

Broadly speaking, there are two storage servers: dedicated and non-dedicated. A dedicated server, as its name suggests, acts specifically as a file server with workstations specific for reading and writing databases and files. 

Moreover, you’ve got a choice of three types of data storage servers in accordance with your budget scope and business needs. 

1. You can go with an on-premises server that is a regular server for data storage where all your data and applications are hosted in-house. Since you are the owner, you should buy licensed software and take care of the server’s security maintenance issues and power bills. 
2. The second route you can take is hosting your data on a cloud data storage server hosting platform. Cloud is usually a massive space that is located on the internet and holds a stack of servers. It is orchestrated to provide organizations like yourself with a bunch of services from data storage to network management.  
3. You can also buy a storage server or rent dedicated storage server hosting from a co-location vendor. All your data is hosted on a private server. This approach helps you get rid of all the technical hassles and costs, including the must-have knowledge associated with maintaining an on-premises storage server. In fact, this is one of the very common routes to take.

HOW DO STORAGE SERVERS WORK?

You can think of a data storage server as a device that feeds information over a network to its users. It is less powerful than a regular server, but what a storage server lacks in processing power, it makes up for the storage, maintenance costs, electricity consumption, file serving, and security. 

The disk array is formed by aching storage of data. This technology aims to operate multiple disk drives simultaneously as one unit. Advanced storage visualization and RAID are employed as well as disk array cache, which is usually much faster than a magnetic disk. The storage network determines the type of disk array to be used as it is dependent on it. 

After the configuration of the machine on the network, it is made public. From this point, users are allowed to start accessing the storage space available to them on the server. In order to do so, they need to do the “mapping” of their drives on the computers. Once the mapping is completed, the operating system identifies the storage server as an additional drive. Given that network configuration took place correctly, all computers included into the network receive permission to create, modify and execute files directly using the server. Each computer is also granted some extra shared scape on the server. 

The data storage servers can include the following types:

• File storage server
• Video storage server
• Print storage server
• Database storage server
• Mail storage server
• Webhosting server
• Game / GPU storage server
• Application storage server
• Streaming storage server

HOW IS A STORAGE SERVER DESIGNED?

In most cases, customization is the answer. It is designed in accordance to your organization’s budget, performance, and storage requirements. The data storage server uses RAID or data mirroring. It is a combination of multiple inexpensive physical disk drives to add reliability, security, and storage to the server.

The following technical aspects are considered when designing an on-premises, cloud, or dedicated storage server. 

• CPU for processing power 
• DDR or SDRAM for efficiency
• RAID storage and RAID level
• OS drive to allocate disc space for the operating system
• Ports in GBPS to manage client-to-server and server-to-server traffic
• Bandwidth for faster communication
• SSH, Remote desktop, or control panel for connectivity
• IPV4 32-bit or IPV6 64 bit
• Intelligent management platform GUI interface
• Advanced networking devices, e.g., routers and switches, to avoid attenuation 

All of these are configurable devices in most types of data storage servers.

Some vendors may employ the queuing theory model to efficiently manage peak loads, throughput, and response time. It is common for servers to incorporate dynamic load balancing system schemes to request distribution across the connected hardware.

HOW SECURE IS A STORAGE SERVER?

Data security is probably as important as profit-making for any business. One weakness can wreak havoc on the entire network, which can result in data loss and server crashes. That is why choosing a secure data storage server hosting is best, so you don’t have to deal with electronic and online security issues. Vendors establish strict protocols for security that eliminates any physical and online threats. 

Some of the common security measures in a co-located and hosted servers for data storage environment are:

• Licensed premium security software that is updated regularly and on time for the security of the applications, OS, and API to tackle DOS level threats
• Multi-level security, user creation with restricted permissions, and block options for root access data
• Regular backups of the entire OS and files on the server
• Secured protocols for encrypted data transfer
• Restricted access through a private IP for multiple data storage servers within the same network
• DDoS protection to maintain server availability to the users
• Use of next-generation firewalls

The physical security elements can be as follows:

• Security guards to protect the hosting facility.
• CCTV monitoring.
• Backup equipment to ensure non-stopping power supply.
• Ventilation and heating issues foreseen and professionally handled by expert staff.

The servers are designed to work in a hierarchical computing environment. That is to say, the network grants access based on credentials, which may vary from group to individual. Users, apps files, and computers are considered to be individual by related to one another on the network. In large organizations, directory services may include hundreds of file servers, whereas small companies usually go through authentication directly at the server. 

Upgrading to a vendor-hosted storage server has its price. However, the overall time savings and reduced stress elements of maintaining a company server drive a lot of businesses to go for rented storage server solutions. 

WHAT MAKES STORAGE SERVERS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TYPES OF SERVERS?

A regular server consists of fast processing chips, loads of RAM, and five or fewer disks for the local user tasks. A typical server is clueless about the load demands it will get. It can range from gaming to running a database.

On the other hand, a data storage server is built to handle the specific requirements of a client. These requirements can be a huge storage space, a centralized secured data access interface, and data management. It has 12-24 disks, and vendors sometimes offer it with a discounted deal for co-location and rental purposes. 

Dedicated and cloud storage hosting has become a norm as installing a regular service for file serving may lead to complex problems. Administration time and costs associated with a typical server can increase overhead costs. Also, a user can use the server for other functions that can compromise the security of the data in it. Therefore, many companies utilize rental data storage servers as a central point of data access to connect remotely or via the internet.

Servers for data storage can be:

• Placed in a 4U rackmount, and a server and the storage unit are placed within it.
• Built with a separate storage unit and a server nearby.

Besides extra disks, a storage server comes with a lot of functional services. These services can include:

• Storage server management software
• Optional hardware for more durability and ease of access
• Several RAID configurations for extra storage
• Extra network connectivity options so that more nodes can connect to the data storage server.
• Secured environment for data protection and backup
• Ability to pool multiple storage servers into one 
• Hardware up-gradation addons
• Dedicated IPs

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SERVER STORAGE TYPES, AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

You can use data storage servers for a variety of reasons. For applications, you need a space where your users can upload documents, videos, photos, and all sorts of other files. Developers need a content delivery system with storage to maximize load speed and data availability. Therefore, choosing a storage server type or using a combination is best to meet your needs.

DIRECT ATTACHED STORAGE (DAS)     

A typical DAS (Direct Attached Storage) system is a digital storage system consisting of data storage connected directly to a computer through a host bus adapter without a network device.

The data transmission protocols for DAS systems are:

1. ATA
2. SCSI
3. SATA
4. Fiber channel
5. eSATA
6. SAS

Most functions found in modern storage do not depend on whether the storage is attached directly to a storage server or via a network.

A DAS device can be shared in computer clusters as long as it provides multiple interfaces that allow direct access. Most SAN and NAS storage servers can easily be used as DAS servers if their ports are disconnected from the data network and connected directly to a computer.

DAS is not found to be helpful in most cases. The main disadvantage of DAS is its inability to share data and unused resources with other storage servers independently. You have to physically upload the data to the target node or use email attachments.

STORAGE AREA NETWORK (SAN)

SAN (Storage Area Network) are controllers that connect servers to disks and give you a segmental way to add additional storage to your network. The controllers segment the load across disks. You have options for performance tunning, tiers, and replication.

If you have a SAN in one location and another SAN in the second location, you can do SAN to SAN replication so that your data is always current in two different physical areas.

A storage area network allows you to have data centrally stored in it. Therefore, you can replace your physical server without data loss if your physical server crashes. You don’t have to worry about backing up and storing your data again. SANs offer you to move a server’s data to another server while in maintenance mode.

SANs are challenging to set up and are very expensive but dominate two-thirds of the storage hosting market. Industries that need a high-speed network like banking and telecommunications adopt this server type. 

The common protocols for SANs data transfer are:

• FCP
• iSCSI
• FCoE
• FC-NVMe

NETWORK-ATTACHED STORAGE (NAS)

NAS is essentially an intelligent storage box connected to a network. Hard disks are arranged into RAID arrays. Small or medium NAS storage servers typically have room for 4 to 8 hard disks, but they are expandable up to 24 disks.

Having a NAS system allows you to have a location where your local area network can store all the files, photos, videos, and databases safely and securely over a network with redundancy. Redundancy is dependent on the NAS configuration, and if implemented, it means that one hard drive can mirror another inside the NAS. Thus, whatever you store on one drive, is simultaneously stored on the other drive as a backup. 

Network-attached storage (NAS) file-sharing protocols are:

• NFS
• SMB
• AFP
• NCP

Significant activity from your LAN to NAS storage servers can slow their performance. Therefore, NAS is not an ideal option for high-performance applications. The only way to scale your business storage system needs is to introduce more network storage servers with it. Partial offload into a cloud storage server may also be an option. 

HOW MUCH DOES A STORAGE SERVER COST?

It is important to keep in mind that the price does not only depend on hard disk space but also communication bandwidth and processing capacities. An individual data storage server price varies with your need and can increase or decrease with:

• Hardware maintenance expenses
• Technical support charges
• Gigabyte storage needed for each computer
• The bandwidth requirement for every node
• Performance of the server
• Licensed software for data management and security

If you have the budget available, an average storage server cost can be calculated using one of the following methods:

A 100TB server price ranges from $2800 to $6500 on average. If you want to upgrade your hard drives from SATA to SSD, it will add another $450-$500 to the cost.

Installation expenses related to professional IT experts, on average, range around $170 per hour. If it takes a whole day for the installation, i.e., eight hours, you can end up paying $1300 for the job.

Storage servers may need 1-8 hours of monthly maintenance. Monthly maintenance fees averages around $140 hourly, which makes a monthly cost between $140 to $1200.

On top of the above costs, you can face some rather painful breakdowns, whereas replacement of server parts can be super expensive.

Alternatively, you can rent a relatively cheap storage server hosting starting from $50 to $100 per month. If you want a server that can handle extreme loads, you can rent a dedicated storage server for about $250-$600 per month. The rental price varies with your choice of hardware and security protocols.

BENEFITS OF A STORAGE SERVER

The storage is all about the space, hence making the core advantage of the storage server in its space available to all computers attached to the network. It also eliminates the need to make multiple copies via sharing and accessing the same file. Importantly, files are easily monitored due to their storage in the same location. Last but not least, file servers enable better data management while providing extra security, given that a password protection option is employed. 

Apparently, you can and should benefit a lot from introducing data storage servers in your network to manage your business environment better than before. Here are more detailed benefits of a data storage server:

• As your data input grows, a data storage hosting can help store data with quick backups through RAID levels.
• Storage servers offer increased multi-layered security and privacy to protect sensitive data with the help of dedicated IPs and personal firewall settings.
• You can control your applications in a centralized location with fast access to your network computers to share resources efficiently and effectively.
• You can access the storage servers from literally anywhere, so your employees can also work from home and use them to save data.
• Storage servers can handle IT accessories very well. Meaning you can use printers, scanners, and other accessories from a centralized access point.
• Storage servers give you freedom of choice and full control regarding the operating system, RAM, CPU, Bandwidth, and hard disks to match your needs. 
• Storage server hosting offers centralized maintenance and monitoring, environmental control, and bandwidth considerations.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN OPTIMAL STORAGE SERVER

You need to consider your budget, performance requirements, guaranteed uptimes, security issues, bandwidth usage, network quality, and storage needs when choosing the best server to store data. Typically, you can choose from the following three storage server variants: 

1. When choosing an on-premises storage server, the company’s employees are responsible for monitoring, maintenance, management, and security software configurations. As an owner or an IT head, you take all the decisions about budget, security, performance, and storage needs. All the other computers in your network are connected to the server via a remote desktop or secured shell (SSH) for data saving and sharing. 
2. Should you opt for cloud storage server hosting, the data can be accessed from any location using an internet connection. It takes out a certain degree of stress as your cloud provider manages your server, its security, and upgrade requirements for a fee. You only have to select a server to match your business requirements. While computers in your company can connect with:
   1. Public cloud (Multiple organizations sharing data using a single server)
   2. Private cloud (On-premises/rental cluster server to store data that is accessed over the internet)
   3. Hybrid cloud (Combination of private & private clouds)
3. Dedicated servers are the most secure form offering massive storage capacity. You can buy one, or a hosting provider rents you a specific physical storage server and designs and secure it according to your organization’s digital architecture. Therefore, although rented, you can manage the server all by yourself. Your employees using their computers can connect to the company’s dedicated server via a remote desktop or a control panel with dedicated IPs.