Doing head-to-head comparisons of blade and rack-mount servers is more difficult than it would initially seem. This Excel-based worksheet aids in selecting equivalent systems and doing a cost comparison. This tool aids in:
- Selecting equivalent systems for comparison.
- Configuring and comparing costs for hardware including processors, RAM, storage and networking capabilities.
- Evaluating indirect costs such as cabling, external infrastructure and energy use.
By selecting the right systems for the comparison, the IT staff can determine whether blade servers will really save the enterprise money.
This downloadable tool is associated with the research note, "Dueling Servers: Blades and Racks Compete to Cut Costs."