Editing Blade server (section)

{{Short description|Modular compute server design}}
[[Image:Supermicro SBI-7228R-T2X blade server.jpg|300px|thumb|Supermicro SBI-7228R-T2X blade server, containing two dual-CPU server nodes]]
A '''blade server''' is a stripped-down [[server computer]] with a [[modular design]] optimized to minimize the use of physical space and energy. Blade servers have many components removed to save space, minimize power consumption and other considerations, while still having all the functional components to be considered a [[computer]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.enterasys.com/company/literature/datacenter-design-guide-wp.pdf
 |title        = Data Center Networking – Connectivity and Topology Design Guide
 |year         = 2011
 |publisher    = Enterasys Networks, Inc.
 |access-date  = 2013-09-05
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131005002816/http://www.enterasys.com/company/literature/datacenter-design-guide-wp.pdf
 |archive-date = 2013-10-05
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref> Unlike a [[rack-mount]] server, a blade server fits inside a '''blade enclosure''', which can hold multiple blade servers, providing services such as power, cooling, networking, various interconnects and management. Together, blades and the blade enclosure form a blade system, which may itself be rack-mounted. Different blade providers have differing principles regarding what to include in the blade itself, and in the blade system as a whole.

In a ''standard'' server-rack configuration, one rack unit or [[rack unit|1U]]&mdash;{{convert|19|in}} wide and {{convert|1.75|in}} tall&mdash;defines the minimum possible size of any equipment. The principal benefit and justification of blade computing relates to lifting this restriction so as to reduce size requirements. The most common computer rack [[Motherboard form factor|form-factor]] is 42U high, which limits the number of discrete computer devices directly mountable in a rack to 42 components. Blades do not have this limitation. {{as of|2014}}, densities of up to 180 servers per blade system (or 1440 servers per rack) are achievable with blade systems.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=9 Dec 2013|title=HP updates Moonshot server platform with ARM and AMD Opteron hardware|url=http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/news/2317974/hp-updates-moonshot-server-platform-with-arm-and-amd-opteron-hardware|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416045445/http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/news/2317974/hp-updates-moonshot-server-platform-with-arm-and-amd-opteron-hardware|archive-date=16 April 2014|access-date=2014-04-25|website=|publisher=Incisive Business Media Limited}}</ref>