What is a Bare Metal Server?

A bare metal server is a type of cloud service that allows you to rent a physical server that is dedicated to your exclusive use. Unlike virtual servers that share the same hardware resources with other tenants, a bare metal server gives you full access and control over the server’s hardware and software configuration. This way, you can optimize the server for your specific needs and performance requirements.

In this article, we will explain what a bare metal server is, how it differs from other types of cloud servers, what are the benefits and drawbacks of using a bare metal server, and what are some common use cases and scenarios for a bare metal server.

How Does a Bare Metal Server Work?

A bare metal server is a physical computer that is specially designed to run dedicated services without any interruptions for extended periods. It is highly stable, durable, and reliable. A bare metal server is a single-tenant environment, meaning that only one customer can use the server at a time. The customer has complete control over the server’s hardware components, such as CPU, RAM, disk, network, etc., and can choose the operating system and software applications that run on the server.

A bare metal server does not have a hypervisor installed, which is a software layer that creates and manages virtual machines. A hypervisor allows multiple virtual servers to run on the same physical hardware, but it also introduces some overhead and complexity. A bare metal server eliminates the need for a hypervisor and provides direct access to the server’s hardware resources, resulting in better performance and efficiency.

However, a bare metal server can also support virtualization if the customer wants to create and run virtual machines on top of the bare metal server. This can be useful for creating isolated environments for different applications or testing purposes. The customer can install their own hypervisor or use a cloud provider’s service to create and manage virtual machines on the bare metal server.

How Does a Bare Metal Server Differ from Other Types of Cloud Servers?

There are different types of cloud servers that offer different levels of abstraction, flexibility, and performance. The main types of cloud servers are:

Virtual servers: These are the most common type of cloud servers, which are created and run by a hypervisor on a shared physical hardware. Virtual servers are also known as virtual machines (VMs) or instances. Each virtual server has its own operating system and software applications, but it shares the underlying hardware resources with other virtual servers. Virtual servers are easy to create, scale, and migrate, but they also have some limitations, such as performance variability, security risks, and compatibility issues.
Container servers: These are a newer type of cloud servers, which are based on a technology called containerization. Containerization allows multiple applications to run on the same operating system, but in isolated environments called containers. Each container has its own file system, libraries, and dependencies, but it shares the kernel and other system resources with other containers. Container servers are also known as container instances or pods. Container servers are lightweight, fast, and portable, but they also have some challenges, such as resource management, security, and networking.
Bare metal servers: These are the type of cloud servers that we are discussing in this article, which are physical servers that are rented by a single customer. Bare metal servers are also known as dedicated servers or physical servers. Each bare metal server has its own hardware and software configuration, and it does not share any resources with other servers. Bare metal servers are powerful, consistent, and customizable, but they also have some drawbacks, such as high cost, long provisioning time, and low scalability.

The following table summarizes the main differences between the three types of cloud servers:

Type	Abstraction	Flexibility	Performance	Cost
Virtual server	High	High	Variable	Low
Container server	Medium	Medium	High	Medium
Bare metal server	Low	Low	High	High

What are the Benefits of Using a Bare Metal Server?

There are several benefits of using a bare metal server, depending on your needs and goals. Some of the main benefits are:

Enhanced performance: A bare metal server provides the best performance among the cloud server types, as it does not have any overhead or interference from a hypervisor or other tenants. A bare metal server can leverage the full potential of the hardware resources, such as CPU, RAM, disk, network, etc., and deliver faster and more consistent results. A bare metal server is ideal for running high-performance applications, such as big data analytics, machine learning, gaming, video streaming, etc.
Improved security: A bare metal server provides the highest level of security among the cloud server types, as it does not have any shared or vulnerable components. A bare metal server is physically isolated from other servers, and it does not have any software layer that can be exploited or compromised. A bare metal server gives you full control over the security policies and measures that you want to implement on the server. A bare metal server is suitable for running sensitive or regulated applications, such as financial transactions, healthcare records, government data, etc.
Increased customization: A bare metal server provides the most customization options among the cloud server types, as it does not have any predefined or restricted settings. A bare metal server allows you to choose the hardware specifications, operating system, software applications, and network configuration that best suit your needs and preferences. A bare metal server also enables you to install and run any software or tools that you want, without any compatibility or licensing issues. A bare metal server is convenient for running specialized or legacy applications, such as custom databases, proprietary software, etc.

What are the Drawbacks of Using a Bare Metal Server?

There are also some drawbacks of using a bare metal server, depending on your budget and expectations. Some of the main drawbacks are:

Higher cost: A bare metal server is the most expensive type of cloud server, as it requires more resources and maintenance. A bare metal server consumes more power, space, and cooling than a virtual or container server, and it also requires more staff and expertise to manage and operate. A bare metal server is usually billed by the hour, day, week, or month, and it may have additional fees for setup, support, or upgrades. A bare metal server is not cost-effective for running low-demand or intermittent applications, such as web hosting, development, testing, etc.
Longer provisioning time: A bare metal server is the slowest type of cloud server to provision, as it involves more steps and processes. A bare metal server requires physical installation, configuration, testing, and verification before it can be ready for use. A bare metal server may take from minutes to hours to provision, depending on the availability and complexity of the server. A bare metal server is not agile for running dynamic or unpredictable applications, such as scaling, load balancing, disaster recovery, etc.
Lower scalability: A bare metal server is the least scalable type of cloud server, as it has limited or fixed resources. A bare metal server cannot easily add or remove hardware components, such as CPU, RAM, disk, network, etc., without affecting the server’s functionality or availability. A bare metal server may require manual intervention or downtime to scale up or down, depending on the demand and capacity of the server. A bare metal server is not flexible for running elastic or variable applications, such as seasonal, bursty, or event-driven, etc.

What are Some Common Use Cases and Scenarios for a Bare Metal Server?

A bare metal server is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a specific option that can be useful for certain use cases and scenarios. Some of the common use cases and scenarios for a bare metal server are:

High-performance computing (HPC): HPC is the use of advanced computing techniques and technologies to solve complex and intensive problems that require a lot of processing power and speed. Examples of HPC applications include scientific simulations, engineering design, weather forecasting, genomic sequencing, etc. A bare metal server can provide the optimal performance and reliability for HPC applications, as it can handle large volumes of data and computations without any latency or interference.
Machine learning (ML): ML is the use of artificial intelligence and algorithms to learn from data and make predictions or decisions based on patterns and trends. Examples of ML applications include image recognition, natural language processing, recommendation systems, fraud detection, etc. A bare metal server can offer the best performance and customization for ML applications, as it can support specialized hardware and software, such as GPUs, neural networks, frameworks, etc.
Gaming: Gaming is the use of interactive and immersive media to create and play digital games for entertainment or education. Examples of gaming applications include online multiplayer games, virtual reality games, esports, etc. A bare metal server can deliver the best performance and quality for gaming applications, as it can provide high-resolution graphics, fast response time, low latency, and consistent gameplay.
Video streaming: Video streaming is the use of internet protocols and technologies to transmit and receive video content in real time or on demand. Examples of video streaming applications include live broadcasting, video conferencing, video on demand, etc. A bare metal server can ensure the best performance and quality for video streaming applications, as it can handle high bandwidth, high resolution, high concurrency, and high availability.

Conclusion

A bare metal server is a type of cloud service that allows you to rent a physical server that is dedicated to your exclusive use. A bare metal server gives you full access and control over the server’s hardware and software configuration, and it provides the best performance, security, and customization among the cloud server types. However, a bare metal server also has some drawbacks, such as higher cost, longer provisioning time, and lower scalability. A bare metal server is not suitable for every application, but it can be very beneficial for some specific use cases and scenarios, such

What is a Bare Metal Server?