Taking The Next Step: Server Appliances

hile building custom servers can still be profitable, appliances can be more so—and in line with the way the market is heading. A few entrepreneurial system builders are now offering customized server appliances to both enhance specialized solutions for their customers and maximize profits.

Appliances, which are loosely defined as single-purpose devices or specialized pieces of network equipment tuned to perform a specific service, often are built to meet security and storage needs of a network and can even be built to include full sever functionality.

There are some other elements that further define an appliance. One is a “headless” design, in which an appliance offers no external connections other than to a network interface. There is no provision (or need) for a mouse, keyboard or monitor. All configuration tasks are either done from a simple integrated LCD panel or preferably from a browser-based interface on a network-attached client PC.

Other specialized elements of appliances are the operating system and companion software applications. Appliances usually rely on trimmed-down software applications that are specifically designed for the basic services offered by the appliance.

In addition, appliances come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from toaster-size proprietary boxes to multi-U rack-mounted devices to units that resemble the typical PC.

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System builders may wonder why that combination of elements offers an advantage over a typical server-based solution. The most obvious answer is cost—appliances usually can be built and deployed for a fraction of the cost associated with a typical network server and still offer a healthy margin.

The trick is in selecting reliable hardware that approaches commodity status and proves to be affordable. The very nature of a single- or reduced-service appliance allows system builders to use cheaper, lower-end hardware. Because an appliance does not have to contend with all of the overhead associated with a typical server, system builders can use previous-generation processors and storage devices to reduce costs. What’s more, in most cases an appliance’s operating system and companion software elements will be based on an open-source model, such as those offered by Linux and FreeBSD.

GETTING STARTED
While there are several options to pursue when building an appliance, there are some tips and tricks that will ensure success.

First, define what function an appliance should have. There are several avenues to investigate, from server functions to security (firewall, VPN, filtering, IDS/IDP and so on) to storage. A storage appliance offers the quickest and simplest entry to the market, as a storage-based solution simply puts hard-drive capacity directly on a network via a PC-based device that houses hard drives and network connectivity. In most cases, an open-source OS such as Linux will be ideal, while SATA-based hard drives and Gigabit Ethernet will offer low-cost speed and availability.

The advantages of storage-based appliances are many. Storage is increasingly in demand, with networks of all sizes seeking more storage. External storage solutions offer several options, ranging from backup services to archival purposes to additional online storage. Indeed, the simplest way to add storage to an existing network is via an appliance—often there is no downtime involved and storage appliances usually offer plug-and-play simplicity.

System builders can offer a wide range of capacities and options with a storage appliance, including redundant technologies, hot-swappable drives and removable media for backup and archiving. Those factors should help to make a storage appliance an easy sell, but system builders should be aware of competition in the form of readily available NAS devices from a number of major vendors including Iomega, Linksys and Snap. However, system builders can set themselves apart from the competition by fine-tuning their appliance offerings to build unique feature sets while keeping costs down.

Another ideal market target for appliances is security, for which a system builder could create a security appliance that combines some primary security features into a single, remotely managed unit. Ideally, that unit also would function as the gateway for the network and would combine a hardened OS with security features such as antivirus, antispam, port blocking and content filtering, for example. Most of those applications are available open source, while some are subscription-based. The combination of low-cost hardware, open-source applications and security software subscriptions can mean an appliance that is inexpensive to deploy yet creates ongoing revenue in the form of subscriptions and security add-ons.

While a security appliance may prove to be one of the more complex appliance solutions, system builders will find the market hungering for those solutions. By offering customization that helps to secure networks while meeting legislative requirements such as HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley, system builders can offer a unique tailored solution that also can reduce the threat of competition from mainline vendors.

System builders can also pursue the server appliance market, which is applicable for small businesses. A server appliance takes on the role of a typical file server in a business environment and when properly implemented differs little from a typical server in functionality.

Once again, open source is the key to building an inexpensive unit. The major differences between a server appliance and a traditional server are the management and hardware options offered. Server appliances feature simplified management, usually via a browser, and the hardware follows the headless unit design. Also, because they are reduced-function devices, server appliances can be built using lower-end processors and less-expensive hardware.

For businesses seeking a custom-server solution that offers only the basics, a server appliance very well may be the ideal piece of networking hardware. An inexpensive server appliance can bring full networking capability to a small business for a fraction of the cost of a traditional server, and the savings in both hardware and software should create additional opportunity for deployment and other add-on costs. Remote management also can be a revenue stream for the system builder offering long-term support.