EnterprisePath FAQ

Question: What is the difference between the two dedicated server configurations?

Answer: In ServePath’s endeavor to provide dedicated architecture and hardware solutions to clients that require high availability and high performance, it was decided that there were too many options for the EnterprisePath for us to force our prospective and existing clients into a specific configuration. Below are the major differences between the EnterprisePath Application and Database Servers.

The EnterprisePath Application Server:

  1. Provides the most GB per disk available while still maintaining redundancy. This is achieved by using RAID 5, which is considered the ideal configuration for balancing performance and maximum space available per disk.
  2. Provides robust content delivery in configurations such as a file server, media streaming server, consolidated web/mail/DNS Server, or front end web/application server.
  3. Is ideal for any service that requires fast delivery of data, does not require high-performance saving/changing of data (i.e. does not ‘write’ more than 30%-40% of the time), and needs the most disk space available. (Note: Quantity and size of disks can be upgraded.)

The EnterprisePath Database Server:

  1. Provides separated, high-performance disk arrays for your operating system and database files by using a RAID 1 mirror for the operating system along with a separate set of 4 disks running in RAID 10. Compared to RAID 5, this configuration optimizes performance and redundancy by utilizing RAID stripes and mirrors for database environments that require high rates of simultaneous read/write capabilities.
  2. Isolates the performance impacting I/O generated by the operating system from the database files. Databases can run at the same performance level regardless of what is happening on the OS level (i.e. swap file usage, temp directory usage, running applications/EXEs).
  3. Is ideal for any service that requires a powerful database server with a redundant, high-performance disk subsystem. Databases that utilize reporting functions, temp tables/databases, or run large concurrent queries and massive table joins will maximize hardware performance from this server configuration. (Note: Quantity and size of disks can be upgraded, and further array customization is available.)

Question: Why does the EnterprisePath Database Server configuration have less storage space?

Answer: The EnterprisePath Database Server configuration utilizes a different RAID configuration that is geared more towards performance rather than maximizing the amount of usable space per disk. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the two configurations:

EnterprisePath Application Server

  1. 5 x 146GB RAID 5 equals 1 x 584GB partition of space.
    1. Has great content delivery (i.e. reads from disk) performance.
    2. Struggles with high I/O databases or other applications that cause many small pieces of data to constantly be read/written to disk
    3. Is not recommended for systems with a need for high-intensity writing more than 30% of the time the server is live.

EnterprisePath Database Server

  1. 2 x 146GB RAID 1 equals 1 x 146GB partition of space.
    1. Runs as a dedicated and isolated partition for the operating system, including the swap file and running applications.
    2. Isolates running OS processes and the disk I/O that they generate from impacting the performance of the database subsystem.
    3. Provides a place to offload the temp-database if running large concurrent queries. Effectively allowing them to be written onto a separate array rather than impacting the performance of the database array.
  2. 4 x 146GB RAID 10 equal 1 x 292GB partition of space
    1. This becomes a dedicated and isolated partition for your database master files to reside. This configuration combines the redundancy of RAID 1 Mirroring with I/O performance of RAID 0 Striping. This array type can handle up to half of the disks failing as long as no two disks are within the same mirror.

Question: Which configuration best suits my needs?

Answer: The server configuration you choose should be geared toward the performance, redundancy, and cost efficiency you require for your application and/or databases to run. Below is a quick yes/no based questionnaire that should help to point you in the right direction:

  1. Does the content residing on the server get updated constantly with small individual files or inserts while also delivering the content to the public? (Yes/No)
  2. Is the system required to do intense writing more than 30% of the time while still being read from? (Yes/No)
  3. Is performance more important than getting the maximum space available out of your available disks? (Yes/No)

Conclusion: If you answered yes to 2 out of 3 of these questions you may want to look into your options for an EnterprisePath in the Database configuration. If you feel there is no need for such processing power, we can custom build an UltraPath with the same disk array options for a nominal fee.

Get more info:  The EnterprisePath Server is designed for businesses with intensive applications or database hosting subsystem, and a Database Server configuration that contains 2 x 146 GB (OS) and 4 x 146 GB SCSI RAID 10 (database) subsystems.

Our dedicated server packages include our 10,000% SLA, which guarantees a 1-hour hardware replacement, as well as direct phone access to our Network Operations Center (NOC) for support related issues and questions.

To learn more about our EnterprisePath Server and the RAID subsystem options, call our sales department today at: 866-321-7284 or email us at: salesteam@servepath.com.