What does bare metal mean?
'Bare Metal' is a term used to describe a computer system without a base operating system (OS) or installed applications. It is the assembly of hardware, structure and components of a computer that is installed with firmware software utility or basic input/output system (BIOS) or without any software.
The term 'metal' refers to the computer's physical structure, which is composed of metal and other materials. When a computer is called 'bare metal', it means that it has no software installed other than firmware or BIOS. This means that the computer is a blank platform, ready to be configured and customized by the user.
The definition of 'bare metal' is important as it is a common term used in the information technology industry to describe a variety of systems and solutions. For example, a bare metal server is a server that does not have any software installed other than the operating system. This means that the server is highly customizable and can be configured to meet a user's specific needs.
Components of a Bare Metal
A bare metal computer system is a computer system without an operating system or applications installed, consisting of hardware, framework, and components that are installed either with firmware or Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) software utility, or with no software at all.
The components of a Bare Metal include, but are not limited to:
- Hardware: Bare Metal hardware is made up of several components, including processors, hard disks, RAM, power supplies, motherboards, among others.
- Processor: the processor is the brain of the system, responsible for executing the software instructions. A Bare Metal can have multiple processors depending on its size and purpose.
- Hard drive: The hard disk is the system's main storage device, where the operating system, applications, and data are stored. A Bare Metal can have multiple hard drives depending on its size and purpose.
- RAM memory: RAM memory is used to temporarily store data that is being used by the operating system and running applications. A Bare Metal can have several RAM memory modules, depending on its size and purpose.
- Motherboard: the motherboard is the main board of the system, responsible for connecting all the Bare Metal components. It also provides interfaces to external devices such as keyboards, mice, monitors and storage devices.
- Fonte de Alimentação: The power supply is responsible for providing power to all Bare Metal components. It converts power from the mains into a suitable voltage for the system.
Bare Metal Servers
Bare Metal Servers are physical computers specifically designed to run dedicated services uninterrupted for long periods of time. They are highly stable, durable and reliable. Unlike virtual servers, bare metal servers are single-tenant environments, which means that the physical resources of a single server cannot be shared between two or more tenants.
These servers are often used by companies that need a high level of control over their servers and want to avoid the performance issues associated with virtual servers. Bare metal servers are also ideal for high-performance applications such as gaming, big data analytics and video processing.
Bare metal servers are often found in data centers, which are physical facilities that house servers, storage devices, and other networking equipment. These data centers are designed to ensure that bare metal servers are kept in optimal temperature and humidity conditions, as well as provide backup power to prevent service interruptions.
Bare metal servers are a reliable and powerful option for companies that need a high level of control over their servers and want to avoid the performance issues associated with virtual servers. They are often found in data centers, which are designed to ensure that bare metal servers are kept in optimal condition.
