Server Lifetime: How can I optimize my hardware lifecycle?

Servers are at the heart of a company’s data center. These critical devices process data and provide services and information to the rest of your IT infrastructure. Knowing how to extend and optimize your server lifetime offers a range of benefits for any business.

In this article, Evernex explores how to safely extend your server’s lifecycle, spot the signs a server needs replacing, and leverage TPM to get the most out of your server hardware.

What does server lifetime mean?

A server’s lifespan refers to the timeframe of the asset’s entire useful life. This begins at deployment and ends with its eventual retirement and disposal. Typically, we split the hardware cycle into several stages:

1. Introduction
2. Growth
3. Maturity
4. End-of-Life (EOL)
5. End-of-Service-Life (EOSL)
6. Decommissioning

What is the average lifespan of a server?

The average lifetime of server hardware is a matter of debate. OEMs normally set their EOL about 5 years after the model’s release. This drives many companies into a replacement cycle of 5 years. The EOSL normally comes approximately 5-6 years after the EOL.

However, this does not mean that the product has stopped functioning correctly or can no longer meet business needs.

With proper support, a server can offer strong and reliable performance for years after the EOSL date.

What determines a server’s lifetime?

Several factors determine server lifetime. With regular IT support and environmental controls, it could remain in good condition almost indefinitely.
With regular support and environmental controls, it could remain in good condition almost indefinitely. However, several factors determine the lifecycle of IT equipment.

The determining factor of server lifetime is the care your company takes with it.

Component damage or failure can dramatically shorten a server’s lifespan. The most likely component to fail first is the hard drive. However, the hard drive is quick and inexpensive to replace. Overuse, poor maintenance and unsuitable conditions, such as ineffective cooling and dust build-up, can also limit IT equipment’s lifetime.

Two important dates affect the support options available for your IT infrastructure. The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) establishes both. These are:

• End-of-Life: The OEM stops producing the model and begins to phase out support and updates. The goal is to encourage users to purchase newer products.
• End-of-Service-Life: The manufacturer stops all support. Your company will have to make alternative maintenance plans to keep your IT asset functional and secure long term.

These dates matter because robust support is key to keeping your IT systems in good health. Once your server reaches its EOL or EOSL, it is vital to make alternative arrangements. This could mean using your business’s internal IT department or contacting a Third-Party Maintenance provider.

To find out more about how End-of-Life dates affect your IT maintenance strategy, check out our expert industry guide What is EOL and what does it mean for your business IT?. Alternatively, if you are confused about EOL and End of Support, and what they all mean for you, explore our comparison guide End of Life vs End of Support (EOL vs EOS): What are the differences?

 

What factors affect server longevity?

The longevity of your IT equipment in general depends on a range of factors. The good news is that your business can control many of them through maintenance. Here are a few which affect hardware:

Factor	Why does it matter?
Temperature	Heat is one of the primary causes of hardware damage. Servers generate vast amounts of heat. Without proper cooling or ventilation, both the server and the surrounding devices can overheat and suffer breakdowns.
Degradation of components	Some components are vulnerable to degradation. Hard disk drives (HDDs) are at risk of simply wearing out over time. Power supplies often degrade as as a result of dust build-up and overheating. Such degradation can affect the whole device.
Dirt and dust	Dirt and dust in the surrounding environment can build up. This clogs the hardware and leads to overheating. The systems can slow to avoid damaging the devices, or the components can break down. Both affect server performance and longevity.
Incompatibility with new software	Although the physical item may not be damaged, it may become incompatible with new or updated software. This can cause slow or interrupted performance, or even crashes.
Vibration	Vibrations can cause components to shake themselves loose over time or wear out from friction.

How to tell if a server needs replacing

Here are some tell-tale signals that your server has reached the end of its useful life:

• Frequent downtime: It crashes or causes the whole system to crash frequently or for long periods.
• Slow performance: Time-consuming slow performance suggests that your server cannot cope with increasing data loads or functions. Your company may need a more powerful model.
• Frequent error messages: These indicate that your physical infrastructure and your software are incompatible or misconfigured. If your legacy server can no longer work well with current software, this will limit your business’s IT capacities.
• Low memory: Insufficient memory can cause several problems for business operations. These range from an inability to store new data to threatening the system’s stability.
• Outdated security or vulnerabilities: Up-to-date data protection measures are vital. Ineffective security measures leave your enterprise IT infrastructure open to data breaches and cyberattacks.

Optimize or Replace?

You have decided that your IT server no longer meets the needs of your business. Do you optimize your current model or replace it with new equipment? What is the difference between the two?

• Optimize: Optimizing or upgrading your IT server means improving and updating the item’s software and components. This offers better performance and reliability from the same server.
• Replace: This means buying a new model and transferring your company’s data and systems onto it. You have several options of how to deal with your old server, including recycling and resale.

Here is a handy table with some of the pros and cons of both options:

	Optimize	Replace
Pros	Lower upfront costs. IT lifecycle extension is environmentally sustainable, avoiding the production of e-waste. Minimizes disruption.	The new server will be up to date and covered by OEM warranty. Compatible with modern software. The new model should perform for longer than an older one, being at the beginning of its lifecycle.
Cons	Upgrading an old server is a temporary resolution. Replacement will eventually be necessary. Although performance will improve, it may not compete with that of a new server.	The demand for brand-new IT equipment has severe environmental impacts. These include the CO2 emissions and resource depletion associated with hardware manufacture. Higher initial investment. Probably requires new licenses, which has both economic and administrative implications.

How can I extend my server’s lifetime?

Before upgrading or replacing, keep your current server in good working condition for as long as possible. Following these best practices will help your business maintain your server functional and secure:

Routine Maintenance and Monitoring

Regularly maintaining your IT equipment involves:

• Monitoring for signs of physical damage or changes in performance.
• Keeping the environment clean and ventilated.
• Repairing damaged or faulty components if possible.
• Replacing degraded or excessively damaged components.
• Keeping logs of any changes made to your data center.

Upgrades and Optimization

Maintaining the health of your IT systems is the first step – the next is getting the most out of it. Upgrades and optimizations maximize the potential of your server, from power to security. Common optimizations include:

• Load balancing: Distribute traffic and functions across several devices. This avoids overstretching one server and underusing others. Installing management tools can help with this.
• Resource capping: Limit the consumption of resources, such as memory, on each machine. This means the equipment does not overwork. Capping therefore keeps your IT system stable.

Beyond traditional load balancing and resource capping, organizations often also extend their server lifetimes by offloading cold data to tape libraries.

• Security: Ensure security measures are strong and up to date. This can involve encrypting data, employing firewalls and using security patches to protect against any vulnerabilities.
• Network optimization: Configure your network for low latency and high bandwidth. Optimizing your IT network improves internet connectivity and the user experience.

Sustainable IT & Server Lifecycle Management

Every piece of equipment has a life cycle. Eventually this cycle will end, and you will have to invest in a replacement. The key is to execute this process in an environmentally responsible way.

Lifecycle management takes care of devices from their installation to their decommission, including repairs and part replacements. At the end of their useful life, lifecycle management incorporates certified data destruction and  IT Asset Disposition (ITAD). ITAD includes:

1. Dismantling and removing the hardware.
2. Securely destroying data.
3. Refurbishing any usable parts for reuse.
4. Recycling materials such as rare earth elements.
5. Responsibly disposing of remaining waste.

Refurbishing, resale and recycling contribute to the circular economy. This maximizes the lifecycle of other enterprise data centers, allowing them to benefit from spare-part replacements. Sustainable practices like these also reduce the production of e-waste and the consumption of finite natural resources.

How to extend server lifetime with Third-Party Maintenance

Until the end of your server’s warranty, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) should provide IT support and updates. However, this will phase out after the EOL date. When it reaches its EOSL date, this support will stop altogether.

Third-Party Maintenance providers like Evernex support IT equipment regardless of its warranty status. Strong TPM can keep your server running smoothly for years after its official end of service life.
Evernex is an industry leader in TPM services, providing expert IT support across the globe. Here are some of the ways Evernex can extend your server lifetime:

Service	How it helps
Multi-brand and multi-model expertise	Our team of expert engineers supports a range of server models, including legacy items.
Corrective maintenance	Evernex efficiently diagnoses and resolves hardware flaws before they worsen or affect the end user.
24/7 availability	We provide round-the-clock support, remote and in the field, 365 days a year.
Global presence	We are present in over 165 countries. This means we can provide support for your company’s IT systems, wherever you are.
SPaaSTM (Spare as a Service) program	Our refurbished spare part replacements extend the life of your server. Our local warehouses mean they reach you quickly, saving your company downtime.
Sustainable ITAD services	At the end of your server’s useful life, Evernex dismantles the hardware and wipes its data. We then refurbish, recycle or responsibly dispose of the materials.

FAQ about Server Lifetime