Author: Talabuyev Y.
The advancement of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing (HPC) is shaping new demands for IT infrastructure. Against this backdrop, companies are showing increasing interest in Bare Metal solutions. According to ResearchAndMarkets, the Bare Metal market is projected to reach 19 billionby 2028 (upfrom 8.5 billion two years ago). While this figure is modest compared to the overall cloud spending and the growth rate of the IaaS market, which is expected to hit $188 billion by 2025 (per IDC), the Bare Metal segment is growing rapidly. This product is most commonly used for hosting HPC, AI, and ML workloads, as well as other resource-intensive and security-sensitive applications, and for deploying CDN networks.
- What is Bare Metal?
- Comparison of Key Features
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Bare Metal Servers
- Bare Metal for AI and ML as Part of a Hybrid Strategy
What is Bare Metal?
Bare Metal (or “bare-metal server”) is a physical server without a virtualization layer, fully dedicated to a single tenant. In the traditional setup, applications run directly on the server, bypassing the hypervisor layer, with rare exceptions where the client uses it to create a limited number of virtual machines for specific tasks—this is referred to as Bare Metal Cloud.
Bare Metal servers are ordered directly from service providers, often through a subscription model similar to typical cloud products like IaaS. Clients benefit from the advantages of public cloud, such as rapid deployment and flexible remote management. At the same time, Bare Metal shares many characteristics with Dedicated Servers and can be considered a private variant of HaaS (Hardware as a Service)
Comparison of Key Features
The table below highlights the similarities and differences between these closely related products:
| Feature | Dedicated Server | Bare Metal | Public Cloud (IaaS) |
| Leasing Model | Long-term (monthly, yearly). | Hourly, monthly. | Hourly, monthly. |
| Scalability | Limited to fixed configuration. | Flexible (can adjust parameters, add resources). | High (automatic scaling). |
| Automation | Minimal, often manual. | Full automation via APIs and cloud tools. | Full automation (APIs, orchestration, auto-scaling). |
| Deployment Speed | Slow (hours to days). | Fast (minutes to hours). | Instant (seconds to minutes). |
| Cost | Cheaper for long-term leases. | Flexible (hourly billing, but more expensive long-term). | Cost-effective for variable workloads, expensive for consistent high loads. |
| Resource Isolation | Full (server dedicated to one client). | Full (server dedicated to one client). | Partial (resources shared among VMs of different clients). |
| Performance | High (all hardware resources except those consumed by the hypervisor). | Maximum (100% hardware utilization). | Moderate (depends on virtualization and host load). |
| Configuration Flexibility | Minimal (set at order). | Adjustable (memory, CPU, storage). | Dynamic (resources can be added on the fly). |
These products can be combined within a single client infrastructure to address various tasks. For example, Dedicated Servers are ideal for long-term leases and stable workloads. IaaS is optimal for scalable applications and data backups, being cost-effective for uneven workloads but expensive for consistent high loads. Bare Metal combines the strengths of Dedicated Servers and IaaS, offering high performance, deployment automation, and flexible resource consumption typical of cloud scenarios.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Bare Metal Servers
Let’s examine the strengths and weaknesses of Bare Metal for end users, starting with its key advantages.
Predictable Performance
Companies gain “pure” computing power without compromises, as there is no hypervisor layer. All server resources (CPU, memory, disks, network) are used directly by the operating system and pre-installed applications, dedicated to a single user. This setup is ideal for applications requiring low latency and optimal IOPS.
Flexible Hardware Utilization
With Bare Metal, any application can be installed, unlike hypervisors that restrict software requiring direct access to the OS kernel or hardware drivers. Clients have direct access to server components (GPU, SSD, network controllers) and can perform custom hardware configurations.
Economic Benefits
While Bare Metal is more expensive than virtualized Dedicated Servers or public cloud, it can be economically justified. Savings come from reduced virtualization costs, especially if vendors support “per core” or “per socket” licensing. Additionally, 100% of physical resources are utilized (unlike in public or private clouds, where the hypervisor consumes some resources).
Gartner notes that large monolithic workloads perform better on Bare Metal without virtualization. Pay-as-you-go models also help avoid unpredictable costs. Bare Metal aligns with the trend of devirtualization, where companies move away from hypervisor-based cloud platforms to physical servers to maximize ROI without additional expenses.
Disadvantages of Bare Metal Servers
Bare Metal lacks the ability to scale flexibly—scaling is neither instant nor low-cost. Initial costs are higher compared to virtualized resources, and under uneven workloads, some resources may remain idle, reducing the economic appeal.
Bare Metal for AI and ML as Part of a Hybrid Strategy
Bare Metal opens new possibilities for building hybrid IT infrastructures. Clients can combine physical servers with public clouds to better align with business needs and specific application requirements. For example, Bare Metal can host large databases, monolithic enterprise applications, or AI/ML-based systems, enhancing performance and reducing access times while avoiding virtualization licensing costs. Less critical services and data backups can be stored in the public cloud.
Colobridge’s Expert:
“The renewed interest in classic Bare Metal servers is largely driven by the rise of workloads related to big data processing, particularly AI and ML. These workloads demand high performance but can operate without traditional virtualization systems, achieving high availability at a higher software level. Other factors include the desire to reduce virtualization licensing costs, host applications with specific hardware requirements, and maximize the performance of physical hardware.However, Bare Metal is not an absolute alternative to Dedicated Servers or public clouds but rather a modern interpretation of traditional computing resource consumption models. Its benefits can be combined with other products on a single platform from a unified service provider. Colobridge offers solutions tailored to meet specific business requirements, ensuring high performance and predictable costs. Contact us to learn more about building resilient, reliable, and secure IT infrastructures.”
