bare-metal

14:50 Dec 22, 2011 

I agree bare-metal does not mean exactly computer to be used for virtualization, but possible to be used for it. And after all a computer non-virtualized are a raw hardware , no application software in it is also generic computer like bare-metal one.
Thanks.

15:59 Dec 20, 2011 

In this specific context, it is also clear that “bare metal” does <em>not</em> mean “computer to be used for virtualization”. The last sentence in the context says:
<blockquote>Businesses continue to deploy non-virtualized (bare-metal) 32-bit platforms that, due to kernel memory constraints, can only support a limited number of users..</blockquote>
This implies “bare metal” servers, in this context, are deployable as-is. The contrast is purely in terms of whether the hypervisor exists or not. We are not talking about pre- vs post-virtualization servers, but virtualized vs non-virtualized servers.

15:56 Dec 20, 2011 

A computer with no OS has always been possible, pre-virtualization-era. In any case I don’t think “bare metal” is a true IT term, which may be why it’s so hard to pin down what it actually means.

11:51 Dec 20, 2011 

>Stephanie:
I am also a System Admin somehow a computer expert :)
And I searched answers from colleagues, and according to answers;
bare-metal means computer that to be used for virtualization and they have no software ,even though an OS on them.

10:02 Dec 20, 2011 

>Martin:
A server with no OS is possible in terms of virtualization era. Because, a virtual machine manager software will be installed on computer directly on hardware, and virtual machine manager runs on it then control a nother computer OS as called guest OS. it is due to just new design of virtualization specific.

01:32 Dec 20, 2011 

For the record, we are not simply talking about virtual memory here, but virtualization of the whole machine (e.g. through Xen or a comparable technology), including CPU, disk, and memory.

00:46 Dec 20, 2011 

And to repond directly to Hakki: I don't think that a physical computer is usually called "bare metal." I think that this is a rather unique usage to your author, but it seems to be similar to the way some people might talk about a bricks and mortar bookstore as opposed to an internet bookstore; or snail mail (real physical mail via post office) instead of electronic mail.

00:38 Dec 20, 2011 

I checked with a computer expert who said that he had not seen bare metal used in the exact way it is used in the sentence here, but, in the context of the sentence it has to be referring to the difference between these 2 different types of memory utilization: virtualized memory which has a higher usable storage capacity than the hardware RAM because it copies RAM memory as needed to hard disk and back, and “bare-metal” memory that is limited in capacity to the hardware memory board capacity.

18:56 Dec 19, 2011 

Someone more certain than I am correct me, but I believe “bare metal” just means “using the machine in its raw form” or “using a machine that is stripped to the essentials”. (Cf. the 2nd definition in the “computer dictionary” link.)

So in the context of virtualized vs non-virtualized, the virtualization layer is a form of additional functionality that can be stripped away. In this sense a non-virtualized server is indeed the machine in its raw form and would then be “bare metal”.

13:25 Dec 19, 2011 

bare metal servers have server chassis, server main boards, server peripherals and connectivity together with bios/kernel .. but no operating systems.

12:21 Dec 19, 2011 

That definition doesn't seem to fit the contexts, particularly the first one. "...bare-metal and virtualized HP ProLiant servers..." I don't understand how it can be a server if it has no OS or software! It seems to me that the author has used the term to mean "physical". Maybe he was as confused as I am!

12:14 Dec 19, 2011 

Thank you Martin,
are you agree with this definitions: (it is from http://www.webopedia.com/ )
A new computer system that does not contain an operating system or any software. For example, when you purchase a new hard drive it is completely empty, or "nothing but bare metal".

10:54 Dec 19, 2011 

As Ambrose Li say, "in this context...". As I understand the context, it seems to mean simply a physical computer as opposed to a virualized one.

This link shows various definitions to increase the confusion:

http://www.computer-dictionary-online.org/?q=bare metal

08:56 Dec 19, 2011 

yes , you are right,
but before the virtualization , no one called a computer as bare-metal , so why do they used word "bare metal" to describe a physical computer nowadays, this is why I am confused.
regards.

08:47 Dec 19, 2011 

Your source text already answered your question. In this context “bare metal” = non-virtualized.