If you are an entrepreneur or businessperson, you surely have searched for this information. It will be one of the first needs your system administrator or IT team must address. Without adequate storage (type and amount), your server’s performance can really struggle and even fail your expectations!
What is server storage?
Server storage is the component of a server that holds and manages data, even if the electricity is cut off. Think of it like the SSD drive in your computer, but designed for handling much larger workloads. In a server, storage is where files, applications, databases, websites, backups, and system files are kept. In a cloud server or a physical server, storage ensures that data are saved and accessible whenever you need it. The amount and type of storage affect how fast data can be read or written, and how much content you can keep. Servers that run websites, stream video, host email, or manage large amounts of user data all rely on storage to function. Server storage must offer reliability, speed, and security to ensure systems run smoothly and that data don’t get lost. To summarize, server storage is the digital space where all the “stuff” lives so the server can deliver it to users or systems when requested.
What is server storage used for?
Storage is used to keep digital information safe, organized, and accessible. In the context of servers, storage is essential for running all types of services and applications. It holds files like applications, website images, videos, software code, databases, emails, and logs. When visiting a website, streaming a movie, or using a cloud-based app, you access content stored on a server. Storage is also used for backups (copies) of important files, in case something goes wrong. In business environments, storage holds really essential stuff like customer data, internal tools, reports, and more. The size and speed of storage directly affect how well a server can perform under pressure, especially with tons of users accessing it simultaneously. Some storage is built for speed (to load websites quickly), while other storage is built for capacity (to hold large data archives). Shortly said, server storage is the digital “warehouse” that keeps everything running behind the scenes.
Different mediums of storage
Several types of storage mediums can be used in servers, each with its strengths and weaknesses. The most common are:
HDDs (hard disk drives)
They are mechanical drives with spinning platters and a moving read/write head. They are affordable and offer large storage capacity, often reaching up to 20 TB or more per unit, making them ideal for bulk storage. However, they are slower than SSDs and more prone to mechanical wear and failure due to moving parts.
HDDs are still widely used for cold storage (data that are not accessed often), and they remain a cost-effective option for archiving, surveillance footage, or large-scale backups in data centers. They are also better for sequential reads/writes than random access.
SSDs (solid-state drives)
These have no moving parts and use NAND flash memory to store data. They are significantly faster than HDDs in both read and write speeds, more reliable, and they also offer better durability and energy efficiency.
SSDs drastically reduce boot times, file transfer delays, and application load times, especially under heavy traffic. Some SSDs include wear-leveling technology to extend their lifespan, and they are widely used in consumer-grade servers, web hosting, and virtual machines. However, write endurance (how many times cells can be rewritten) is still a long-term consideration in heavy-write environments.
NVMe (non-volatile memory express) SSD
NVMe is a protocol designed specifically for SSDs that use PCIe (peripheral component interconnect express) lanes instead of the older SATA interface. This allows NVMe drives to reach read/write speeds several times faster than traditional SSDs. As a reference, NVMe drives can achieve over 7,000 MB/s sequential read speeds, and they have much lower latency, enabling faster response times in demanding applications. It makes them ideal for real-time analytics, high-performance databases, AI, video rendering, and virtualization. They also support parallel I/O operations, making them perfect for enterprise and cloud workloads where multiple data requests occur simultaneously.
Tape drives
Tape drives store data on magnetic tape reels and are typically used for long-term, offline data archiving. They are slow to access and not practical for real-time data use, but they remain extremely cost-effective for storing petabytes of data. Tapes have an exceptionally long shelf life (20 to 30 years when stored properly), and because they are offline, they are also immune to cyberattacks like ransomware. For these reasons, they are still used especially for very large backups (3-2-1 backup) and archiving in enterprise settings.
Modern formats like LTO (linear tape-open) continue to evolve, offering both encryption and compression, and making tape a viable choice for disaster recovery plans in government, healthcare, and large-scale enterprises.
Types of server storage configurations
Let’s now explore the types of storage configurations you can set up on your server.
NAS (network-attached storage)
It is a dedicated storage device connected to a network that allows multiple users and devices to retrieve data from a centralized location. It operates with its own operating system and manages storage through network protocols like NFS, SMB, or FTP. NAS systems are commonly used in businesses for file sharing, centralized backups, and collaboration. They are easy to configure and scale and often come with RAID protection. NAS is ideal for teams that need consistent access to shared files, media libraries, or collaborative projects. However, performance depends on network speed and it is less suitable for heavy databases or high-speed operations.
SAN (storage area network)
It is a high-speed network that connects multiple servers to a centralized pool of block-level storage. It behaves like local storage for each server, but the physical storage is actually centralized and managed independently. SANs are designed for performance, offering low latency and high throughput. This makes them perfect for enterprise applications, databases, and virtualized environments. SANs often use Fibre Channel or iSCSI protocols. While powerful and scalable, SANs are complex to deploy and require expert configuration. They are best suited for mission-critical environments where performance, redundancy, and centralized control are essential.
DAS (direct-attached storage)
It refers to storage devices that are physically connected to a single server, usually via USB, SATA, or SAS. In this setup, the server accesses the storage directly, with no network involvement. DAS is simple to set up and manage, making it an affordable and efficient choice for small businesses or single-user environments. It delivers high-speed access since there is no network latency involved. However, it lacks flexibility in sharing data across multiple servers and does not scale well. DAS is best for local storage, backup, or expanding storage on a single machine without complex infrastructure needs.
Cloud storage
This is not a physical device you control but rather storage hosted in data centers (third-party providers) and accessed over the Internet. It allows users to scale storage instantly without physical hardware. Cloud storage is accessible via APIs or web interfaces and offers options like object storage (example, Amazon S3), block storage (example, EBS), and file storage (example, Azure Files). It is flexible, pay-as-you-go, and supports backups, disaster recovery, and global access. The main concerns are data privacy, latency, and costs for high-volume operations. Still, cloud storage is popular for startups, enterprises, and anyone needing scalable, remote data access.
Hybrid storage (cloud + on-premises)
It combines cloud-based storage with on-premises storage (like DAS, NAS, or SAN). This setup gives businesses the best of both worlds: the control and speed of local storage and the scalability and redundancy of the cloud. Hybrid models are great for backup, disaster recovery, or archiving cold data to the cloud while keeping frequently accessed data on-site. They can reduce costs and optimize performance if configured properly. However, hybrid solutions require strong management tools to sync, secure, and monitor data across both environments. They are well-suited for medium to large organizations needing agility without giving up full control.
SDS (software-defined storage)
It separates storage hardware from the software that manages it. With SDS, you can turn standard hardware (commodity servers and disks) into a powerful, flexible storage pool managed by software such as Red Hat Gluster, VMware vSAN, or Ceph. SDS solutions offer features like replication, snapshots, and automated tiering. They are especially popular in data centers and cloud-native environments. Since storage functions are abstracted, SDS enables rapid scaling, easier automation, and vendor flexibility. However, SDS can be complex to set up and needs reliable hardware and networking. It is ideal for organizations seeking scalable, cost-efficient infrastructure with full software control.
Object storage
It is a flat data architecture designed to store massive amounts of unstructured data (photos, videos, backups, documents, and logs). Unlike file or block storage, data are stored as objects with metadata and a unique ID. It is highly scalable and cost-effective for long-term storage and is used by cloud providers (like Amazon S3). Object storage supports data redundancy, high availability, and versioning. It is perfect for applications like data lakes, AI/ML, content delivery, and archiving. The downside is that it is slower than block storage and less suitable for traditional databases or transaction systems that require frequent updates.
Key metrics to understand server storage
Understanding server storage also means knowing how to measure and assess its performance, capacity, and reliability. If you are managing a personal server or enterprise-level infrastructure, there are key metrics you should monitor to make sure your storage system is fast, stable, and scalable.
Storage capacity (total and available)
The total amount of data the storage system can hold, and how much of that space is currently free. It is measured in Gigabytes (GB), Terabytes (TB), or Petabytes (PB). A pro tip for you, always keep 20 to 30% free for optimal performance and room for growth.
Read/write speed (throughput)
It points out the speed at which data can be read from or written to the storage system. It is measured in Megabytes per second (MB/s) or Gigabytes per second (GB/s). It is essential to accommodate your server needs and know when it is running out of space to plan the adequate next solution because high speeds improve loading times and performance for tasks like serving websites, databases, or applications. A useful note for you, SSDs and NVMe offer far better read/write speeds than HDDs.
IOPS (input/output operations per second)
Here, we talk about the number of individual read/write operations a storage device can handle in a second. It is measured in IOPS, for example, 10,000 IOPS. It matters a lot especially for applications with lots of small data requests, like databases or email servers. As a reference, NVMe drives can offer 10x to 50x more IOPS than HDDs.
Latency
It is the delay (in milliseconds) between a data request and the start of a response. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). It is a crucial metric to check because lower latency means faster access to data. High latency causes slowdowns in applications. Ideally, you should aim for <1 ms for high-performance storage systems (especially NVMe-based).
Disk utilization rate
It is the percentage of time the disk is busy handling read/write operations. It is measured in percentage (%). It is a relevant metric because it tells you if utilization is consistently high (like >80%), your disk may be a bottleneck. A clue for you to understand how to read this metric: high utilization with slow performance signals the need for faster storage or load balancing.
Storage type and tier
It points out the classification of storage used (HDD, SSD, NVMe, tape). As we previously explained to you, different storage types offer different speeds, durability, and cost efficiency. To give you a quick use case match, consider SSDs for speed, HDDs for bulk storage, and tape for backups.
RAID configuration and redundancy
RAID setups combine multiple drives for performance, fault tolerance, or both. Examples: RAID 1 (mirroring), RAID 5 (parity), RAID 10 (striping + mirroring). This metric matters a lot because RAID affects read/write performance and data protection in case of disk failure. Since redundancy is essential, you can learn more in the following articles RAID andBOSS (Boot Optimzed Storage Solution).
Uptime and availability
It shows the percentage of time your storage system is operational and accessible. It is absolutely critical for business continuity in enterprise environments. It is measured in percentage, for example, 99.99% uptime = ~5 minutes downtime/month.
Data transfer rate (bandwidth)
It is the maximum rate at which data are transferred to and from the server over a network. It is measured in Megabits per second (Mbps) or Gigabits per second (Gbps). Why should you care about this metric? If storage is accessed over a network (like in NAS or SAN), bandwidth impacts speed.
Error rate
It is the number of read/write errors over time. It is an important metric to check because frequent errors can signal failing hardware or data corruption risks. Another pro tip for you, use SMART monitoring tools to track error rates on hard drives.
Mean time between failures (MTBF)
It is an estimate of the average time a drive will run before failing. It is measured in hours, for example, 1 million hours MTBF for enterprise SSDs. It is a relevant metric because drives with a higher MTBF are more reliable for long-term use.
Queue depth
It shows the number of pending input/output operations waiting to be processed. High queue depth can lead to performance bottlenecks if the storage device can’t handle the workload. NVMe drives support higher queue depths efficiently.
Temperature monitoring
It tracks the heat level of storage drives. It is a relevant metric because high temperatures reduce drive lifespan and increase failure risk. Usually, the best is to keep drives below the manufacturer-recommended max temp (usually <60°C for SSDs).
How much storage does my server need?
Now it is time to translate the theory into practice! We will give you some concrete use cases, so you will learn what to consider and how to answer this essential question for your specific case and need.
Host high-traffic websites (WordPress, Magento)
| Visitors | Content Type | RAM | Recommended storage | Why? |
| 1k–3k/day | Mostly text, few images | 8 GB | 50–100 GB SSD | Enough for blogs or light eCommerce, fast storage improves performance. |
| 5k–10k/day | Rich media, plugins | 16 GB | 150–300 GB SSD | Media files, plugin overhead, image galleries, backups. |
| 20k–50k+/day | SKU-heavy, dynamic | 32 GB | 500 GB – 1 TB NVMe | Larger databases, product images, user accounts, search indexes, logs. |
For any of these, add at least 30% extra space for future growth and regular backups.
Run custom applications
Example: Django + PostgreSQL
| Users | Application type | RAM | Recommended storage | Why? |
| 100–800 active | Real-time dashboards, APIs | 4–16 GB | 100–300 GB SSD/NVMe | Logs, cached data, backend app, PostgreSQL DB, user uploads. |
If your app stores media or logs extensively, go with NVMe for performance and plan for weekly snapshots.
Operate Game Servers (example, Minecraft)
| Players | Mods and Maps | RAM | Recommended Storage | Why? |
| Up to 50 | Light | 1–8 GB | 50–100 GB SSD | Save files, logs, player data. |
| 100+ with mods | Heavy | 16–64 GB | 250 GB – 1 TB SSD/NVMe | World backups, plugin data, modded content. |
Minecraft worlds grow fast. Always leave headroom. NVMe helps with chunk loading.
Read about how to create a Minecraft, FiveM (GTA V), Valheim, or Counter Strike server.
Create virtual machines (VM hosting)
| VMs | Use cases | RAM | Recommended storage | Why? |
| 4–20+ VMs | Mixed environments | 16–128 GB | 500 GB – 4 TB SSD/NVMe | Each VM disk image is 20–100 GB, snapshots and ISO files add more. |
Consider RAID 10 for redundancy + speed. Use thin provisioning to optimize storage.
Email server hosting
| Accounts | Usage profile | RAM | Recommended Storage | Why? |
| 200–500 | Light usage | 4 GB | 100–200 GB SSD | Emails, attachments, logs, archives. |
| 500–1,500 | Heavy usage | 8 GB | 300–500 GB SSD/NVMe | Frequent mail traffic, filters, long-term archiving. |
Our recommendation, use dedicated storage volumes for mailboxes and keep regular off-site backups.
Media streaming (audio/video)
| Users | Resolution | RAM | Recommended storage | Why? |
| ~100 @ 1080p | Pre-encoded | 8 GB | 500 GB – 1 TB SSD | Stores video/audio files, buffers. |
| ~200 @ 1080p | Pre-encoded | 16 GB | 1–2 TB NVMe | High I/O from concurrent access. |
| ~800 @ 1080p | Includes 4K streams | 32 GB | 2–5 TB NVMe + HDD | Mix of hot and cold storage needs. |
We recommend storing frequently accessed media on NVMe and archiving older content on HDD to reduce costs.
Conclusion
Now you learned what server storage is and its relevance to housing, protecting, managing, and accessing your business data. Having adequate server storage is essential to keep your website running smoothly and address future challenges like scalability, compatibility, data analysis, strategic planning, and decision-making. If you still have doubts, contact us today! We are Neterra.cloud and will gladly give you a hand calculating the optimal storage for your server based on your current and future needs to succeed big!
You can also check our articles about “How much RAM does your server need?”.