1U servers are thin, and compact. They are designed for tasks that do not require a lot of storage. NSC requirements will require servers to have two 2.5″ bays or more, but for the 1U server, the 2 drives is efficient enough. There are three servers I can think of where this computer can be used for. There is a Home Server, a Network Server, and a Telephony server. All of these servers can handle mission critical work while being compact on the rack mount.
A home server will be important for home automation. For example, when the server detects the residence door opening, it could turn the lights on, and play your favorite music. This server will become more important in residences once renovations or new construction comes into place. The home server will of course need to keep the smart home protocols in place, and the hard drives will do that well enough.
The network server replaces your router. The network server requires a minimum of 2 RJ45-10GBPS ports (1 for LAN, and 1 for WAN), but beyond that, the network server will require what any other server will require. The 1U form factor will allow for an efficient system to meet the needs of serving the network for the premise. The hard drives can be used for cache of Internet files to allow the system to load pages faster, even with a slower connection.
The telephony server will handle VOIP and SIP calls from within the premise. This could be something as simple as a single person living in a 1BR apartment to a massive call center with hundreds of agents. Obviously, as demands increase, so will the specs. The likely telephony server will be a telephony version of Kal-OS, but FreePBX will also be an option. Since all new systems will not rely on the old fashion POTS phone system, there will be no need for FXS, nor FXO ports – instead relying exclusively on the current RJ45 wiring in the premise for telecommunications.