Dell PowerEdge XR4000: Nano Processing Unit
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Summary
The Nano Processing Unit is an optional sled supported by the Dell XR4000 multi-node server. While its design aligns perfectly with the technical requirements of a VMware vSAN witness host, it can be used for many interesting edge use cases.
What is a Nano Processing Unit?
Dell Technologies is committed to delivering best-in-class edge servers. The latest member of the Dell PowerEdge XR edge server series is the PowerEdge XR4000 featuring the next-generation Intel Xeon D processor. This short-depth multi-node server is available in two different chassis form factors: rackable and flexible. The rackable chassis supports up to four Xeon D sleds, and the flexible supports up to two. Additionally, each chassis supports an optional low-power server called the Dell Nano Processing Unit, or NPU, discussed here.
The NPU is an x86 sled built with the Intel Atom Processor C Series. Designed for the edge, the NPU includes industrial-grade components capable of reliable operation in an extended temperature range. It is installed adjacent to the Intel Xeon D sleds in the PowerEdge XR4000 chassis and includes independent memory, networking, and storage. Besides providing power, the NPU is a self-contained server delivering up to a total of five independent sleds in the rackable chassis or three in the flexible chassis.
Figure 1. The XR4000 is multi-node. Each sled includes CPU, memory, storage, networking, and fans.
From the factory, Dell offers SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) or VMware ESXi on the NPU. We validated both operating systems, giving our customers the flexibility to use this unique server as a VMware vSAN witness host or put it to work in other exciting edge workloads, which we will discuss later. In addition, each NPU includes a unique Dell Service Tag and a customer-programmable field asset tag for customized asset tracking. The NPU does not feature Dell iDRAC.
The following table provides technical specifications of the NPU:
Feature | Technical specifications |
Processor | Intel Atom C3508 |
Memory | 16 GB ECC DDR4 1866 |
Storage | 1 x 960 GB M.2 NVMe |
Embedded management | N/A |
Embedded NIC | Intel i210 (2 ports) |
Ports | 1 x USB 3.0/2.0, 1 x Serial (micro-USB), 2 x 1 GbE RJ45, headless |
Operating systems | ESXi, Linux |
Operating temperature | 0–55°C |
NPU use case examples
The XR4000's unique NPU can serve a wide range of edge-computing use cases. Here are a few examples.
vSAN witness host
A two-node vSAN or vSAN stretched cluster configuration requires a witness host to act as a tie-breaker when a fault occurs. In a two-node vSAN, a fault could be a single node's power loss or hardware failure. In a stretched cluster, it might be the loss of an entire site due to a natural disaster. In either case, the witness host determines which node contains the valid data after the fault is resolved and nodes return to the cluster. The XR4000 NPU meets the requirements of a hardware vSAN witness host. It is installed in the same chassis as the compute nodes, enabling a compact vSAN cluster that can be deployed almost anywhere.
Emergency power server
Equipment deployed in a telephone network's central office, a manufacturing facility, or in a retail backroom might be more exposed to the effects of natural disasters or extreme temperatures. For example, a remote site might experience an extended power outage due to a natural disaster. During this
time, a site battery backup can keep some of the infrastructure running for a short period; however, high-power equipment can quickly consume the battery or fuel capacity. The low-power NPU can help preserve precious battery power until power returns when used as a site manager to monitor environmental sensors and security access, view camera feeds, and gracefully shut down high-power equipment to preserve power. Once site power returns, the NPU can remotely restore the site to full functionality by gracefully managing the power-on of connected site equipment, negating the need to send out a technician.
Private network security
Isolating a private network from the Internet increases security and reduces the number of potential attack vectors. Isolated networks improve network security but present challenges for IT administrators who access and manage them remotely. One solution is to use a "jump box" or "bastion host" that acts as a secure bridge between the Internet and a private network. This single, secure bridge can be hardened, monitored, and regularly audited to ensure only authorized users access the private network. IT administrators can configure the NPU as a secure bridge between the Internet and a private network.
Telemetry management host
Monitoring the health and performance metrics of servers, systems, and services operating at edge locations is critical. IT administrators use monitoring systems such as Prometheus to monitor, detect, and alert when collected metrics indicate potential issues in their fleet. They also use tools such as Grafana to visualize the data in easy-to-consume charts and graphs. The NPU's hardware specifications meet the hardware requirements of monitoring systems such as Grafana and Prometheus, and the NPU can serve as an out-of-band server running these tools.
Out-of-band management
Managing a fleet of servers and IT equipment is challenging. Administrators must manage the health and performance of equipment deployed across multiple sites or at remote locations. So, it might not always be cost-effective or feasible to send out a technician to resolve an issue, update or provision equipment, or check the status of a site. In these cases, having an out-of-band server like the NPU gives administrators the ability to remotely troubleshoot, deploy firmware updates, and manage devices such as intelligent PDUs and USB devices. When troubleshooting, administrators can use the out-of-band NPU server to power-cycle faulty devices connected to intelligent PDUs and collect debug logs from other devices; when provisioning, they can use it as a PXE server. Additionally, administrators can automate troubleshooting and provisioning functions, and the NPU can run those scripts.
Conclusion
The Nano Processing Unit is a unique and versatile computing server. Its edge-optimized design has industrial-grade components, a low-power processor, and more-than-capable memory, networking, and storage capacity. These features make it an excellent addition for customers looking to get the most out of their XR4000 server.
References
VMware Virtual Blocks Blog: Shared Witness for 2-Node vSAN Deployments