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Reference Architecture Guide
Servers
Introduction PowerEdge server options

PowerEdge server options

  • Ready Stack reference architectures offer a selection of server platforms for the compute infrastructure. A single Ready Stack configuration can contain any combination of those servers with resource configurations suitable for your workload and use case.

    Rack servers compared to blade enclosures

    Ready Stack offers a choice between rack servers and blade enclosures. Both server types mount into standard data center racks, use floor space efficiently, and can co-exist with other components within the same rack. Dell Technologies offers both rack and blade servers, providing flexibility to build the optimal CI stack.

    The best server type for a particular situation depends on the system design criteria. Consider the following information:

    • Rack servers scale up or out with the addition of one server at a time, with one, two, or four CPU sockets per server.
    • Rack servers and blade chassis can have multiple disk drives onboard.
    • Each rack server consumes between 1U and 4U of rack space.
    • Each rack server has redundant power supplies.
    • Blade enclosures scale with the addition of blade servers until the blade enclosure is filled to capacity, after which an additional enclosure is added.
    • A typical blade enclosure requires 7U of rack space.
    • Blade enclosures have n+1 power supplies for redundancy.
    • Selecting the appropriate PowerEdge server can reduce CPU socket-based licensing costs and achieve greater virtual machine (VM) density.

    Server memory and performance considerations

    You can configure memory in various modes from within the BIOS. Optimizer Mode is the default mode and is recommended for most virtualization use cases to provide optimized memory performance. For improved reliability and resiliency, other modes, such as mirror mode and spare mode, are available.

    PowerEdge servers support various BIOS configuration profiles that control the processor, memory, and other configuration options. We recommend the following configuration settings:

    • Select the Performance Optimized system profile and enable the Virtualization Technology option.
    • In System Profile Settings, disable C1E and C States to ensure the highest performance in a virtualized environment.
    • Enable Intel Hyper-Threading Technology and Virtualization features.

    Rack servers

    PowerEdge rack servers help in building a modern infrastructure that minimizes IT challenges. Choose from a complete portfolio of one-, two-, and four-socket rack servers to deliver high core density for traditional applications, virtualization, and cloud-native workloads. Enhanced memory speeds, faster NVMe storage options, and BIOS tuning help provide workloads with the performance they require. Intelligent automation throughout the IT life cycle enables customers to maximize resource utilization and lower costs. Integrated security helps protect the data center from unauthorized changes and cyberattacks.

    Blade servers

    Dell EMC PowerEdge Modular Infrastructure with MX, FX, VRTX, and PowerEdge blade servers are built for the software-defined data center. The PowerEdge platform is designed to support the right balance of density, capacity, and flexibility, and customizable modules of compute, storage, and networking are easily and rapidly scaled and managed. The OpenManage portfolio delivers innovative systems management that makes administrators more efficient and the infrastructure more productive and reliable.