Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 with new Xeon E5-2600 v3 processors
In Septemeber of 2014 we saw the primary press anouncements for Lenovo’s new Grantly platforms with two new rack established servers, the RD550 and RD650. Those have been the first new structures from Lenovo that might use the modern-day Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 series processors and DDR4 reminiscence. In the lab today we will take a look at the Lenovo ThinkServer RD650.E3-1270 v6
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 Base Server SpecificationsLenovo makes a number of?Exclusive variations of the ThinkServer RD650 however there are a fixed of common specs:
Processor: Up to two 18-center Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 SeriesMemory: up to 768 GB DDR4 – 2133 MT/s thru 24 slots (RDIMM/LRDIMM)growth Slots: All chassis up to – 3 x PCIe Gen3: LP x8, 4 x PCIe Gen3: FLFH x8, 1 x PCIe Gen3: HLFH x8Systems control: ThinkServer gadget supervisor. Non-compulsory ThinkServer gadget manager PremiumDimensions: 19.0″ x 3.4″ x 30.1″Weight: starting at 35.Three lbsFrom aspect: 2U Rack MountThe ThinkServer RD650 is available in three simple models that permit for special garage configurations. The first is the 12x 3.5″ power server:
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 12 x three.Five Inch DrivesLenovo makes a mixed 8x 2.5″ and 9x three.5″ server (are you salivating but vSAN, backup appliance and virtualized ZFS equipment lovers?)
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 – eight x 2.5 and nine x 3.5 inch DrivesFinally there's a model with 24x 2.5″ drives that's every other commonplace shape thing:
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 – 24 x 2.5 inch DrivesThe pattern we obtained for review is the ThinkServer RD650 with 12 x three.Five Inch Drives.
Unpacking the Lenovo ThinkServer RD650Let’s take a look at how the RD650 is packed for delivery.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 transport boxWe continually like to show how servers are boxed up for transport to look how nicely the server is included from the same old bumps, drops and bins smashed up by using difficult managing. We can see that the RD650 is well included with foam inserts and in this case it's miles further included by being encased in an additional card board field. Down within the bottom underneath the server there's an accent box that is placed in foam inserts and additional knock outs are furnished for extra accessory bins. Along the bottom is the rail package.
This became no longer double boxed like we see in different servers, but there may be empty space around the server itself to protect from punctures.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 FrontHere we see the the front of the RD650 with the top lid eliminated. Over all it's miles very much like the earlier Lenovo servers excluding progressed method cooling systems.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 BackThe lower back of the RD650 suggests the progressed cooling shroud and the massive variety of growth bays that this server includes.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 CPU-RAM AreaThe RD650 CPU region uses passive warmness sinks for cooling. These use everyday socket 2011 R3 rectangular mounting holes and?We found in our trying out they may be?Superb at eliminating heat from the CPU’s. See our rectangular v. Slim ILM manual for the distinction in LGA2011 mounting alternatives. The fan bar includes six redundant warm-swap fanatics with 2 processors load outs. If best one processor is used there will be four enthusiasts mounted that can assist keep electricity.
We have examined a fair number of Lenovo servers in the beyond and located the lovers which can be used offer excessive air float and do no longer make too much noise. The provided air shroud channels air thru the warmth sinks and reminiscence region very successfully and we had no warmth troubles with the server even underneath very heavy hundreds.
Each of those fanatics are warm swappable and the complete cooling bar can be removed with easy locking levers on either side of the bar.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 growth BayTwo growth bays just like the one proven above may be geared up into the RD650, each bay can handle up to a few growth cards. These bays can deal with full length expansion playing cards which permit for larger cards to fit right into a 2U chassis.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 iKVM and TPM ModuleIn among the two expansion bays are iKVM and TPM modules. These are non-compulsory modules.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 Raid ControllerAt the the front of the server the RAID controller card is placed right at the back of the power bays. Right here we've got eliminated the main cooling bar to get a higher observe this. The principle cooling lovers for the server are positioned proper next to the controller card which permits suitable air glide to assist keep this cool.
Putting in place the Lenovo ThinkServer RD650The usual method to install an operating machine onto the RD650 is to use the Lenovo ThinkServer Deployment supervisor. This could stroll you thru installing an OS and drivers for the server.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 TDM BIOS SettingTo get admission to the TDM honestly boot the system into the BIOS and head over to the Boot supervisor and select launch TDM.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 Deployment ManagerAfter deciding on release TDM you will see the above display. From right here you could regulate just about some thing you can do inside the BIOS and do platform updates. Storage management permits you to setup any Raids which you need for the server earlier than you start installing an working device.
The Deployment alternative will get you began installing your OS of choice.
Quantity choice – available garage volumes may be displayedOS choice – pick the OS to be deployed (Linux, home windows, VMware)installation Settings – Time quarter, Language, License Key, laptop call, Admin/root passwordPartition options – two options are to be had:Use present partition – preceding OS set up exists at the driveRepartition the force at some point of installation – sets size of OS partitionAfter you have got selected the essential alternatives the system will start to deploy the working gadget. Our gadget did now not have an DVD drive so we used a USB DVD force to mount the running machine DVD. After the installation turned into completed the gadget completed with us on the login display screen of windows Server 2012 R2 which we used for some of our exams. We may also boot directly from an Ubuntu run DVD and pass the TDM completely the usage of the USB DVD power.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 gadget ManagerFor faraway control the RD650 consists of the machine manager. Surely enter the IP address for the server into your browser and login.
The default username/ password login data for the Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 is:
Username: lenovoPassword: len0vOIf you have got an iKVM Module established?You could choose the “release” button to go into far flung control and operate the device that manner.
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 gadget manager manage ScreenThe next display screen indicates the alternatives that you may monitor and alternate thru the far flung control interface.
Test ConfigurationOur take a look at setup includes the pinnacle end Intel Xeon E5’s which we use in all of our checks. These CPU’s include 18 cores every and gives our system the maximum processor load out. We also crammed all memory slots to present the most load out of memory that we could, the usage of 16GB sticks in each slot, this dropped our memory velocity to 1600MHz.
Processors: 2x Intel Xeon E5-2699 v3Memory: 24x 16GB crucial DDR4 (384GB overall)garage: 1x SanDisk X210 512GB SSDOperating systems: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and windows Server 2012 R2AIDA64 MemoryWith a complete 24 DIMM’s of DDR4 reminiscence installed the memory pace has dropped right down to 1600MHz. But we are seeing very good outcomes which can be just beneath what a system the use of much less memory at higher speeds.
Memory Latency ranged at ~99ns and our common structures the use of 16x 16GB DIMM’s ranged approximately ~78ns.
RD650 flow ResultsOur circulate test outcomes showed similar outcomes as compared to a gadget strolling 16x 16GB DIMM’s. Using a complete load out and lower reminiscence speeds confirmed ~20 MB/s bandwidth loss.
The memory tests results are as predicted with this big load out of 24x DIMM slots completely populated.
ThinkServer RD650 Linux-Bench ResultsThe complete check outcomes for a pattern?Linux-Bench run may be found right here. RD650 with 2x E5-2699 v3 Linux-Bench
Our pattern server got here with one Intel Xeon E5-2690 v3 and 16GB of DDR4 installed. We also ran our exams with this configuration as it might show a typical setup for an entry stage RD650. RD650 with 1x E5-2690 v3 Linux-Bench
Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 power?ConsumptionOur test configuration did function two very excessive-give up processors which can be at the very pinnacle of Intel’s Xeon E5-2600 V3 product line-up.
RD650 electricity ConsumptionThe common idle strength use of the RD650 turned into ~95watts which is fairly excellent for a server of this type. Whilst we max out the gadget underneath heavy AIDA64 strain test, we noticed ~575watts pulled for the whole system which is a touch excessive for systems like this. Of course adding a complete praise of drives and expansions gadgets will impact those numbers as would using lower energy processors.
ConclusionThe first element that sticks out with the Lenovo ThinkServer RD650 is the sheer number of growth alternatives that this server line up has to offer. 3 distinctive models that provide big abilties in garage options that also include options for two additional company-magnificence M.2 SSD’s for booting in addition to SD card alternatives for hypervisor booting. These servers are designed from the ground up for bendy boot alternatives.?Our pattern server can max out at 96TB’s of spindle storage the use of it’s 12 three.5″ force bays with excessive capability 8TB disks.
With a total of 8 PCIe there may be plenty of expansion space that permits you to scale up I/O if wished.The RD650 additionally offers you the choice of Raid adapters that in shape in the bay between the difficult pressure area and the primary cooling bar. That is a pleasant characteristic as they do no longer absorb and extra PCIe slots within the again and are in a great area for cooling.
In keeping with Lenovo the cooling machine is rated at forty five tiers Celsius / 113 F continuous operation and we discover the cooling gadget is up to the task in our tests. We are always impressed for the cooling setups on Lenovo servers, the fanatics do an awesome job at moving lots of air thru the case and they do not make a variety of noise that is a huge plus for us inside the lab.
We also just like the ThinkServer Deployment manager for its ease in getting a machine up and running. Its rather simple to use and installs all wished drivers throughout the setup and OS installation. We also ran Ubuntu proper off a USB DVD force on our RD650 and had no troubles with drivers on our test setup.
We also noticed Lenovo make a shift from DVI video output which without a doubt is a general to DisplayPort. Within the lab we use a KVM switch with all DVI connections to run our test setups, we can without problems connect up several machines and have all of them walking, however in this situation we could not get a DisplayPort to DVI adapter to work. We ended up simply using far flung management and iKVM to run the server. This worked satisfactory and the majority would use this in a production environment, but for crash carts and other setups used at vicinity a DisplayPort screen might be required.
