PowerEdge

Last updated
Dell PowerEdge
Dell EMC PowerEdge (2018).svg
Dell PowerEdge servers.jpg
Dell PowerEdge rackmount servers
Developer Dell
TypeServer
Release date1994;30 years ago (1994)
Operating system Windows Server
Linux
CPU x86 (1994–current);
Itanium (circa 2005)
Predecessor PowerLine SE
Rack-mounted 11th generation PowerEdge servers Wikimedia Foundation Servers-8055 43.jpg
Rack-mounted 11th generation PowerEdge servers
Rack-mountable 11th generation (11G) PowerEdge R610 server with the case opened and the front bezel removed Dell PowerEdge R610.jpg
Rack-mountable 11th generation (11G) PowerEdge R610 server with the case opened and the front bezel removed

The PowerEdge (PE) line is Dell's server computer product line. PowerEdge machines come configured as tower, rack-mounted, or blade servers. Dell uses a consistent chip-set across servers in the same generation regardless of packaging, [1] allowing for a common set of drivers and system-images.

Contents

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and value-added resellers also offer solutions based on PowerEdge servers. Loaded with custom software and with minor cosmetic changes, Dell's servers form the underlying hardware in certain appliances from IronPort, [2] Google, [3] Exinda Networks, [4] and Enterasys. [5]

History

The first PowerEdge systems were released in February 1994. The initial PowerEdge line comprised a range of 15 models, with the lowest-end entries powered by Intel's i486 processor and the highest-end entries powered by the newest Pentium processors. [6] [7] The PowerEdge replaced Dell's earlier PowerLine SE server range. [8] [9]

Most PowerEdge servers use the x86 architecture. The early exceptions to this, the PowerEdge 3250, PowerEdge 7150, and PowerEdge 7250, used Intel's Itanium processor, but Dell abandoned Itanium in 2005 after failing to find adoption in the marketplace. [10] The partnership between Intel and Dell remained close, with Intel remaining the exclusive source of processors in Dell's servers until 2006. In May 2006 Dell announced that it also intended to develop servers using AMD Opteron processors. [11] The first Opteron-based PowerEdge systems, the PowerEdge 6950 and the PowerEdge SC1435, appeared in October 2006. [12]

In 2007 the PowerEdge line accounted for approximately 15% of Dell's overall revenue from computer-hardware sales. [13] In subsequent years Dell made the transition from a pure hardware vendor to a solutions-provider and services company, as evidenced, for example, by the acquisition of Perot Systems and KACE Networks [14] and the setup of a special global services department within Dell. [15]

PowerEdge RAID Controller

Dell uses the name PowerEdge RAID Controller (PERC) for proprietary versions of its RAID computer storage controllers. [16] The related software in the PERC Fault Management Suite offered facilities such as the Background Patrol read, which aims to fix bad sectors on online RAID disks running under some of the PERC controllers around 2006. [17] These cards were equipped with hardware from LSI Corporation or Intel, 256 MBytes of memory (upgradeable on the 5/i to 512 MB), support up to 8x SATA 3.0 Gbit/s drives without the use of expanders. They had an optional Battery Backup Unit (BBU) to allow more flexible use of the memory during writes, enhancing performance in RAID5 and 6, and operate over the PCI Express interface. [18]

Chassis systems

Although PowerEdge is mainly used to refer to servers there are a few systems where the term PowerEdge refers to systems of which servers are (just) a part. Examples of these usages are:

PowerEdge M1000e - the Dell blade-server system where the complete system uses the term PowerEdge, and M1000e refers to the chassis and the complete combination of components in them. The individual non-server components have also their own name in their 'own' family such as PowerConnect M-switches or EqualLogic blade-SAN.
PowerEdge VRTX - the converged system consisting of (up to) 4 PowerEdge M-blade servers, the built-in storage solution and the I/O networking module.

Model naming convention

Since the introduction of the generation 10 servers in 2007 Dell adopted a standardized method for naming their servers; the name of each server is represented by a letter followed by 3 digits. The letter indicates the type of server: R (for Rack-mountable) indicates a 19" rack-mountable server, M (for Modular) indicates a blade server, while T (for Tower) indicates a stand-alone server. [19]

This letter is then followed by 3 digits:

For example: The Dell PowerEdge M610 was a modular two-socket server of the 11th generation using an Intel CPU while the R605 was a rack-mountable two-socket AMD-based rack-server of the 10th generation. [22]

Prior to the Generation 10 servers, the naming convention was as follows:

Example 1: PowerEdge 2650 ( 2 = 2U server, 6 = 6th generation, 5 = rack server, 0 = normal )

Example 2: PowerEdge 6950 ( 6 = 4U server, 9 = 9th generation, 5 = rack server, 0 = normal )

Example 3: PowerEdge 2800 ( 2 = [based on] 2U server 2850, 8 = 8th generation, 0 = tower server, 0 = normal )

Example 4: PowerEdge 1855 ( 1 = 1U server, 8 = 8th generation, 5 = rack server, 5 = blade )

Most servers had a tower equivalent. For example, the PowerEdge 2800 was the tower equivalent of the 2850. The naming applies to the tower version too, but the tower version will usually be between 5U and 6U.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itanium</span> Family of 64-bit Intel microprocessors

Itanium is a discontinued family of 64-bit Intel microprocessors that implement the Intel Itanium architecture. The Itanium architecture originated at Hewlett-Packard (HP), and was later jointly developed by HP and Intel. Launched in June 2001, Intel initially marketed the processors for enterprise servers and high-performance computing systems. In the concept phase, engineers said "we could run circles around PowerPC...we could kill the x86." Early predictions were that IA-64 would expand to the lower-end servers, supplanting Xeon, and eventually penetrate into the personal computers, eventually to supplant reduced instruction set computing (RISC) and complex instruction set computing (CISC) architectures for all general-purpose applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silicon Graphics</span> 1981–2009 American computing company

Silicon Graphics, Inc. was an American high-performance computing manufacturer, producing computer hardware and software. Founded in Mountain View, California in November 1981 by James Clark, its initial market was 3D graphics computer workstations, but its products, strategies and market positions developed significantly over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenovo System x</span> IBM server computer

System x is a line of x86 servers produced by IBM, and later by Lenovo, as a sub-brand of IBM's System brand, alongside IBM Power Systems, IBM System z and IBM System Storage. In addition, IBM System x was the main component of the IBM System Cluster 1350 solution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xeon</span> Line of Intel server and workstation processors

Xeon is a brand of x86 microprocessors designed, manufactured, and marketed by Intel, targeted at the non-consumer workstation, server, and embedded markets. It was introduced in June 1998. Xeon processors are based on the same architecture as regular desktop-grade CPUs, but have advanced features such as support for error correction code (ECC) memory, higher core counts, more PCI Express lanes, support for larger amounts of RAM, larger cache memory and extra provision for enterprise-grade reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS) features responsible for handling hardware exceptions through the Machine Check Architecture (MCA). They are often capable of safely continuing execution where a normal processor cannot due to these extra RAS features, depending on the type and severity of the machine-check exception (MCE). Some also support multi-socket systems with two, four, or eight sockets through use of the Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI) bus, which replaced the older QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blade server</span> Server computer that uses less energy and space than a conventional server

A blade server is a stripped-down server computer with a modular design optimized to minimize the use of physical space and energy. Blade servers have many components removed to save space, minimize power consumption and other considerations, while still having all the functional components to be considered a computer. Unlike a rack-mount server, a blade server fits inside a blade enclosure, which can hold multiple blade servers, providing services such as power, cooling, networking, various interconnects and management. Together, blades and the blade enclosure form a blade system, which may itself be rack-mounted. Different blade providers have differing principles regarding what to include in the blade itself, and in the blade system as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altix</span> Supercomputer family

Altix is a line of server computers and supercomputers produced by Silicon Graphics, based on Intel processors. It succeeded the MIPS/IRIX-based Origin 3000 servers.

HPE Integrity Servers is a series of server computers produced by Hewlett Packard Enterprise since 2003, based on the Itanium processor. The Integrity brand name was inherited by HP from Tandem Computers via Compaq.

The Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) is an out-of-band management platform on certain Dell servers. The platform may be provided on a separate expansion card, or integrated into the main board; when integrated, the platform is referred to as iDRAC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ProLiant</span> Line of computer servers

ProLiant is a brand of server computers that was originally developed and marketed by Compaq, Hewlett-Packard (HP), and currently marketed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). ProLiant servers were first introduced by Compaq in 1993, succeeding their SystemPro line of servers in the high-end space.

The ES7000 is Unisys's x86/Windows, Linux and Solaris-based server product line. The "ES7000" brand has been used since 1999, although variants and models within the family support various processor and bus architectures. The server is marketed and positioned as a scale-up platform where scale-out becomes inefficient. Typically the ES7000 is utilized as a platform for homogeneous consolidation, large databases, Business Intelligence, Decision Support Systems, ERP, virtualization, as well as large Linux application hosting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP Superdome</span> Series of server computers

The HP Superdome is a high-end server computer designed and manufactured by Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The product's most recent version, "Superdome 2," was released in 2010 supporting 2 to 32 sockets and 4 TB of memory. The Superdome used PA-RISC processors when it debuted in 2000. Since 2002, a second version of the machine based on Itanium 2 processors has been marketed as the HP Integrity Superdome.

EqualLogic, Inc. was an American computer data storage company based in Nashua, New Hampshire, active from 2001 to 2007. In 2008, the company was merged into Dell Inc. Dell-branded EqualLogic products are iSCSI-based storage area network (SAN) systems. Dell has 3 different lines of SAN products: EqualLogic, Compellent and Dell PowerVault.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dell M1000e</span> Server computer

The Dell blade server products are built around their M1000e enclosure that can hold their server blades, an embedded EqualLogic iSCSI storage area network and I/O modules including Ethernet, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand switches.

AMD Piledriver Family 15h is a microarchitecture developed by AMD as the second-generation successor to Bulldozer. It targets desktop, mobile and server markets. It is used for the AMD Accelerated Processing Unit, AMD FX, and the Opteron line of processors.

Dell PowerEdge VRTX is a computer hardware product line from Dell. It is a mini-blade chassis with built-in storage system. The VRTX comes in two models: a 19" rack version that is 5 rack units high or as a stand-alone tower system.

A Dell PowerEdge RAID Controller, or Dell PERC, is a series of RAID, disk array controllers made by Dell for its PowerEdge server computers. The controllers support SAS and SATA hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nvidia DGX</span> Line of Nvidia produced servers and workstations

The Nvidia DGX represents a series of servers and workstations designed by Nvidia, primarily geared towards enhancing deep learning applications through the use of General-Purpose computing on Graphics Processing Units (GPGPU). These systems typically come in a rackmount format featuring high-performance x86 server CPUs on the motherboard.

{{Multiple issues|

References

  1. ↑ Dell Extends the Scalable Enterprise with Eighth-Generation PowerEdge Servers
  2. ↑ Dell Case-studies on the IronPort Email-security Appliance:Partners in Stopping Crime Archived 2006-06-22 at the Wayback Machine , February 2006, retrieved 28 June 2011
  3. ↑ Dell Case-studies on the Google Search Appliance: - In Search Mode Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine , June 2007, retrieved 28 June 2011
  4. ↑ ITWorld Canada website: Quad CPUs gives Exinda WAN optimization a kick, 21 July 2010, visited 28 June 2011
  5. ↑ Dell Case-studies: Enterasys- Serving up Security Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Fitzgerald, Michael (January 31, 1994). "Dell server line to grow". Computerworld. 28 (5). IDG Publications: 17 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Ladendorf, Kirk (February 8, 1994). "Analysts applaud Dell's move to server line". Austin American Statesman: E1 – via ProQuest.
  8. ↑ Betts, Kellyn (March 17, 1992). "Dell PowerLine 433DE". PC Magazine. 11 (5). Ziff-Davis: 240–241 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ Van Cura, Jeff; Anne Kalliczak (January 20, 1992). "Caution greets Intel's 50-MHz 80486DX". InfoWorld. 14 (3). IDG Publications: 97–100 – via Google Books.
  10. ↑ Dell to Phase Out Computers Using Intel's Itanium
  11. ↑ "Press Release — Dell's International And Enterprise Business Drives First Quarter Revenue Growth". Archived from the original on 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  12. ↑ "Press Release — Dell Unveils Four- and Two-Socket Servers". Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  13. ↑ "Press Release — Dell Reports Preliminary Revenue of $14.4 Million". Archived from the original on 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  14. ↑ Blog of Kristen Mathis What Dell-Perot merger means for IT, 28-2-2010, visited 28 June 2011
  15. ↑ PCWorld Dell Launches Dedicated Services Organization Archived 2021-04-19 at the Wayback Machine , December 2009, visited 28 June 2011
  16. ↑ "Dell PowerEdge Raid Controller (PERC)". Dell web site. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  17. ↑ Dell licences its PERC technology from LSI. Drew Habas; John Sieber (January 30, 2006). "Background Patrol read for Dell PowerEdge RAID Controllers" (PDF). Dell Power Solutions. Dell Inc. pp. 73–75. Retrieved May 20, 2013. a proactive tool [...] to help avert [...] data problems by fixing the bad sectors when all of the drive array members are online and redundant.
  18. ↑ Dell SCSI Storage Solution Team (2005-11-17). "A Reference Guide for Optimizing Dell SCSI Solutions" (PDF). Dell. p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2009-09-14. Patrol Read is a preventative maintenance background operation (available only on PERC 3 (except PERC 3/DI), PERC 4 and PERC 4e controller families running 3.0 and higher firmware).
  19. ↑ Infoworld website Dell revamps Poweredge line, 12 November 2007, visited 28 June 2011
  20. ↑ "Business Laptops, Desktops, Servers & Electronics | Dell USA".
  21. ↑ "Business Laptops, Desktops, Servers & Electronics | Dell USA".
  22. ↑ Drew Robb (May 15, 2008). "Spotlight on Dell". Serverwatch website. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
Listen to this article (7 minutes)
Sound-icon.svg
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 9 February 2020 (2020-02-09), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
(Audio help  · More spoken articles)


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.