Configuration Documentation

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Configuration Documentation: "Apex-8000" - High-Performance Data Server

This document details the specifications, performance, use cases, and maintenance considerations for the "Apex-8000" server configuration. This is a high-performance server designed for demanding workloads such as database management, virtualization, and high-performance computing. This document is intended for system administrators, IT professionals, and hardware engineers responsible for deploying and maintaining this configuration. Refer to the Server Hardware Glossary for definitions of terms used herein.

1. Hardware Specifications

The Apex-8000 configuration is built around a dual-socket server platform, prioritizing performance and scalability. All components are enterprise-grade and selected for long-term reliability. See Component Selection Criteria for more details on our vendor choices.

Component Specification Manufacturer Model Number Notes
CPU Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ Intel CPU_Platinum_8480Plus 56 Cores / 112 Threads per CPU, 3.2 GHz Base Frequency, 4.0 GHz Turbo Frequency, 105MB L3 Cache, AVX-512 support. Requires compatible motherboard chipset (see below).
Motherboard Dual Socket Intel C741 Chipset Server Board Supermicro X13SWA-TF Supports dual 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, up to 12TB DDR5 ECC Registered memory, multiple PCIe 5.0 slots, dual 10GbE LAN ports, and IPMI 2.0 remote management.
RAM 1TB (16 x 64GB) DDR5 ECC Registered LRDIMM Samsung M393A4K40DB8-CWE 5600MHz, 4800MHz supported with CPU limitations, optimized for Intel Xeon Platinum processors. Utilizes 8 memory channels per CPU for maximum bandwidth. Refer to Memory Configuration Best Practices for optimal setup.
Storage - OS Drive 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD Western Digital SN850 For operating system and essential applications. Provides fast boot and application loading times.
Storage - Primary Data 8 x 8TB SAS 12Gb/s 7200RPM Enterprise HDD Seagate EXOS X24 Configured in RAID 6 for data redundancy and performance. Total usable capacity approximately 48TB. See RAID Configuration Guide for detailed information.
Storage - Cache/Tiering 2 x 1.92TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD Micron 9400 Pro Used as read/write cache for the SAS HDD array, improving I/O performance. Utilizes Storage Tiering Technologies.
RAID Controller Broadcom SAS MegaRAID 9460-8i Broadcom 9460-8i 8-port SAS/SATA 12Gb/s HBA with hardware RAID capabilities (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60). Supports full RAID feature set.
Network Interface Card (NIC) Dual-Port 100GbE QSFP28 Mellanox ConnectX-7 Supports RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCEv2) for low-latency networking. See Networking Technologies Overview.
Power Supply Unit (PSU) 2 x 1600W 80+ Platinum Redundant Supermicro PWS-1600-1R Provides redundant power for high availability. Supports wide input voltage range (100-240VAC). Refer to Power Supply Redundancy Guide.
Cooling System High-Performance Air Cooling with Redundant Fans Supermicro Standard Chassis Fans Multiple redundant fans ensure consistent cooling even in the event of a fan failure. See Thermal Management Strategies.
Chassis 4U Rackmount Server Chassis Supermicro 847E16-R1200B Supports dual processors, up to 16 DIMMs, and multiple expansion cards.

2. Performance Characteristics

The Apex-8000 configuration is designed for high performance in a variety of workloads. The following benchmark results demonstrate its capabilities. All benchmarks were conducted in a controlled environment with consistent methodology. See Performance Testing Methodology for details.

  • **SPEC CPU 2017:**
   * SPECrate2017_fp_base: 1250
   * SPECrate2017_int_base: 980
   * SPECspeed2017_fp_base: 350
   * SPECspeed2017_int_base: 280
  • **PassMark PerformanceTest 10:** Overall Score: 25,000
  • **Iometer Disk I/O:** Sustained read/write speeds of 8GB/s with RAID 6 configuration and cache enabled. IOPS exceeding 500,000.
  • **Database Performance (PostgreSQL):** TPC-C benchmark achieved 250,000 Transactions Per Minute (TPM-C) with a scale factor of 100.
  • **Virtualization (VMware vSphere):** Supports up to 100 virtual machines with 8 vCPUs and 32GB of RAM each without significant performance degradation.
    • Real-World Performance:**

In real-world testing, the Apex-8000 consistently outperformed comparable configurations in database intensive tasks, data analytics, and virtualized environments. The large memory capacity and fast storage subsystem contribute significantly to its performance. Network latency is minimized due to the 100GbE NICs and RDMA support. Detailed performance logs and monitoring data are available in Server Performance Monitoring.

3. Recommended Use Cases

The Apex-8000 configuration is ideally suited for the following use cases:

  • **Large-Scale Database Management:** Handles demanding database workloads with high transaction rates and large data volumes. Suitable for Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and MySQL databases.
  • **Virtualization Infrastructure:** Provides a robust platform for hosting a large number of virtual machines, supporting business-critical applications. Compatible with VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM.
  • **High-Performance Computing (HPC):** Suitable for scientific simulations, financial modeling, and other computationally intensive tasks. The dual CPUs and large memory capacity provide the necessary processing power.
  • **Data Analytics and Business Intelligence:** Processes large datasets quickly and efficiently, enabling faster insights and better decision-making. Supports big data platforms like Hadoop and Spark.
  • **Video Encoding/Transcoding:** Handles demanding video processing workloads with minimal latency.
  • **AI/Machine Learning (Inference):** Offers substantial compute power for running inference workloads. Dedicated GPU acceleration can be added. See GPU Integration Guide.

4. Comparison with Similar Configurations

The Apex-8000 configuration represents a high-end server solution. Here's a comparison with other similar configurations:

Configuration CPU RAM Storage Network Estimated Cost Use Cases
Apex-8000 (This Document) Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ 1TB DDR5 ECC Registered 8 x 8TB SAS + 2 x 1.92TB NVMe Dual-Port 100GbE QSFP28 $35,000 - $45,000 Large-Scale Databases, Virtualization, HPC, Data Analytics
Apex-7000 Dual Intel Xeon Gold 6430 512GB DDR5 ECC Registered 4 x 4TB SAS + 1 x 960GB NVMe Dual-Port 25GbE SFP28 $20,000 - $30,000 Medium-Sized Databases, Virtualization, Application Servers
Entry-Level Server Dual Intel Xeon Silver 4310 128GB DDR4 ECC Registered 2 x 2TB SAS Single-Port 1GbE $8,000 - $12,000 Small Business Applications, Web Hosting, File Servers
Competitor X - High-End Dual AMD EPYC 9654 2TB DDR5 ECC Registered 12 x 16TB SAS + 4 x 3.84TB NVMe Dual-Port 200GbE $40,000 - $50,000 Similar to Apex-8000, potentially better for heavily threaded applications.

The Apex-8000 offers a balance of performance, scalability, and reliability. While the Competitor X configuration may offer higher peak performance in certain scenarios due to its larger memory capacity and faster networking, the Apex-8000 provides a cost-effective solution for a wide range of demanding workloads. A detailed Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis is available in TCO Analysis Report.

5. Maintenance Considerations

Maintaining the Apex-8000 configuration requires careful attention to cooling, power, and monitoring.

  • **Cooling:** The server generates significant heat, especially under heavy load. Ensure adequate airflow in the server room and regularly check fan functionality. Dust accumulation should be prevented through regular cleaning. Consider utilizing Data Center Cooling Best Practices.
  • **Power Requirements:** The server requires a dedicated power circuit with sufficient capacity (minimum 30 amps at 208V or 20 amps at 120V). Redundant power supplies provide high availability, but require two separate power feeds. Consult Electrical Infrastructure Requirements.
  • **Monitoring:** Implement comprehensive server monitoring to track CPU utilization, memory usage, disk I/O, network traffic, and temperature. Utilize tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or Prometheus. Refer to Server Monitoring Tools Comparison.
  • **RAID Maintenance:** Regularly check the health of the RAID array and replace failing drives promptly. Implement a robust backup and disaster recovery plan. See Data Backup and Recovery Procedures.
  • **Firmware Updates:** Keep all firmware (BIOS, RAID controller, NIC, etc.) up to date to ensure optimal performance and security. Follow the Firmware Update Process.
  • **Physical Security:** Secure the server physically to prevent unauthorized access. Implement access controls and monitor physical security logs. See Data Center Physical Security Guidelines.
  • **Scheduled Maintenance:** Implement a schedule for preventative maintenance, including cleaning, fan replacement, and cable management. Follow the Preventative Maintenance Checklist.
  • **Remote Access:** Secure remote access should be configured using a VPN or dedicated remote management interface (IPMI). See Secure Remote Access Configuration.

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Intel-Based Server Configurations

Configuration Specifications Benchmark
Core i7-6700K/7700 Server 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB CPU Benchmark: 8046
Core i7-8700 Server 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB CPU Benchmark: 13124
Core i9-9900K Server 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB CPU Benchmark: 49969
Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD
Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD
Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD
Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD
Core i5-13500 Workstation 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000

AMD-Based Server Configurations

Configuration Specifications Benchmark
Ryzen 5 3600 Server 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe CPU Benchmark: 17849
Ryzen 7 7700 Server 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe CPU Benchmark: 35224
Ryzen 9 5950X Server 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe CPU Benchmark: 46045
Ryzen 9 7950X Server 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe CPU Benchmark: 63561
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 9454P Server 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe

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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️