Contributing to Documentation

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  1. Contributing to Documentation - Server Configuration v3.2

This document details the hardware configuration internally codenamed "Contributing to Documentation" (CtD) - version 3.2. This is a high-performance server designed for demanding workloads, specifically focused on large-scale data processing, virtualization, and database operations. This document is intended for internal use by IT professionals, system administrators, and support engineers. It covers hardware specifications, performance characteristics, recommended use cases, comparative analysis, and critical maintenance considerations.

1. Hardware Specifications

The "Contributing to Documentation" server is built around a dual-socket architecture prioritizing reliability, scalability, and performance. All components are enterprise-grade and selected for long-term availability and support. See also: Server Component Lifecycle Management.

Component Specification Manufacturer Model Number Quantity
CPU Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ Intel CPU-Platinum-8480+ 2
CPU Core Count (per CPU) 56 Intel N/A N/A
CPU Thread Count (per CPU) 112 Intel N/A N/A
CPU Base Clock Speed 2.0 GHz Intel N/A N/A
CPU Max Turbo Frequency 3.8 GHz Intel N/A N/A
CPU Cache (per CPU) 105 MB Intel Smart Cache Intel N/A N/A
RAM 2TB DDR5 ECC Registered Samsung M393A4K40DB8-CWE 16 x 128GB Modules
RAM Speed 5600 MHz Samsung N/A N/A
RAM Configuration 8 DIMMs per socket, Quad-Channel N/A N/A N/A
Storage - OS Drive 960GB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD Samsung PM1733 1
Storage - Data Drives 8 x 15.36TB SAS 12Gbps 7.2K RPM Enterprise HDD Seagate Exos X18 8
Storage - Cache/Tiering 4 x 3.84TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD Micron 9400 Pro 4
RAID Controller Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9460-8i Broadcom 9460-8i 1
Network Interface Card (NIC) Dual Port 100GbE QSFP28 Mellanox (NVIDIA) ConnectX-7 2
Power Supply Unit (PSU) 3000W 80+ Platinum Redundant Delta Electronics DPS-3000FB A 2
Chassis 4U Rackmount Server Chassis Supermicro 847E16-R1400B 1
Cooling Redundant Hot-Swap Fans with High-Efficiency Heatsinks Delta Electronics N/A 8+1
Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) IPMI 2.0 Compliant Supermicro X12SPM-F 1

Detailed information regarding component compatibility can be found in the Hardware Compatibility List. The server utilizes a Supermicro X13DEI motherboard, specifically designed for dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8000 series processors. The BIOS version must be at least 3.0a for optimal performance and compatibility. See BIOS Update Procedures for detailed instructions.

2. Performance Characteristics

The CtD v3.2 configuration demonstrates exceptional performance across a range of benchmark tests and real-world applications. All benchmarks were conducted in a controlled environment with consistent cooling and power delivery. See Benchmark Testing Methodology for detailed protocols.

  • **SPEC CPU 2017 Rate:**
   *  Integer: 185.2
   *  Floating Point: 298.7
   *  Overall: 234.5
  • **PassMark PerformanceTest 10:** Overall Score: 21,543
  • **IOMeter (Sequential Read/Write - RAID 10):**
   * Read: 12.8 GB/s
   * Write: 11.2 GB/s
  • **VMware vSphere Performance (Virtual Machine Density):** Capable of supporting up to 60 virtual machines with 16 vCPUs and 64GB of RAM each, assuming a balanced workload. See Virtualization Best Practices.
  • **Database Performance (PostgreSQL - TPC-C):** Achieves a TPC-C benchmark score of 1,250,000 transactions per minute (tpmC) with 100 concurrent users. See Database Performance Optimization.
    • Real-World Performance:**
  • **Video Encoding (Handbrake):** 4K video encoding completes in approximately 18 minutes.
  • **Data Analytics (Spark):** Processes a 1TB dataset in approximately 45 minutes.
  • **High-Frequency Trading:** Average latency of 500 microseconds for order execution.
  • **Machine Learning (TensorFlow):** Training a complex neural network completes in approximately 12 hours.

These figures are indicative and can vary depending on the specific workload and configuration details. Detailed performance reports are available on the internal Performance Monitoring Dashboard.

3. Recommended Use Cases

The "Contributing to Documentation" server is ideally suited for the following applications:

  • **Large-Scale Virtualization:** The high core count and large memory capacity make it an excellent platform for hosting a significant number of virtual machines.
  • **Database Servers:** Supports demanding database workloads, including OLTP and OLAP applications. The fast storage subsystem ensures optimal performance.
  • **Data Analytics & Big Data:** The processing power and memory bandwidth are well-suited for data analytics tasks, such as data mining, machine learning, and statistical analysis.
  • **High-Performance Computing (HPC):** Capable of handling computationally intensive tasks in scientific research, engineering, and financial modeling.
  • **Video Processing & Rendering:** Efficiently handles video encoding, transcoding, and rendering tasks.
  • **Mission-Critical Applications:** The redundant power supplies, RAID configuration, and ECC memory provide high availability and data protection. See Disaster Recovery Planning.

This configuration is *not* recommended for simple web hosting or small-scale applications where the cost and complexity are not justified. Consider the Standard Web Server Configuration for such scenarios.

4. Comparison with Similar Configurations

The CtD v3.2 configuration occupies a premium segment of the server market. Here's a comparison with similar configurations:

Configuration CPU RAM Storage Network Price (Approx.) Use Case
CtD v3.2 Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ 2TB DDR5 ECC 8 x 15.36TB SAS + 4 x 3.84TB NVMe Dual 100GbE $45,000 - $55,000 High-Performance, Mission Critical
Configuration A (AMD EPYC 9654) Dual AMD EPYC 9654 2TB DDR5 ECC 8 x 15.36TB SAS + 4 x 3.84TB NVMe Dual 100GbE $40,000 - $50,000 Similar to CtD, potentially better performance in certain HPC workloads.
Configuration B (Intel Xeon Gold 6348) Dual Intel Xeon Gold 6348 512GB DDR4 ECC 8 x 8TB SAS + 2 x 1.92TB NVMe Dual 25GbE $25,000 - $35,000 Mid-Range, suitable for virtualization and database workloads with moderate demands.
Configuration C (Dell PowerEdge R750) Single Intel Xeon Platinum 8380 1TB DDR4 ECC 10 x 4TB SAS + 2 x 3.84TB NVMe Dual 10GbE $30,000 - $40,000 General Purpose, good balance of performance and cost. Lower single-socket performance than CtD.
    • Key Differentiators:**
  • **CPU Performance:** The Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ offers superior single-core and multi-core performance compared to the Xeon Gold series. AMD EPYC 9654 offers comparable performance, and may exceed in specific workloads.
  • **Memory Capacity:** 2TB of DDR5 ECC RAM provides ample memory for demanding applications.
  • **Storage Performance:** The combination of high-capacity SAS HDDs and fast NVMe SSDs provides a balanced storage solution for both capacity and performance.
  • **Network Connectivity:** Dual 100GbE connectivity ensures high bandwidth and low latency for network-intensive applications.

Detailed cost analysis and ROI calculations are available in the Server Budgeting and Procurement Guide.

5. Maintenance Considerations

Maintaining the "Contributing to Documentation" server requires adherence to specific guidelines to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

  • **Cooling:** The server generates significant heat. Ensure adequate airflow in the server room and regularly check the status of the fans. Maintain a room temperature between 20-24°C (68-75°F). See Data Center Cooling Best Practices.
  • **Power Requirements:** The server requires two dedicated 208V/30A power circuits. Ensure the power infrastructure can handle the load. Monitor power consumption using the IPMI interface.
  • **RAID Maintenance:** Regularly monitor the health of the RAID array using the MegaRAID Storage Manager. Perform proactive drive replacements based on SMART data. See RAID Configuration and Maintenance.
  • **Firmware Updates:** Keep the BIOS, RAID controller firmware, and network card firmware up to date to address security vulnerabilities and improve performance. Follow the procedures outlined in Firmware Update Procedures.
  • **Security:** Implement robust security measures, including strong passwords, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. See Server Security Hardening Guide. Regularly audit security logs.
  • **Dust Control:** Regularly clean the server to prevent dust buildup, which can impede airflow and cause overheating. Use compressed air to remove dust from the fans and heatsinks.
  • **Remote Management:** Utilize the IPMI interface for remote monitoring, management, and troubleshooting. Ensure secure access to the IPMI interface. See IPMI Configuration and Security.
  • **Preventative Maintenance Schedule:** Follow the recommended preventative maintenance schedule outlined in the Server Maintenance Schedule. This includes regular hardware checks, firmware updates, and log analysis.


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.* ⚠️