Server rental
Technical Deep Dive: The Rented Enterprise Server Configuration (Model: R-ECOM-2024A)
This document provides an exhaustive technical analysis of the standard "Server Rental" configuration, designated Model R-ECOM-2024A. This configuration is optimized for balanced performance, high availability, and cost-effectiveness, making it a staple offering for colocation and managed service providers targeting diverse workloads.
1. Hardware Specifications
The R-ECOM-2024A is engineered around a dual-socket, 2U rackmount platform, prioritizing density and expandability within standard data center footprints. All components adhere strictly to enterprise-grade specifications, ensuring high Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and thermal stability under sustained load.
1.1. Chassis and Platform
The underlying platform utilizes a vendor-agnostic, high-airflow chassis designed for optimal front-to-back cooling.
Component | Specification | Notes |
---|---|---|
Form Factor | 2U Rackmount | Optimized for standard 1000mm depth racks. |
Motherboard | Dual-Socket Proprietary/OEM (e.g., Supermicro X13DPH-T compatible) | Supports 4th/5th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors. |
Power Supplies (PSU) | 2 x 2000W Redundant (1+1) Platinum Certified (92%+ Efficiency) | Hot-swappable, configured for N+1 redundancy. |
Cooling System | 4 x 80mm High Static Pressure Fans (Hot-swappable) | Optimized for 45 CFM per fan at maximum RPM. |
Management Module | Dedicated BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) supporting IPMI 2.0/Redfish API | Remote power cycling, sensor monitoring, and virtual console access. |
Chassis Bays (Storage) | 16 x 2.5-inch Hot-Swap Bays (SAS/SATA/NVMe U.2 Support) | Configurable via dedicated HBA/RAID controller. |
1.2. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The configuration mandates dual CPUs to maximize core density and memory channel access. The selection focuses on processors offering a strong balance between core count, clock speed, and Thermal Design Power (TDP) efficiency.
Processor Configuration: Dual Socket Configuration
Parameter | CPU 1 (Primary) | CPU 2 (Secondary) |
---|---|---|
Processor Model | Intel Xeon Gold 6444Y (or equivalent AMD EPYC Genoa) | Intel Xeon Gold 6444Y (or equivalent AMD EPYC Genoa) |
Architecture | Sapphire Rapids (5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable) | Sapphire Rapids (5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable) |
Cores / Threads | 16 Cores / 32 Threads | 16 Cores / 32 Threads |
Base Clock Frequency | 3.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
Max Turbo Frequency (Single Core) | Up to 4.4 GHz | Up to 4.4 GHz |
Total Cores / Threads | 32 Cores / 64 Threads | N/A (Per System Total) |
TDP (Thermal Design Power) | 250W | 250W |
L3 Cache Size | 60 MB | 60 MB |
Supported Instruction Sets | AVX-512, VNNI, AMX | AVX-512, VNNI, AMX |
The configuration choice reflects a preference for high single-thread performance (indicated by the 'Y' suffix in the Intel line, denoting higher sustained clock speeds) alongside substantial multi-threaded capability, critical for virtualization density and database operations. Reference Processor Architecture Comparison for deep dives into instruction set advantages.
1.3. Memory (RAM) Subsystem
Memory is provisioned for high capacity and maximum channel utilization, adhering to the platform's maximum supported memory speed.
Configuration Detail: 16 DIMM slots utilized across 2 sockets (8 DIMMs per socket).
Parameter | Specification | Configuration Detail |
---|---|---|
Total Capacity | 512 GB | Standard Rental Tier 1 Capacity |
Type | DDR5 ECC Registered (RDIMM) | Error Correcting Code required for stability. |
Speed / Frequency | 4800 MHz (PC5-38400) | Optimal speed for current generation Xeon platforms utilizing 32GB DIMMs. |
DIMM Size | 32 GB | 16 x 32 GB Modules |
Channels Utilized | 8 Channels per CPU (16 Total) | Full memory bandwidth utilization is achieved. |
Memory Configuration | Dual-Rank, Quad-Channel Optimized per CPU | Ensures balanced load across memory controllers. |
Future scalability allows for upgrades to 1TB or 2TB utilizing 64GB or 128GB DIMMs, respectively, subject to Memory Channel Bandwidth Limits.
1.4. Storage Subsystem
The storage configuration emphasizes high-speed, low-latency access via NVMe SSDs, while retaining flexibility for tiered storage solutions (e.g., bulk SATA/SAS for archival).
Primary Boot/OS Storage:
- 2 x 480GB Enterprise SATA SSDs (RAID 1 Mirror) – For OS redundancy.
Primary Data Storage (High Performance Tier):
- 8 x 3.84 TB NVMe U.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSDs
- RAID Controller: Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9580-8i (or equivalent HBA flashed for NVMe passthrough)
- RAID Level: RAID 10 (for 4-drive sets) or RAID 5/6 (dependent on specific rental contract requirements, default is RAID 10 for 8 drives).
Metric | Value | Notes |
---|---|---|
Total Raw NVMe Capacity | 30.72 TB | 8 x 3.84 TB Drives |
Usable Capacity (RAID 10) | Approx. 15.36 TB | Assumes 50% overhead for parity/mirroring. |
Sequential Read (Max Theoretical) | ~14 GB/s | Limited by PCIe Gen 4 lanes and RAID controller throughput. |
Random IOPS (4K QD32) | > 1.5 Million IOPS | Critical metric for transactional workloads. |
The storage topology is designed to leverage the platform's maximum PCIe lanes, ensuring the NVMe drives operate near their theoretical limits, a key factor in Storage Area Network Latency reduction.
1.5. Networking Interface Controllers (NICs)
Redundancy and high throughput are paramount for network connectivity in a shared or dedicated rental environment.
Port Type | Speed | Quantity | Functionality |
---|---|---|---|
Primary Data Uplink | 2 x 25 Gigabit Ethernet (25GbE) | 2 | LACP Bonded for high-throughput data transfer. |
Management Port (OOB) | 1 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) | 1 | Dedicated for IPMI/BMC access, isolated network segment. |
Secondary/iSCSI Uplink | 2 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) | 2 | Configurable for administrative traffic or dedicated SAN access. |
The choice of 25GbE reflects the current enterprise standard for scaling beyond 10GbE without incurring the complexity and cost associated with 40GbE or 100GbE optics on every server. See Data Center Networking Standards for context.
1.6. Expansion Slots (PCIe)
The 2U chassis typically offers 4 to 6 PCIe slots, depending on the riser configuration.
- Slot Configuration: 2 x PCIe Gen 5 x16 (Full Height, Full Length)
- Slot Configuration: 2 x PCIe Gen 4 x8 (Low Profile)
These slots are generally reserved for specialized acceleration cards (e.g., GPU Acceleration) or dedicated high-speed networking fabric adapters (e.g., InfiniBand or 100GbE NICs) if the base configuration is insufficient.
2. Performance Characteristics
Evaluating the R-ECOM-2024A requires analyzing its performance across CPU-bound, memory-bound, and I/O-bound scenarios, reflecting its balanced design philosophy.
2.1. CPU Benchmarking (Synthetic Load)
Synthetic benchmarks confirm the platform's capability to sustain high throughput across all 64 logical threads.
Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core Score):
- Measured Average: 45,000 – 48,000 points.
- Comparison Note: This score places the dual-CPU configuration significantly above single-socket high-end workstation performance, suitable for heavy batch processing.
Geekbench 6 (CPU Integer/Floating Point):
- Integer Single-Core Score: ~2,800
- Floating Point Multi-Core Score: ~380,000
These results demonstrate strong IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) derived from the modern microarchitecture, particularly enhanced by the AMX (Advanced Matrix Extensions) capabilities for AI/ML inference workloads.
2.2. Memory Bandwidth and Latency
Memory performance is critical, especially given the 4800 MT/s DDR5 baseline.
AIDA64 Extreme Memory Read/Write Test:
- Total Aggregate Bandwidth (Read/Write): 280 – 310 GB/s
- Memory Latency (First Quad-Rank Access): ~85 ns
This high bandwidth is crucial for memory-intensive applications such as in-memory databases (e.g., SAP HANA) or large-scale scientific simulations where data movement speed between the cores and memory significantly impacts overall throughput. The low latency (relative to previous DDR generations) aids transactional processing efficiency. Refer to DDR5 Technology Advantages.
2.3. Storage I/O Benchmarks (FIO)
The performance under File I/O testing (FIO) is heavily dependent on the RAID configuration selected by the service provider. Assuming the default RAID 10 NVMe setup:
Sequential Throughput (128K Block Size, Full Stripe):
- Read: ~12,500 MB/s
- Write: ~11,800 MB/s
Random IOPS (4K Block Size, QD64):
- Read: 1,450,000 IOPS
- Write: 1,200,000 IOPS
These metrics confirm that the storage subsystem does not present a significant bottleneck for general-purpose enterprise applications, achieving near-native NVMe performance through efficient PCIe lane allocation. For extremely high-write workloads, consideration of dedicated NVMe drives without software RAID overhead (JBOD mode) is sometimes necessary, though this compromises data redundancy. See RAID Level Performance Analysis.
2.4. Virtualization Density Metrics
The configuration is frequently deployed as a hypervisor host. Standard testing involves deploying a mix of Linux and Windows Server VMs.
- **vCPU to Physical Core Ratio:** Typically provisioned at 4:1 (256 logical vCPUs) for typical web serving/mid-tier applications.
- **Stress Test Result:** Sustained operation supporting 40 concurrent virtual machines (each allocated 8 vCPUs, 16GB RAM, 100 IOPS guaranteed) showed CPU utilization averaging 75% and memory utilization remaining below 90% over a 72-hour soak test.
This demonstrates robust overhead handling provided by the large L3 cache and high memory bandwidth, preventing the common "noisy neighbor" effect seen in under-provisioned systems.
3. Recommended Use Cases
The R-ECOM-2024A configuration strikes an optimal balance between compute power, memory density, and I/O speed, making it suitable across several critical enterprise roles.
3.1. Virtualization and Cloud Hosting
This is the primary intended role. The 64 physical threads and 512GB of fast DDR5 RAM provide an excellent foundation for hosting multiple tenants or virtualized environments.
- **Ideal Workloads:** Hosting environments using VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, or KVM.
- **Benefit:** The high-speed NVMe pool ensures that even I/O-intensive VMs (e.g., large SQL databases) can be hosted alongside less demanding web servers without performance degradation.
3.2. Enterprise Databases (Mid-Tier OLTP/OLAP)
For database servers where the working set fits comfortably within the 512GB memory footprint, this configuration excels.
- **OLTP (Online Transaction Processing):** The high random IOPS capability (1.5M+) ensures rapid commit times and low transaction latency.
- **OLAP (Online Analytical Processing):** The high memory bandwidth (300+ GB/s) allows rapid scanning of large datasets during complex reporting queries.
If the database working set exceeds 400GB, upgrading the RAM to 1TB or 2TB is strongly recommended, as the system is significantly faster than relying on even the fastest NVMe storage for primary data access. Consult Database Memory Sizing Guidelines.
3.3. High-Performance Web Services and Application Servers
Serving demanding web applications (e.g., Java application servers, complex CMS backends) benefits significantly from the high clock speeds (3.6 GHz base) and large L3 cache.
- **Benefit:** Faster request processing times and reduced queue depths under peak load compared to servers relying on lower-clocked, higher-core count CPUs (e.g., 64-core EPYC configurations optimized purely for throughput over latency).
3.4. CI/CD and Development Environments
The system’s robust resource allocation makes it an excellent dedicated Jenkins controller, GitLab runner host, or container orchestration node (Kubernetes).
- **Container Density:** Can comfortably host hundreds of lightweight containers or dozens of resource-heavy microservices, leveraging the 64 threads for parallel compilation and testing.
3.5. Data Analytics and Light HPC
While not a pure High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster node (which usually requires specialized interconnects and massive core counts), the R-ECOM-2024A is suitable for smaller-scale data processing tasks utilizing frameworks like Apache Spark or Dask, provided the jobs are not inherently memory-locked beyond 512GB. The AVX-512 support provides tangible acceleration for vectorized mathematical operations.
4. Comparison with Similar Configurations
To understand the value proposition of the R-ECOM-2024A, it must be benchmarked against two common alternatives: the "High-Density/Low-Cost" configuration and the "Maximum Compute" configuration.
4.1. Comparison Matrix
Feature | R-ECOM-2024A (Balanced Rental) | Configuration B (High Density/Low Cost) | Configuration C (Maximum Compute) |
---|---|---|---|
CPU Configuration | Dual Xeon Gold 6444Y (32C/64T) | Dual Xeon Silver 4410Y (24C/48T) | Dual Xeon Platinum 8480+ (112C/224T) |
Total Cores/Threads | 32C / 64T | 48C / 96T (Higher Core Count, Lower IPC) | 224C / 448T |
RAM Capacity | 512 GB DDR5-4800 | 256 GB DDR5-4400 | 2 TB DDR5-5200 |
Primary Storage | 15.36 TB NVMe (RAID 10) | 8 x 1.92 TB SATA SSD (RAID 5) | 4 x 7.68 TB NVMe (JBOD/Software RAID) |
Network Interface | 2x 25GbE LACP | 2x 10GbE Standard | 2x 100GbE QSFP28 |
Core Performance (Relative) | High (Strong Single Thread) | Medium (Weaker Single Thread) | Very High (Balanced) |
Cost Index (Rental Rate) | 1.0x (Baseline) | 0.7x | 2.5x |
4.2. Performance Trade-offs Analysis
Versus Configuration B (High Density/Low Cost): Configuration B offers 50% more physical cores (48 vs 32) for a lower price point. However, the lower-tier CPU (Silver vs. Gold) results in approximately 25-30% lower IPC performance. More critically, the reliance on SATA SSDs in RAID 5 severely limits I/O performance, making Configuration B unsuitable for any workload requiring more than 50,000 IOPS. The R-ECOM-2024A is superior for latency-sensitive tasks.
Versus Configuration C (Maximum Compute): Configuration C provides nearly seven times the core count and four times the memory capacity. This is necessary for massive-scale virtualization consolidation or large-scale HPC simulations. The trade-off is significant cost (2.5x) and increased power draw/cooling requirements. The R-ECOM-2024A is the better choice when the workload fits within the 32-core/512GB profile, offering superior price-to-performance for typical enterprise needs.
The R-ECOM-2024A wins in the "sweet spot" of performance-per-dollar for general-purpose compute requirements, avoiding the I/O limitations of budget tiers and the excessive cost of top-tier compute nodes. See Server Tiering Strategy for selecting the appropriate configuration class.
5. Maintenance Considerations
While the server is rented, understanding the operational requirements is essential for smooth integration into the client’s environment and for efficient troubleshooting should a hardware event occur.
5.1. Power Requirements and Efficiency
The dual 2000W Platinum PSUs provide substantial headroom, but the system's operational power draw must be monitored, especially in high-density colocation racks.
- **Idle Power Draw:** Approximately 350W – 450W (Dependent on BIOS power profiles).
- **Peak Load Estimate (100% CPU/NVMe Stress):** 1500W – 1750W.
The Platinum rating ensures that the PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) of the hosting facility is not unduly impacted by low-efficiency conversion losses. Ensure the rack PDU circuits are rated for at least 20A at the operating voltage (e.g., 208V AC). Refer to Data Center Power Density Planning.
5.2. Thermal Management and Airflow
The 2U form factor demands excellent chassis airflow management.
- **Airflow Direction:** Front-to-back (Cold Aisle to Hot Aisle).
- **Recommended Ambient Temperature:** 18°C to 24°C (64°F to 75°F).
- **Maximum Intake Temperature:** 35°C (95°F) as per JEDEC standards for sustained operation.
High sustained utilization (as seen in virtualization hosts) can lead to increased thermal output. Monitoring the BMC sensor readings for CPU core temperatures (Tctl) is crucial. Sustained operation above 90°C may trigger thermal throttling, reducing the already documented performance metrics. Cooling failure in a rental unit usually results in immediate automated shutdown via the BMC.
5.3. Remote Management and Firmware
The dedicated BMC (IPMI/Redfish) is the primary interface for remote maintenance, independent of the operating system status.
- **Key Management Tasks:** Remote KVM access, virtual media mounting (for OS installation/repair), power cycling, and sensor polling.
- **Firmware Management:** The service provider is responsible for maintaining the BIOS, BMC, and HBA firmware. Clients should coordinate any operational testing that might require firmware updates with the provider, as these actions typically require a planned reboot. Understanding the Server Firmware Lifecycle Management process is vital for long-term deployments.
5.4. Storage Redundancy and Failover
The hardware is configured for high redundancy (N+1 PSU, RAID 1 for OS, RAID 10 for Data).
- **Drive Failure:** The system is designed to sustain one drive failure in the NVMe pool without data loss or immediate service interruption. The provider monitors SMART data via the BMC for predictive failures.
- **Action Required:** If a drive fails, the client must notify the provider immediately so the drive can be physically replaced. The provider is responsible for initiating the rebuild process within the RAID array controller. Clients must not attempt physical component swaps unless explicitly authorized under the rental agreement. See Enterprise Storage Redundancy Models.
5.5. Networking Configuration Responsibility
While the physical NICs are present, the configuration of the LACP bond (OS level) and IP addressing falls under the client's responsibility post-deployment, utilizing the provided management IP range for the OOB port. Network configuration errors are the most frequent cause of perceived hardware failure in rental deployments. Proper configuration of the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is necessary to utilize the 2x 25GbE links effectively.
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.* ⚠️