Collaboration

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  1. Collaboration Server Configuration - Technical Documentation

This document details the "Collaboration" server configuration, designed for supporting demanding collaborative workloads such as virtual desktops, application streaming, software development environments, and high-throughput file sharing. This configuration prioritizes both compute power and I/O performance, ensuring a responsive and efficient experience for concurrent users.

1. Hardware Specifications

The "Collaboration" server configuration is built around a dual-socket architecture to maximize core count and memory bandwidth. All components are enterprise-grade for reliability and sustained performance.

1.1. Processor (CPU)

  • **Model:** 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6348 (32 Cores / 64 Threads per CPU)
  • **Base Clock Speed:** 2.6 GHz
  • **Max Turbo Frequency:** 3.8 GHz
  • **Total Cores:** 64
  • **Total Threads:** 128
  • **Cache:** 36 MB Intel Smart Cache per CPU
  • **TDP:** 270W per CPU
  • **Socket:** LGA 4189
  • **Instruction Set:** AVX-512, VMD, TSX-NI
  • **Supported Memory Speed:** DDR4-3200
  • Intel Xeon Gold 6348 Datasheet - Link to official datasheet.

1.2. Memory (RAM)

  • **Type:** DDR4 ECC Registered (RDIMM)
  • **Capacity:** 256 GB (16 x 16GB Modules)
  • **Speed:** 3200 MHz
  • **Rank:** Dual-Rank
  • **Latency:** CL22
  • **Configuration:** 8 DIMMs per CPU, balanced across channels for optimal bandwidth.
  • **Error Correction:** ECC (Error-Correcting Code)
  • DDR4 Memory Technology - Detailed explanation of DDR4.
  • ECC Memory Explained - Why ECC is crucial for server stability.

1.3. Storage

  • **Boot Drive:** 480 GB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD (Intel Optane SSD 905P) – For Operating System and core applications.
  • **Primary Storage:** 4 x 4TB SAS 12Gbps 7.2K RPM Enterprise HDDs (RAID 10 Configuration) – For data storage and application files. This provides 8TB usable capacity with redundancy.
  • **Read/Write Cache:** 2 x 960 GB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD (Samsung 980 Pro) – Used as a read/write cache in front of the SAS RAID array to accelerate I/O operations. Utilized with LVM Cache.
  • **RAID Controller:** Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9460-8i with 8GB NV Cache.
  • **Storage Interface:** SAS 12Gbps, NVMe PCIe Gen4
  • NVMe Storage Technology - Detailed explanation of NVMe.
  • RAID Levels Explained - Comprehensive overview of RAID configurations.
  • SSD vs HDD - Comparison of SSD and HDD technologies.

1.4. Network Interface Card (NIC)

  • **Type:** Dual Port 25 Gigabit Ethernet (Mellanox ConnectX-6 DX)
  • **Ports:** 2 x 25GbE SFP28
  • **Features:** RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE v2), SR-IOV
  • RDMA Technology - Explanation of Remote Direct Memory Access.
  • Ethernet Standards - Overview of Ethernet networking standards.

1.5. Power Supply Unit (PSU)

  • **Capacity:** 1600W Redundant (80+ Platinum Certified)
  • **Efficiency:** 94%
  • **Input Voltage:** 100-240V AC
  • **Redundancy:** N+1 (One extra PSU for redundancy)
  • Redundant Power Supplies - Why redundancy is important for server uptime.

1.6. Motherboard

  • **Chipset:** Intel C621A
  • **Form Factor:** ATX
  • **Slots:** Multiple PCIe 4.0 x16 slots for expansion cards.
  • **DIMM Slots:** 16 (8 per CPU)
  • Server Motherboard Architecture - Detailed explanation of server motherboard components.

1.7. Chassis

  • **Form Factor:** 2U Rackmount
  • **Material:** Steel
  • **Cooling:** Hot-swappable fans with redundant power supplies.
  • Server Chassis Form Factors - Overview of different server chassis sizes.

2. Performance Characteristics

The "Collaboration" configuration is engineered for high performance under sustained load. The following benchmark results demonstrate its capabilities. All benchmarks were performed with a standardized test environment, including a clean operating system installation and consistent network configuration.

2.1. CPU Benchmarks

  • **SPEC CPU 2017 Rate (int):** 220
  • **SPEC CPU 2017 Rate (fp):** 350
  • **Geekbench 5 (Single-Core):** 1600
  • **Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core):** 28000

2.2. Storage Benchmarks

  • **IOmeter (Sequential Read):** 3.5 GB/s (RAID 10 with Cache)
  • **IOmeter (Sequential Write):** 2.8 GB/s (RAID 10 with Cache)
  • **IOmeter (Random Read – 4KB):** 80,000 IOPS (RAID 10 with Cache)
  • **IOmeter (Random Write – 4KB):** 60,000 IOPS (RAID 10 with Cache)
  • IOmeter Benchmarking - Detailed explanation of using IOmeter.

2.3. Network Benchmarks

  • **iperf3 (25GbE):** 23 Gbps sustained throughput
  • **Latency (ping):** < 1ms within the local network.

2.4. Real-World Performance

  • **Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI):** Supports up to 100 concurrent users with a responsive experience (measured using VMware Horizon View).
  • **Software Development:** Compile times for large projects (e.g., Linux kernel) are reduced by 40% compared to a comparable 4-socket server with slower processors.
  • **File Sharing:** Sustained file transfer rates of 1.5 Gbps observed with a large number of concurrent users accessing a central file share (measured using SMB protocol).
  • VDI Performance Tuning - Optimizing VDI performance.
  • Software Compilation Performance - Factors affecting software build times.

3. Recommended Use Cases

This configuration is ideally suited for the following applications:

  • **Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI):** Provides the necessary processing power and I/O bandwidth to support a large number of virtual desktops.
  • **Application Streaming:** Delivers applications to users on demand, requiring significant CPU and network resources.
  • **Software Development & CI/CD:** Accelerates build processes and provides a robust environment for development teams.
  • **High-Throughput File Sharing:** Enables fast and reliable file access for collaborative teams.
  • **Database Servers (Medium Scale):** Suitable for databases that require significant processing power but do not necessitate the scale of a dedicated database appliance.
  • **Data Analytics (Lightweight):** Can handle basic data analytics tasks and reporting.
  • VDI Use Cases - Common VDI deployment scenarios.
  • CI/CD Pipeline Implementation - Guide to implementing CI/CD.

4. Comparison with Similar Configurations

The "Collaboration" configuration sits in a sweet spot between cost and performance. Here's a comparison with other possible configurations:

Configuration CPU RAM Storage Network Estimated Cost Ideal Use Case
**Collaboration (This Configuration)** 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6348 256 GB DDR4-3200 ECC 480GB NVMe Boot + 8TB RAID 10 + 2TB Cache Dual 25GbE $15,000 - $20,000 VDI, Application Streaming, Software Development
**Entry-Level Collaboration** 2x Intel Xeon Silver 4310 128 GB DDR4-3200 ECC 480GB NVMe Boot + 4TB RAID 1 Dual 10GbE $8,000 - $12,000 Small VDI deployments, basic file sharing
**High-End Collaboration** 2x Intel Xeon Platinum 8380 512 GB DDR4-3200 ECC 960GB NVMe Boot + 16TB RAID 10 + 4TB Cache Quad 100GbE $30,000 - $40,000 Large-scale VDI, demanding applications, high-performance databases
**AMD EPYC Equivalent** 2x AMD EPYC 7543 256 GB DDR4-3200 ECC 480GB NVMe Boot + 8TB RAID 10 + 2TB Cache Dual 25GbE $13,000 - $18,000 Similar to Collaboration, potentially better price/performance for certain workloads.

The AMD EPYC equivalent offers competitive performance and often a lower price point, but may require different software licensing considerations depending on the application. The Entry-Level configuration may be sufficient for smaller deployments, but will struggle with higher user loads. The High-End configuration provides maximum performance but comes at a significant cost premium.

5. Maintenance Considerations

Maintaining the "Collaboration" server requires a proactive approach to ensure optimal performance and uptime.

5.1. Cooling

  • The server generates significant heat due to the high-performance CPUs and storage. Ensure adequate airflow within the server rack.
  • Regularly inspect and clean the server fans.
  • Consider using a data center with appropriate cooling infrastructure.
  • Server Cooling Best Practices - Detailed guide to server cooling.

5.2. Power Requirements

  • The server requires a dedicated 208-240V AC power circuit with sufficient amperage (at least 30A).
  • Ensure the power circuit has a dedicated UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to protect against power outages.
  • Server Power Management - Techniques for optimizing server power consumption.

5.3. Storage Maintenance

  • Monitor the health of the RAID array using the MegaRAID Storage Manager.
  • Regularly check the SMART status of the SSDs and HDDs.
  • Implement a regular backup schedule to protect against data loss.
  • RAID Array Monitoring - How to monitor RAID array health.

5.4. Software Updates

  • Keep the operating system and all installed software up to date with the latest security patches and bug fixes.
  • Regularly update the firmware for the motherboard, RAID controller, and network interface cards.
  • Server Firmware Updates - Best practices for updating server firmware.

5.5. Physical Security

  • The server should be housed in a physically secure data center with restricted access.
  • Implement appropriate security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the server.
  • Data Center Security - Overview of data center security measures.

5.6. Remote Management

  • Utilize an IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) enabled baseboard management controller (BMC) for remote server management, including power control, monitoring, and remote console access.
  • IPMI Explained - Details on using IPMI for remote server management.

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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.* ⚠️

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