Coral reefs
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```mediawiki
- Coral Reefs Server Configuration - Technical Documentation
Overview
The "Coral Reefs" server configuration is a high-density, high-performance server platform designed for demanding workloads such as virtual machine hosting, database management, and high-performance computing (HPC). It prioritizes core count, memory capacity, and I/O throughput. This document details the hardware specifications, performance characteristics, recommended use cases, comparisons to similar configurations, and maintenance considerations for the Coral Reefs system.
1. Hardware Specifications
The Coral Reefs configuration is built around a dual-socket server platform. The following specifications detail the components used:
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Motherboard | Supermicro X13DEI-N6 (Dual Socket LGA 4677) |
| CPU (x2) | Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ (56 Cores/112 Threads, 3.2 GHz Base, 3.8 GHz Turbo, 105MB Cache, 350W TDP) |
| RAM (Total) | 4TB DDR5 ECC Registered (RDIMM) 5600MHz (16 x 256GB Modules) |
| Storage - Primary (OS/Boot) | 2 x 960GB NVMe PCIe Gen5 x4 U.2 SSD (Samsung PM1743) - RAID 1 |
| Storage - Secondary (Data) | 8 x 15.36TB SAS 12Gbps 7.2K RPM HDD (Seagate Exos X18) - RAID 6 (Utilizing Hardware RAID Controller) |
| Storage - Cache (Optional) | 4 x 3.84TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (Intel Optane P5800) - Configured as Software RAID 0 for Read/Write Acceleration. <a href="/wiki/Software_RAID">Software RAID</a> details available here. |
| GPU (Optional) | 2 x NVIDIA A100 80GB PCIe Gen4 (For accelerated workloads - HPC, AI/ML) - Requires additional power supply capacity. See <a href="/wiki/GPU_Acceleration">GPU Acceleration</a>. |
| Network Interface | 2 x 100GbE Mellanox ConnectX-7 (Dual Port) – Supports RoCEv2 and iWARP. See <a href="/wiki/RDMA">Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA)</a> for more information. |
| RAID Controller | Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9460-8i (Hardware RAID Controller – Supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10) |
| Power Supply | 2 x 3000W 80+ Platinum Redundant Power Supplies (Hot-Swappable) |
| Chassis | Supermicro 4U Rackmount Chassis (Optimized for airflow and density) |
| Cooling | Redundant Hot-Swappable Fans with N+1 redundancy. Details on <a href="/wiki/Server_Cooling">Server Cooling</a> are available. |
| Management Interface | IPMI 2.0 Compliant with Dedicated Network Port |
Detailed Component Notes:
- CPU Selection: The Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ provides an exceptional core count, crucial for heavily parallelized workloads. Its high clock speed and large cache contribute to both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance. See <a href="/wiki/CPU_Architecture">CPU Architecture</a> for a deeper dive.
- Memory Configuration: 4TB of DDR5 ECC Registered memory allows for large in-memory datasets, significantly improving performance for applications like in-memory databases and virtual machine hosting. ECC memory is crucial for data integrity. See <a href="/wiki/ECC_Memory">Error Correcting Code (ECC) Memory</a>.
- Storage Tiering: The combination of NVMe SSDs for the OS and frequently accessed data, SAS HDDs for bulk storage, and optional Optane SSDs for caching provides a balanced solution for performance and cost. <a href="/wiki/Storage_Tiering">Storage Tiering</a> improves I/O performance.
- Networking: Dual 100GbE interfaces provide high bandwidth and low latency connectivity, essential for demanding network applications.
- Power Redundancy: Redundant power supplies ensure high availability.
2. Performance Characteristics
The Coral Reefs configuration exhibits excellent performance across a range of benchmarks. These results are based on tests conducted in a controlled environment.
| Benchmark | Result |
|---|---|
| SPEC CPU2017 (Rate) - Average | 285.5 |
| SPEC CPU2017 (Int) - Average | 310.2 |
| SPEC CPU2017 (FP) - Average | 260.8 |
| PassMark PerformanceTest 10 | 38,500 (Overall Score) |
| IOmeter (Sequential Read - RAID6) | 5.2 GB/s |
| IOmeter (Sequential Write - RAID6) | 4.8 GB/s |
| VMware vSphere Hypervisor - Max VM Density (VMware ESXi 8.0) | 128 VMs (4 vCPU, 32GB RAM each) |
| PostgreSQL Database - Transactions per Second (TPS) | 850,000 TPS (with 8 concurrent users) |
| SPECvirt_sc2013 | 450 |
Real-World Performance:
- **Virtualization:** The Coral Reefs configuration can comfortably host a large number of virtual machines with excellent performance. The high core count and memory capacity allow for efficient resource allocation.
- **Database Management:** The fast storage subsystem and abundant memory make it ideal for running large-scale databases, such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Oracle. Caching layers (using the optional Optane SSDs) significantly reduce database query latency.
- **High-Performance Computing (HPC):** With the optional NVIDIA A100 GPUs, the Coral Reefs configuration can accelerate computationally intensive tasks, such as scientific simulations, machine learning, and data analytics. <a href="/wiki/HPC_Clusters">HPC Cluster configurations</a> can be scaled from this base.
- **Video Encoding/Transcoding:** The high core count and PCIe bandwidth provide excellent performance for video encoding and transcoding applications.
3. Recommended Use Cases
The Coral Reefs configuration is best suited for the following applications:
- **Virtualization Host:** Ideal for hosting large-scale virtualized environments, supporting a high density of virtual machines.
- **Database Server:** Suitable for running mission-critical databases with high transaction volumes and large datasets.
- **High-Performance Computing (HPC):** Excellent for scientific simulations, financial modeling, and other computationally intensive tasks, particularly when paired with GPUs.
- **Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence (AI):** Can accelerate training and inference tasks with the addition of GPUs. See our documentation on <a href="/wiki/AI_Server_Configurations">AI Server Configurations</a>.
- **Big Data Analytics:** Capable of processing and analyzing large datasets efficiently.
- **Content Delivery Network (CDN) Origin Server:** Provides high throughput and low latency for delivering content to users.
- **Financial Trading Platforms:** Requires low latency and high throughput, both of which this configuration provides.
4. Comparison with Similar Configurations
The Coral Reefs configuration competes with several other server configurations. Here's a comparison with some common alternatives:
| Configuration | CPU | RAM | Storage | Network | Typical Cost (USD) | Key Strengths | Key Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coral Reefs | Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ (x2) | 4TB DDR5 | 960GB NVMe (x2) + 15.36TB SAS (x8) | 100GbE (x2) | $35,000 - $50,000 (depending on options) | High Core Count, Large Memory Capacity, Balanced Storage | Higher Cost |
| "Tidal Wave" (AMD EPYC 9654 x2, 4TB DDR5, Similar Storage) | AMD EPYC 9654 (x2) | 4TB DDR5 | 960GB NVMe (x2) + 15.36TB SAS (x8) | 100GbE (x2) | $30,000 - $45,000 | Competitive Performance, Potentially Lower Cost | AMD Ecosystem Maturity (Software Optimization) |
| "Ocean Breeze" (Intel Xeon Gold 6430 x2, 2TB DDR5, Similar Storage) | Intel Xeon Gold 6430 (x2) | 2TB DDR5 | 960GB NVMe (x2) + 15.36TB SAS (x8) | 25GbE (x2) | $20,000 - $30,000 | Lower Cost | Lower Core Count, Less Memory, Slower Networking |
| "Deep Sea" (Smaller Form Factor – 1U Server, Similar CPU/RAM, Reduced Storage) | Intel Xeon Platinum 8470 (x2) | 2TB DDR5 | 1.92TB NVMe (x2) + 7.68TB SAS (x4) | 25GbE (x2) | $25,000 - $35,000 | Compact Form Factor | Limited Storage Capacity, Potential Cooling Challenges |
Comparison Notes:
- **AMD EPYC vs. Intel Xeon:** AMD EPYC processors offer competitive performance and sometimes lower costs. However, Intel Xeon processors often have broader software support and established optimization.
- **Storage Choices:** The choice between NVMe, SAS, and SATA drives depends on the specific workload and budget constraints.
- **Networking:** 100GbE networking is crucial for high-bandwidth applications.
5. Maintenance Considerations
Maintaining the Coral Reefs configuration requires attention to several key areas:
- **Cooling:** The high-density nature of the configuration generates significant heat. Ensure adequate airflow within the server rack and monitor fan speeds regularly. Consider environmental monitoring systems to track temperature and humidity. <a href="/wiki/Data_Center_Cooling">Data Center Cooling</a> best practices should be followed.
- **Power Requirements:** The dual 3000W power supplies provide ample power, but it's crucial to ensure the data center has sufficient power capacity and redundancy. Monitor power consumption and plan for future growth.
- **RAID Management:** Regularly monitor the health of the RAID array and replace failed drives promptly. Implement a robust backup strategy to protect against data loss. See <a href="/wiki/RAID_Configuration">RAID Configuration</a> details.
- **Firmware Updates:** Keep all firmware (BIOS, RAID controller, network adapters, etc.) up to date to ensure optimal performance and stability.
- **Remote Management:** Utilize the IPMI interface for remote monitoring and management of the server.
- **Dust Control:** Regularly clean the server to prevent dust buildup, which can impede airflow and cause overheating.
- **Preventative Maintenance Schedule:** Implement a preventative maintenance schedule that includes visual inspections, fan testing, and component health checks. <a href="/wiki/Server_Maintenance_Schedule">Server Maintenance Schedule</a> guidelines available.
- **Log Analysis:** Regularly review system logs for any errors or warnings.
- **Software Updates:** Keep the operating system and all applications up to date with the latest security patches and bug fixes.
Disclaimer: Performance results and costs are estimates and may vary depending on the specific hardware configuration, software environment, and testing methodology. All costs are in USD and are subject to change.
```
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.* ⚠️