Custom Configuration Options

Custom Server Configuration: High-Performance Database & Virtualization

This document details a custom server configuration designed for demanding workloads, specifically focusing on database applications and virtualization environments. It outlines the hardware specifications, performance characteristics, recommended use cases, comparisons to similar configurations, and essential maintenance considerations. This configuration prioritizes performance, scalability, and reliability.

1. Hardware Specifications

This configuration utilizes a dual-socket server platform with component selections geared towards maximizing throughput and minimizing latency. Detailed specifications are provided below. All components are assumed to be Enterprise-grade certifications where applicable.

Component	Specification	Details
CPU	Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+	56 cores/112 threads per CPU, 3.2 GHz base frequency, 3.8 GHz Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, 76MB Intel Smart Cache, 350W TDP, Supports AVX-512. Requires compatible motherboard chipset (e.g., Intel C741). See CPU Cooling Solutions for thermal management.
Motherboard	Supermicro X13DEI-N6	Dual Socket LGA 4677, Intel C741 Chipset, 16 x DDR5 DIMM slots, 2 x PCIe 5.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 5.0 x8, 4 x PCIe 4.0 x8, Dual 10Gbe LAN ports, IPMI 2.0 with dedicated LAN. Refer to Server Motherboard Selection Guide for chipset details.
RAM	1TB (16 x 64GB) DDR5 ECC Registered RDIMM	5600 MHz, 16-19-19-36 timings. Utilizes 8 channels per CPU for optimal bandwidth. Memory selection is critical for performance; see Memory Configuration Best Practices.
Storage - OS & Applications	2 x 1.92TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD (U.2) – RAID 1	Samsung PM1733 Series or equivalent. Provides fast boot and application loading times. RAID 1 ensures redundancy. See RAID Configuration Options.
Storage - Database/VM Storage	8 x 7.68TB SAS 12Gbps Enterprise SSD (SFF) – RAID 10	Seagate Exos AP 7.68TB or equivalent. High capacity and performance for database and virtual machine storage. RAID 10 provides excellent performance and redundancy. Detailed RAID configuration in RAID Configuration Options.
RAID Controller	Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9460-8i	Supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60. Hardware RAID for optimal performance and offload from the CPU. See RAID Controller Selection.
Network Interface Card (NIC)	Dual Port 100GbE QSFP28 Mellanox ConnectX-7	Provides high-bandwidth network connectivity for demanding applications. Supports RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCEv2). See Networking for High-Performance Servers.
Power Supply Unit (PSU)	2 x 1600W 80+ Titanium Redundant PSU	Provides ample power and redundancy. See Power Supply Redundancy.
Cooling	High-Performance Air Cooling with Redundant Fans	Utilizing high static pressure fans and optimized airflow design. Consider Liquid Cooling Options for even higher density deployments.
Chassis	4U Rackmount Server Chassis	Designed for optimal airflow and component accessibility. See Server Chassis Selection.

2. Performance Characteristics

This configuration is targeted towards high-performance workloads and demonstrates significant capabilities in both CPU-intensive and I/O-bound tasks.

• **CPU Performance:** The dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ processors deliver exceptional multi-core performance, excelling in parallel processing tasks common in databases and virtualization. Geekbench 6 scores typically exceed 35,000 single-core and 200,000 multi-core. See CPU Benchmarking Tools.
• **Memory Bandwidth:** The 1TB of DDR5 ECC Registered RDIMM running at 5600MHz provides substantial memory bandwidth, crucial for in-memory databases and large virtual machine deployments. Theoretical peak bandwidth exceeds 800 GB/s.
• **Storage Performance:** The NVMe RAID 1 configuration for the OS and applications provides read/write speeds exceeding 7 GB/s. The SAS SSD RAID 10 array delivers sustained read/write speeds of approximately 4 GB/s, enabling fast database transactions and VM performance. IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) are estimated at 800,000+. See Storage Performance Metrics.
• **Network Performance:** The dual 100GbE NICs provide high-bandwidth network connectivity, essential for transferring large datasets and supporting multiple virtual machines with demanding network requirements. Throughput consistently exceeds 90 Gbps.

• • Benchmark Results (Representative):**

| Benchmark | Result | |---|---| | SPEC CPU 2017 Rate (Base) | 380 | | SPEC CPU 2017 Rate (Peak) | 420 | | PassMark PerformanceTest 10 | 35,000+ | | IOmeter (Sequential Read) | 4.2 GB/s | | IOmeter (Random Read 4K) | 750,000 IOPS | | Sysbench MySQL (OLTP) | 1,200,000+ transactions/sec |

These results are indicative and may vary depending on specific workload configurations and environmental factors.

3. Recommended Use Cases

This server configuration is ideally suited for the following applications:

• **High-Performance Databases:** Suitable for demanding database applications such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and MySQL, especially those handling large datasets and high transaction volumes. See Database Server Optimization.
• **Virtualization:** Capable of hosting a significant number of virtual machines (VMs) with demanding resource requirements. Ideal for VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM environments. See Virtualization Best Practices. Estimated VM density: 50-75 VMs depending on resource allocation.
• **In-Memory Computing:** The large memory capacity and high bandwidth make it well-suited for in-memory databases (e.g., SAP HANA) and applications that require fast access to large datasets. See In-Memory Computing Technologies.
• **Data Analytics:** Supports data analytics workloads, including data warehousing, business intelligence, and machine learning. The powerful CPUs and fast storage enable efficient data processing and analysis.
• **High-Frequency Trading (HFT):** The low latency and high throughput are critical for HFT applications.
• **Video Encoding/Transcoding:** The high core count and memory bandwidth accelerate video processing tasks.

4. Comparison with Similar Configurations

This configuration represents a high-end solution. Here's a comparison with alternative configurations:

CPU | RAM | Storage | NIC | Estimated Cost | Use Cases |
Dual Intel Xeon Silver 4310 | 256GB DDR4 | 4 x 2TB SATA SSD (RAID 10) | 1GbE | $8,000 - $12,000 | Small to medium-sized virtualization environments, web hosting. |	Dual Intel Xeon Gold 6338 | 512GB DDR4 | 2 x 1.92TB NVMe SSD (RAID 1) + 8 x 4TB SAS HDD (RAID 5) | 10GbE | $15,000 - $20,000 | Medium-sized databases, application servers. |	Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ | 1TB DDR5 | 2 x 1.92TB NVMe SSD (RAID 1) + 8 x 7.68TB SAS SSD (RAID 10) | 100GbE | $40,000 - $60,000 | Large-scale databases, demanding virtualization, in-memory computing. |	Dual AMD EPYC 9654 | 2TB DDR5 | 4 x 3.84TB NVMe SSD (RAID 0) + High-Capacity HDD | 200GbE | $50,000+ | High-Performance Computing, scientific simulations. |

This table illustrates the trade-offs between cost and performance. The entry-level configuration is suitable for less demanding tasks, while the high-end HPC node prioritizes raw computational power. The mid-range option offers a balance between cost and performance for typical database and virtualization workloads. The configuration detailed in this document aims to provide exceptional performance for mission-critical applications. Consider Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) when evaluating different configurations.

5. Maintenance Considerations

Maintaining this high-performance server requires careful attention to several key areas:

• **Cooling:** The high-wattage CPUs and other components generate significant heat. Ensure adequate airflow within the server chassis and the data center. Regularly monitor CPU temperatures using Server Monitoring Tools. Consider implementing liquid cooling for improved thermal management, especially in high-density environments.
• **Power Requirements:** The dual 1600W PSUs provide ample power, but a dedicated power circuit is essential. Ensure the power infrastructure can handle the server's peak power draw. Implement a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for protection against power outages. See Data Center Power Management.
• **Firmware Updates:** Regularly update the firmware for the motherboard, RAID controller, and other components to ensure optimal performance, stability, and security. Refer to the manufacturer's websites for updates. See Server Firmware Management.
• **RAID Monitoring:** Continuously monitor the health of the RAID array using the RAID controller's management interface. Replace failing drives promptly to prevent data loss. Implement regular RAID scrubbing to detect and correct errors. See RAID Array Maintenance.
• **Network Monitoring:** Monitor network performance and identify potential bottlenecks. Utilize network monitoring tools to track bandwidth utilization and latency. See Network Performance Monitoring.
• **Regular Backups:** Implement a comprehensive backup strategy to protect against data loss. Regularly test the backup and restore process. See Data Backup and Recovery.
• **Physical Security:** Ensure the server is physically secure within a locked data center or server room.
• **Dust Control:** Regularly clean the server to prevent dust buildup, which can impede airflow and cause overheating. Use compressed air to remove dust from fans and components.

Proper maintenance is crucial for ensuring the long-term reliability and performance of this high-performance server configuration. Adherence to scheduled maintenance procedures will minimize downtime and maximize return on investment.

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.* ⚠️