Lenovo ThinkServer RD430 Rack Server

Description

The Lenovo ThinkServer RD430 server is a dual-processor system powered by Intel’s Xeon E5-2400 processor product series which offer up eight-core performance. Storage options are flexible and administrators have their choice between small form factor and large form factor drive configurations. This server supports up to 12 registered dual in-line memory modules to provide a maximum memory footprint of 192GB max memory footprint. Built-in RAID provides higher data security, increased fault tolerance, and improved performance to give users peace of mind with their mission-critical applications.

Performance

This dual-socket server supports Intel’s Xeon E5-2400 processor product families which features Intel’s Intelligent Power Technology to increase power efficiency without compromising on performance. The E5-2400 product family is the first of Intel’s processors to have embedded PCIe 3.0 on the processor die to reduce latency and increase bandwidth. Intel’s Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (AES-NI) which accelerates decryption/encryption speeds also reduces the risk of a side-channel attack.

Storage

Both 3.5” and 2.5” drives are supported allowing administrators to create the optimal storage environment for the anticipated workload. For applications that demand faster performance, administrators should opt for a configuration with 2.5” drives which support up to 16 hard drives with a combined 14.4TB storage capacity. Large form factor (LFF) drive configurations are better suited for applications that require storage over performance. With an LFF drive configuration, the Lenovo RD430 will support up to 12 drive bays and up to 24TB of data storage—almost double the capacity of SFF configurations. Hard drive trays are shock resistant to keep hard drives in place and operating at peak performance.

Memory

Dual processor configurations support 12 DIMM slots to provide a maximum memory capacity of up to 192GB. Servers configured with one processor will support half the amount of memory modules, thus yielding half the amount of memory. This server supports registered dual in-line memory modules (RDIMMs), as well as low-voltage registered LV RDIMM) memory modules for lower power consumption.

Expansion

With one processor installed, this server supports up to three PCIe Gen3 slots for expansion, one of which is a low-profile slot. Dual processor configurations support two more PCIe slots, both of which are full-height/full-length. At the front of the chassis, there is an analog VGA port and two USB 2.0 ports. With the exception of the 12 x 3.5” drive bay configuration, an optical drive can be added to the front of the system. The back of the chassis displays a serial port, two Ethernet ports, one dedicated management port, another analog VGA port, and four additional USB 2.0 ports.

Management

The need for on-site server support is reduced with Lenovo’s ThinkServer Management Module. The remote management capabilities offered by the TMM enable administrators to configure, update, and monitor the server from a remote location. Lenovo’s Smart Grid is an easy-to-use graphical interface (GUI) that allows administrators to set power caps and manage power data in real-time to keep operational costs to a minimum.

Summary

The Lenovo ThinkServer RD430 server is a dual-socket, 2U platform with up to 192GB of memory. All drive bays are hot-swappable and administrators have their choice of drive form factor with support for both 2.5” and 3.5” drives. LFF configurations will provide a higher storage capacity whereas SFF configurations yield faster performance. Smart Grid technology enables administrators to manage power through a user-friendly, wizard-based graphical user interface. Installation and server deployment is also made easy with Lenovo’s three-step Easy Startup program.