Lenovo ThinkSystem SR635 Server

Description

Powered by a single AMD EPYC 2nd or 3rd generation processor, the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR635 server provides support for virtualization (VDI), data analytics, database, cloud and more. With a vast memory and storage capacity, this 1U server is ideal for dense workloads that can take advantage of GPUs and high-performance hot-swap NVMe drives.

Performance

The SR635 has a number of features that help it perform better, scale better, and save money. Using the industry’s first 7nm datacenter processor, the SR635 system holds a single AMD EPYC “Rome” 7002 series CPU or “Milan” 7003 series CPU. It supports an 8-channel memory, plus 8 to 64 cores and 128 lanes of PCIe Gen 4 with a TDP of up to 280W. The processor delivers up to 2x the performance and 4x floating point capability over the previous generation, making it ideal for dense virtualization, hosting, and software-defined storage applications. Depending on the chassis configuration, the rear of the system features dual 550W to 1100W power supplies contingent on which components are installed.

Memory

As mentioned in the performance section above, the AMD EPYC CPU offers 8x memory channels with each supporting 2x DIMMs, for a total of 16x DIMMs. The ThinkSystem SR635 server features up to 2TB of Lenovo DDR4 3DS RDIMM memory when all slots are outfitted with 128GB memory modules. With a single DIMM per channel, it will support memory speeds of up to 3200MHz or speeds of up to 2933MHz using 2x DIMMs per channel with.

Storage

The Lenovo SR635 system has several versatile storage configurations with 2.5” or 3.5” hot-swap drive bays supporting SATA, SAS, or NVMe. Depending on your needs, one of four storage configurations can accommodate front, middle, and rear drive bays. In total, the server supports up to 16x NVMe drives, all with direct connections. A maximum of 153.6TB can be installed when using 10x 2.5” SSDs, compared to a maximum of 72TB with 4x 3.5” HDDs. An optional dual M.2 adapter can be used for OS boot or additional storage, but it’s not available in all configurations. The M.2 adapter will occupy the same space as the mid-drive storage cage preventing installation of both at the same time. Just underneath the M.2’s you’ll find 2x SuperCaps.

Expansion

In addition to the dual M.2 slots, the ThinkSystem SR635 has a total of 5x PCIe Gen 4 slots and can support up to 3x single-wide graphics processing units. Three of these slots can be externally accessed on the rear of the server, another is an internal slot for a RAID adapter, and the remaining is a mezzanine slot that can be for an OCP 3.0 adapter offering a number of network connection options and link speeds. The server supports a maximum of 3x NVIDIA T4 16GB PCIe Passive GPUs or 3x NVIDIA Quadro P620 2GB PCIe Active GPUs.

Management

To manage the system, administrators can use Lenovo’s proprietary XClarity software to keep track of hardware, plus manage alerts, events, and logs. Administrators can modify the system's parameters, issue trigger alerts, and take recovery steps in the event of failures using a mobile phone or tablet physically plugged into the dedicated USB port on the front of the chassis. A dedicated management port can be enabled to access the network and manage the platform remotely using a standard browser. AMD EPYC CPUs also provide unique security features like secure boot and complete memory encryption to prevent growing security threats.

Summary

Offering up to 2TB of memory, flexible storage options including up to 16x NVMe drive bays, plus support for up to 3x GPUs, the 1U Lenovo ThinkSystem SR635 server can easily become the perfect addition to any business datacenter. The single-socket, 1U system is highly configurable, while also keeping the processor, memory, and storage free from cyberattacks. Compared to the recent versions of this system, this platform provides a full range of the latest technologies in the industry like PCIe Gen 4, NVMe capabilities, and 3200MHz memory speeds.