Apple introduces Nehalem-based Xeon Xserves
As expected, Apple on Tuesday announced an updated family of Xserves that deliver an 89 percent improvement in performance per watt and up to twice the overall performance of the previous models by tapping Intel's "Nehalem" Xeon processors and a next generation system architecture.
The 1U rack-optimized servers are available with up to two 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon processors, each with an integrated memory controller with three channels of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC memory that delivers up to 2.4 times the memory bandwidth while cutting memory latency up to 40 percent. Using high-efficiency power supplies and intelligent thermal management, the new models also deliver a 19 percent reduction in idle power use.
New storage capabilities include a 128GB SSD boot-drive option that requires a fraction of the power of a hard disk and delivers up to 48 times faster random access times without occupying a drive bay, according to Apple. The servers also include three 3.5 inch drive bays that support both 7200 rpm SATA and 15,000 rpm SAS drives and can be configured with up to 3TB of internal storage.
"The Xserve is the best workgroup server for our education, business and creative customers," said David Moody, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing. "With up to twice the performance, better power efficiency and an innovative SSD drive option, this is the best Xserve we've ever made."
Two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots provide wide I/O bandwidth to support the latest high-bandwidth expansion cards. An Xserve RAID card option delivered improved performance of up to 497MB/s in Apple's test and also supports RAID levels 0, 1 and 5 with 512MB of cache without using a valuable PCI Express expansion slot. A 72-hour backup battery is included for enhanced data protection.
Starting at $2,999 and available immediately, every Xserve ships with an unlimited client edition of Mac OS X Leopard Server, offering support for Mac, Linux and Windows clients without the added cost of client-access licenses.
Apple also touts the new Xserve as the latest hardware product in its portfolio geared towards setting new standards for environmentally friendly design. Xserve uses PVC-free internal cables and components, contains no brominated flame retardants and features a power supply with an average energy efficiency of 89 percent.
The Xserve standard configuration, with a suggested retail price of $2,999 (US), includes:
a single 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Xeon 5500 series processor with 8MB of fully shared L3 cache;3GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC RAM;a single 160GB 7200 rpm SATA Apple Drive Module;dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board;two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots;Bonjour-enabled Lights-Out Management processor and Server Monitor Software;internal graphics with Mini DisplayPort output;two FireWire 800 and three USB 2.0 ports; andan unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard.
Build-to-order options and accessories for Xserve include: dual 2.26 GHz, 2.66 GHz or 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon processors; 160GB and 1TB 7200 rpm SATA Apple Drive Modules; 450GB 15,000 rpm SAS drives (third party option); internal Xserve RAID card; Gigabit Ethernet, 4Gb Fibre Channel cards and a 750W redundant power supply.
On March 31s, AppleInsider reported on Apple's plans to introduce new Nehalem-based Xserves within the following two weeks.
The 1U rack-optimized servers are available with up to two 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon processors, each with an integrated memory controller with three channels of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC memory that delivers up to 2.4 times the memory bandwidth while cutting memory latency up to 40 percent. Using high-efficiency power supplies and intelligent thermal management, the new models also deliver a 19 percent reduction in idle power use.
New storage capabilities include a 128GB SSD boot-drive option that requires a fraction of the power of a hard disk and delivers up to 48 times faster random access times without occupying a drive bay, according to Apple. The servers also include three 3.5 inch drive bays that support both 7200 rpm SATA and 15,000 rpm SAS drives and can be configured with up to 3TB of internal storage.
"The Xserve is the best workgroup server for our education, business and creative customers," said David Moody, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing. "With up to twice the performance, better power efficiency and an innovative SSD drive option, this is the best Xserve we've ever made."
Two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots provide wide I/O bandwidth to support the latest high-bandwidth expansion cards. An Xserve RAID card option delivered improved performance of up to 497MB/s in Apple's test and also supports RAID levels 0, 1 and 5 with 512MB of cache without using a valuable PCI Express expansion slot. A 72-hour backup battery is included for enhanced data protection.
Starting at $2,999 and available immediately, every Xserve ships with an unlimited client edition of Mac OS X Leopard Server, offering support for Mac, Linux and Windows clients without the added cost of client-access licenses.
Apple also touts the new Xserve as the latest hardware product in its portfolio geared towards setting new standards for environmentally friendly design. Xserve uses PVC-free internal cables and components, contains no brominated flame retardants and features a power supply with an average energy efficiency of 89 percent.
The Xserve standard configuration, with a suggested retail price of $2,999 (US), includes:
a single 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Xeon 5500 series processor with 8MB of fully shared L3 cache;3GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC RAM;a single 160GB 7200 rpm SATA Apple Drive Module;dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board;two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots;Bonjour-enabled Lights-Out Management processor and Server Monitor Software;internal graphics with Mini DisplayPort output;two FireWire 800 and three USB 2.0 ports; andan unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard.
Build-to-order options and accessories for Xserve include: dual 2.26 GHz, 2.66 GHz or 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon processors; 160GB and 1TB 7200 rpm SATA Apple Drive Modules; 450GB 15,000 rpm SAS drives (third party option); internal Xserve RAID card; Gigabit Ethernet, 4Gb Fibre Channel cards and a 750W redundant power supply.
On March 31s, AppleInsider reported on Apple's plans to introduce new Nehalem-based Xserves within the following two weeks.
Comments
No 2-4 rack, still a good way to go for audio:video systems. Nice
As expected, Apple on Tuesday announced an updated family of Xserves that deliver an 89 percent improvement in performance per watt and up to twice the overall performance of the previous models by tapping Intel's "Nehalem" Xeon processors and a next generation system architecture.
The 1U rack-optimized servers are available with up to two 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon processors, each with an integrated memory controller with three channels of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC memory that delivers up to 2.4 times the memory bandwidth while cutting memory latency up to 40 percent. Using high-efficiency power supplies and intelligent thermal management, the new models also deliver a 19 percent reduction in idle power use.
New storage capabilities include a 128GB SSD boot-drive option that requires a fraction of the power of a hard disk and delivers up to 48 times faster random access times without occupying a drive bay, according to Apple. The servers also include three 3.5 inch drive bays that support both 7200 rpm SATA and 15,000 rpm SAS drives and can be configured with up to 3TB of internal storage.
"The Xserve is the best workgroup server for our education, business and creative customers," said David Moody, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing. "With up to twice the performance, better power efficiency and an innovative SSD drive option, this is the best Xserve we've ever made."
Two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots provide wide I/O bandwidth to support the latest high-bandwidth expansion cards. An Xserve RAID card option delivered improved performance of up to 497MB/s in Apple's test and also supports RAID levels 0, 1 and 5 with 512MB of cache without using a valuable PCI Express expansion slot. A 72-hour backup battery is included for enhanced data protection.
Starting at $2,999 and available immediately, every Xserve ships with an unlimited client edition of Mac OS X Leopard Server, offering support for Mac, Linux and Windows clients without the added cost of client-access licenses.
Apple also touts the new Xserve as the latest hardware product in its portfolio geared towards setting new standards for environmentally friendly design. Xserve uses PVC-free internal cables and components, contains no brominated flame retardants and features a power supply with an average energy efficiency of 89 percent.
The Xserve standard configuration, with a suggested retail price of $2,999 (US), includes:
a single 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Xeon 5500 series processor with 8MB of fully shared L3 cache;3GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC RAM;a single 160GB 7200 rpm SATA Apple Drive Module;dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board;two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots;Bonjour-enabled Lights-Out Management processor and Server Monitor Software;internal graphics with Mini DisplayPort output;two FireWire 800 and three USB 2.0 ports; andan unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard.
Build-to-order options and accessories for Xserve include: dual 2.26 GHz, 2.66 GHz or 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon processors; 160GB and 1TB 7200 rpm SATA Apple Drive Modules; 450GB 15,000 rpm SAS drives (third party option); internal Xserve RAID card; Gigabit Ethernet, 4Gb Fibre Channel cards and a 750W redundant power supply.
On March 31s, AppleInsider reported on Apple's plans to introduce new Nehalem-based Xserves within the following two weeks.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
This isn't a jab at Apple; I just want to understand. What's the point of buying an Xserve? What are people running on them? Are they competitive with Dell servers running Linux?
If you are trying to run Mac OS X Server, the Xserve dimply destroys the Dells running Linux
Apple, where is the forward thinking?????
Wonder why a 256 GB Solid State drive is not an option.
Because it's a 1.8" drive so there's simply not enough density AFAICT
Come on, let's get real here. Apple is an innovative company. But the Xserve it's getting a little old. Where is a new lineup? A 2U system with more capacity, not all of us need/want a separate drive cage. I would also like to see the use of 2.5 SAS drives.
Apple, where is the forward thinking?????
Xserve = autopilot
are X serves for webhosting or something, or just having a network of regular computers I really dont understand, can someone shine some light on the matter for me. I Have a decent knowledge and understand all the specs of this, But even though Im assuming that its to be a webserver a server can be many things to many peoplel
An Xserve is Apple's server. It can be an Open Directory Server (Think Active Directory in Win Server), be a simple file server, web server, mail server (for OS X Mail), etc. They have many uses just like any other server. It runs Mac OS 10.5 Server Edition. If you have lots of Macs in your network, its probably best to get an Xserve, not necessary but makes things a lot easier.
They can interact with Windows Server, even serve Windows clients as well as other Unix and Linux servers.
This makes a big difference to me, as SLC SSD drives tend to last 10x longer than cheaper MLC SSD drives.
Like it or not external arrays are where the market is heading and servers are consolidating to huge 4U quad socket behemoths or Blade systems.
The Xserve still relying on 3.5" drives is positively old school design with so many applications like mail serving being more responsive as the spindles increase versus storage density.
If you are trying to run Mac OS X Server, the Xserve dimply destroys the Dells running Linux
how specifically ?
how specifically ?
Well, you cannot run Mac OS X Server on a Dell...
Yet, the Mac Pro doesn't have this feature. Something needs to change on the Pro.
Actually Apple's smart to stick with 1U but wastes this by not having a decent shared storage (SAN) solution for biz.
Like it or not external arrays are where the market is heading and servers are consolidating to huge 4U quad socket behemoths or Blade systems.
The Xserve still relying on 3.5" drives is positively old school design with so many applications like mail serving being more responsive as the spindles increase versus storage density.
XSan allows for 3rd party hardware.
i think apple has lots of potential in the sbm market for enterprise level products which don't need enterprise class it management.
i like the fact that the redundant psu is optional (tho it'd be the 1st thing i'd add as a bto)
i preferred the symmetry that 4 drives offer which seems to have been done away with - the ssd drive as boot option is an interesting one tho. Wonder if there's an automatic failsafe which would allow it to boot from a 2nd drive should the 1st fail.
Wonder why a 256 GB Solid State drive is not an option.
Simple. It's not necessary. Apple is promoting this as a boot drive, not where you are going to be storing your critical data. To give some perspective, I run Leopard Server in my home office off a elderly Powermac G4. Its boot drive is an old 30 gig ATA drive and I still have 10 gigs of space to spare. 128 gigs has to be plenty of storage for whatever applications that most of Apple's customers would ever want to put in the Applications folder. Real transactional data can be stored on SATA drives either on the unit, through fibre channel or other external SANs.
Actually Apple's smart to stick with 1U but wastes this by not having a decent shared storage (SAN) solution for biz.
Like it or not external arrays are where the market is heading and servers are consolidating to huge 4U quad socket behemoths or Blade systems.
The Xserve still relying on 3.5" drives is positively old school design with so many applications like mail serving being more responsive as the spindles increase versus storage density.
If they needed to, can't they just mount the smaller drives in the same module shells?
As far as I remember, the four socket machines are a lot smaller market, and they're a lot more expensive than two dual socket machines. Apple doesn't sell a lot of these things anyway. They seem to be in it so they can offer something for media creation departments.
i preferred the symmetry that 4 drives offer which seems to have been done away with - the ssd drive as boot option is an interesting one tho. Wonder if there's an automatic failsafe which would allow it to boot from a 2nd drive should the 1st fail.
Apple hasn't offered four drives in an XServe since the G4 XServe.
Simple. It's not necessary. Apple is promoting this as a boot drive, not where you are going to be storing your critical data. To give some perspective, I run Leopard Server in my home office off a elderly Powermac G4. Its boot drive is an old 30 gig ATA drive and I still have 10 gigs of space to spare. 128 gigs has to be plenty of storage for whatever applications that most of Apple's customers would ever want to put in the Applications folder. Real transactional data can be stored on SATA drives either on the unit, through fibre channel or other external SANs.
The computers can be a lot more flexible in their use than the marketing suggests. As the SSDs are exceeding the performance of the spindle drive, it would seem like you'd want the larger SSDs. But separating the boot device from data devices is a good idea.