HP ProLiant Gen8 - 150 server design enhancements
The development of the eighth generation HP ProLiant lasted more than two years, and finally this spring, along with the new eight-core Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 (Sandy Bridge EP), these HP servers enter the market. Server performance has improved up to 80% compared to the seventh HP ProLiant, the maximum amount of RAM per server has now grown to 768 GB (24 slots), support for PCI Express 3.0 and 10-gigabit Ethernet.
However, in the new servers, not only the Intel processor and chipset has changed, but also almost the entire hardware platform. HP engineers have implemented one and a half hundred component enhancements to simplify server maintenance, increase their productivity and expand functionality.
For example, consider the dual-unit HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8 (according to statistics from HP, which is the largest manufacturer of x86 servers, the DL380 is the best-selling model in the HP ProLiant series, and therefore among all servers with standard architecture). Now the server, like other rack-mount and tower models of the HP ProLiant Gen8 (ML and DL series), is equipped with a key-lockable perforated protection panel that blocks access to its internal hard drives.
The eighth generation HP ProLiant uses a completely redesigned, more compact Smart Carrier drive cage design, and as a result, the HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8 in its maximum configuration holds about twice as many hard drives as its seventh generation model. Currently, models with 16 SFF and 8 LFF disks are available, and in summer support for up to 25 small form factor disks or 12 full-size disks per server is expected.
The Smart Carrier basket is equipped with LED indicators for disk status and activity: a circular indicator in the center changes color depending on the degree of “health” of the disk, a green circle indicates when the disk is reading / writing. In addition, a Do Not Remove indicator glowing in red is added to the disk eject button, which lights up when ejecting a disk may result in data loss.
The air duct inside the server has become transparent, which allows you to easily see the memory slots, cables and other server stuffing under it.
Another useful improvement for easier access to the internal components of the server is the ability to remove the entire fan assembly in one motion, for example, to access the backplane of hard drives.
Of course, as in previous generations of the HP ProLiant, you can remove a separate fan unit.
In the new generation, the raiser for PCI Express cards is divided into two parts, i.e. under it there are two slots, so that all expansion cards can be full-sized (full height and full length).
The new server does not have integrated Ethernet ports - they have been replaced by FlexLOM network ports, which are a separate board. If earlier the server owner was limited to the network interface that is already integrated into the board, now he can choose between a Broadcom or Intel one- or ten-gigabyte FlexLOM interface card (five options will be available in total).
For ease of maintenance (access to memory modules) and improved hot air removal, the cable system inside the server is made using flat loops.
To install the processor in the HP ProLiant Gen8 uses a special design Smart Socket. Now virtually eliminating the possibility of damage to the processor or socket during installation. And as the statistics of calls collected by HP service centers show, bent contacts when installing or replacing a CPU are the most common reason for a motherboard to fail. To remove the processor, you just need to open the latch on the spring and then the entire socket can be removed without touching the processor itself. Smart Socket guides ensure accurate installation of the new processor in a free socket
The HP ProLiant DL380p also now uses new Snap and Go rails and more convenient latches for mounting in a server rack.
Fuhh, it seems I have not forgotten anything. If someone was at the Gen8 presentations, then complement and ask. Let's figure it out together what kind of a miracle - ProLiant Gen8 - and which of all presented is really useful, and what is superfluous or incomprehensible.
However, in the new servers, not only the Intel processor and chipset has changed, but also almost the entire hardware platform. HP engineers have implemented one and a half hundred component enhancements to simplify server maintenance, increase their productivity and expand functionality.
For example, consider the dual-unit HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8 (according to statistics from HP, which is the largest manufacturer of x86 servers, the DL380 is the best-selling model in the HP ProLiant series, and therefore among all servers with standard architecture). Now the server, like other rack-mount and tower models of the HP ProLiant Gen8 (ML and DL series), is equipped with a key-lockable perforated protection panel that blocks access to its internal hard drives.
The eighth generation HP ProLiant uses a completely redesigned, more compact Smart Carrier drive cage design, and as a result, the HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8 in its maximum configuration holds about twice as many hard drives as its seventh generation model. Currently, models with 16 SFF and 8 LFF disks are available, and in summer support for up to 25 small form factor disks or 12 full-size disks per server is expected.
The Smart Carrier basket is equipped with LED indicators for disk status and activity: a circular indicator in the center changes color depending on the degree of “health” of the disk, a green circle indicates when the disk is reading / writing. In addition, a Do Not Remove indicator glowing in red is added to the disk eject button, which lights up when ejecting a disk may result in data loss.
The air duct inside the server has become transparent, which allows you to easily see the memory slots, cables and other server stuffing under it.
Another useful improvement for easier access to the internal components of the server is the ability to remove the entire fan assembly in one motion, for example, to access the backplane of hard drives.
Of course, as in previous generations of the HP ProLiant, you can remove a separate fan unit.
In the new generation, the raiser for PCI Express cards is divided into two parts, i.e. under it there are two slots, so that all expansion cards can be full-sized (full height and full length).
The new server does not have integrated Ethernet ports - they have been replaced by FlexLOM network ports, which are a separate board. If earlier the server owner was limited to the network interface that is already integrated into the board, now he can choose between a Broadcom or Intel one- or ten-gigabyte FlexLOM interface card (five options will be available in total).
For ease of maintenance (access to memory modules) and improved hot air removal, the cable system inside the server is made using flat loops.
To install the processor in the HP ProLiant Gen8 uses a special design Smart Socket. Now virtually eliminating the possibility of damage to the processor or socket during installation. And as the statistics of calls collected by HP service centers show, bent contacts when installing or replacing a CPU are the most common reason for a motherboard to fail. To remove the processor, you just need to open the latch on the spring and then the entire socket can be removed without touching the processor itself. Smart Socket guides ensure accurate installation of the new processor in a free socket
The HP ProLiant DL380p also now uses new Snap and Go rails and more convenient latches for mounting in a server rack.
Fuhh, it seems I have not forgotten anything. If someone was at the Gen8 presentations, then complement and ask. Let's figure it out together what kind of a miracle - ProLiant Gen8 - and which of all presented is really useful, and what is superfluous or incomprehensible.