Sun Fire X4170, X4270, and X4275 Server Architecture

1 SUN fire x4170 , x4270 , AND X4275 Server ARCHITECTUREO ptimizing Performance, Density, and Expandability to Maximize Datacenter ValueWhite PaperApril 2009 Abstract In compact 1U and 2U form factors, the Sun fire x4170 , x4270 , and X4275 servers combine the power of a new generation of Intel Xeon processors with Sun s system engineering expertise. Based on Sun s Open Network System design approach, these servers offer the needed performance, density, and expandability to satisfy demanding datacenter applications, especially for virtualization and consolidation initiatives.

2 This white paper describes the Architecture of the Sun fire x4170 , x4270 , and X4275 servers, including the processor technology, I/O subsystem, built-in system management features, and range of supported operating systems. Sun Microsystems, Page Intentionally Left BlankSun Microsystems, of ContentsExecutive Summary .. 1 Managing Capacity and Complexity .. 2 Introducing the Sun fire x4170 , x4270 , and X4275 servers .. 2 Comparing the Sun fire x4170 , x4270 , and X4275 servers .. 4A choice of operating systems .. 6 The Intel Advantage .. 7 New Intel Core Microarchitecture.

3 7 Modular Architecture .. 10 Power management technologies .. 10 Intel Xeon Processor 5500 platform .. 11 Sun fire x4170 , x4270 , and X4275 Server Architectures .. 12 Sun fire x4170 system-level Architecture .. 12 Sun fire x4170 Server overview .. 13 Sun fire x4170 Server enclosure .. 14 Sun fire x4170 Server front and rear perspectives .. 14 Sun fire x4270 system-level Architecture .. 16 Sun fire x4270 Server overview .. 17 Sun fire x4270 Server enclosure .. 17 Sun fire x4270 Server front and rear perspectives .. 18 Sun fire X4275 system-level Architecture .

4 19 Sun fire X4275 Server overview .. 20 Sun fire X4275 Server enclosure .. 20 Sun fire X4275 Server front and rear perspectives .. 21 System platform .. 22 Memory subsystem .. 22 Memory population guidelines.. 23I/O subsystem .. 23 System network interfaces .. 24 PCIe expansion bus .. 24 Integrated storage .. 26 Enclosure features .. 30 Power distribution .. 30 Fan assemblies .. 31 Rack mounting .. 31 RAS features .. 32 ILOM Service Processor and System Management .. 34 Sun ILOM service processor .. 34 Optimizing management flexibility.

5 35 Remote keyboard, video, mouse, and storage (RKVMS) .. 37 Sun Microsystems, platform management interface .. 38 New features in .. 39 SNMP .. 40 Sun xVM Ops Center .. 41 Enterprise-Class Software Support .. 42 The Solaris Operating System .. 42 Linux environments .. 44 Microsoft Windows environments .. 44 VMware support .. 44 Summary .. 46 For more information .. 461 Executive Summary Sun Microsystems, SummaryDatacenter complexity, energy, and cost issues continue to plague businesses and their ability to operate effectively within tight budget constraints.

6 In recent years, an increase in the number of collaborative, Web, and data-centric applications has driven up the number of datacenter compute servers, adding to the administrative workload and compounding an already difficult IT management task. Complexity can sometimes result in severe business impacts, slowing productivity, extending development cycles, and delaying time to market. While datacenters try to cope with increasing complexity, they strive to control energy and other operating costs, while still keeping pace with the growing demand for computing and storage resources.

7 To achieve greater business and datacenter efficiencies and enhance agility, many small businesses and larger companies are turning to consolidation and implementing virtualization more than 25 years, Sun has focused on solving customer problems by engineering solutions based on innovative technologies that deliver differentiated value. Sun s Open Network System approach combines innovative technologies, cost-effective and industry-standard components, and Sun s expertise in delivering dense, high-performance systems. This focus, along with an emphasis on eco-responsibility, is evident in designs of a new Sun platform family the Sun fire x4170 , x4270 , and X4275 servers which are ideal for supporting consolidation and virtualization.

8 Using state-of-the-art Intel Xeon processor technology (codenamed Nehalem ), Sun has engineered powerful 1U and 2U systems that are well-suited for HPC, grid computing, database, Web infrastructure, as well as consolidation and virtualization. These systems offer density and expandability in compute, memory, storage, and I/O subsystems, including the integration of low-latency, enterprise-quality solid state disk (SSD) drive technology. These systems are also highly energy-efficient and offer flexible support for multiple operating systems the Solaris and OpenSolaris Operating Systems, Linux, Microsoft Windows, and VMware.

9 The Sun fire x4170 , x4270 , and X4275 servers showcase Intel s talent for creating high-performance commodity chipsets along with Sun s advanced engineering and quality system design. Engineered for mission-critical availability, these servers feature several redundant and hot-swappable components and built-in system management tools. With efficient front-to-back air flow, highly efficient power supplies, and Intel s built-in processor power management technologies, these servers are engineered to conserve valuable energy resources, which helps to lower day-to-day operational expenses.

10 By taking advantage of Sun s expertise in Open Network System design, these servers deliver innovation that optimizes operational efficiency and economics in the Capacity and Complexity Sun Microsystems, 1 Managing Capacity and Complexity Introducing the Sun fire x4170 , x4270 , and X4275 serversTo help IT managers optimize value and reduce complexity in the infrastructure, Sun offers a new series of Intel Xeon processor-based systems the Sun fire x4170 , x4270 , and X4275 servers based on Sun s Open Network System approach. This approach blends cost-effective, industry-standard components with innovative technologies, yielding compact 1U and 2U servers with unprecedented density, high performance, and energy efficiency.