The Lenovo ThinkSystem SR550 dual-socket 2U rack server is ideal for small to large organizations that need industry-leading reliability, management, and security, as well as cost-optimized performance, storage capacity, and flexible I/O. Designed to handle a wide range of workloads, the SR550 server cost-effectively performs complex analytics on structured and unstructured data, speeds transactional systems, and powers through collaboration workloads with ever-growing data sets and large files shared within an organization.

Featuring the Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family, the SR550 server offers a balance of performance, capacity and value. The SR550 server supports up to two processors, up to 768 GB of 2666 MHz TruDDR4 memory, up to 16x 2.5-inch or up to 12x 3.5-inch drive bays with an extensive choice of SAS/SATA SSDs and SAS/SATA HDDs, and flexible and scalable I/O expansion options with the LOM slot and up to 6x PCIe slots.

The SR550 server offers basic software RAID or advanced hardware RAID protection and a wide range of networking options, including embedded LOM, selectable LOM, ML2, and PCIe network adapters. The next-generation Lenovo XClarity Controller, which is built into the SR550 server, provides advanced service processor control, monitoring, and alerting functions.

The following figure shows the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR550.

Figure 1. Lenovo ThinkSystem SR550

The SR550 server delivers impressive compute power per watt, featuring 80 PLUS Titanium and Platinum redundant power supplies that can deliver 96% (Titanium) or 94% (Platinum) efficiency at 50% load when connected to a 200 - 240 V AC power source.

The SR550 server is designed to meet ASHRAE A4 standards (up to 45 °C [113 °F]) in select configurations, which enable customers to lower energy costs, while still maintaining world-class reliability. 

The SR550 server offers a balance of processing power, storage capacity, and cost for small and medium businesses up to the large enterprise. Ease of use and comprehensive systems management tools help make deployment easier and efficient design improves your business environment and helps save operational costs.

Scalability and performance

The SR550 server offers numerous features to boost performance, improve scalability, and reduce costs:

• Improves productivity by offering superior system performance with the Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family with up to 20-core processors, up to 27.5 MB of last level cache (LLC), up to 2666 MHz memory speeds, and up to 10.4 GT/s Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI) links.
  • Support for up to two processors, 40 cores, and 80 threads allows to maximize the concurrent execution of multithreaded applications.
  • Intelligent and adaptive system performance with energy efficient Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology allows CPU cores to run at maximum speeds during peak workloads by temporarily going beyond processor thermal design power (TDP).
  • Intel Hyper-Threading Technology boosts performance for multithreaded applications by enabling simultaneous multithreading within each processor core, up to two threads per core.
  • Intel Virtualization Technology integrates hardware-level virtualization hooks that allow operating system vendors to better utilize the hardware for virtualization workloads.
  • Intel Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (AVX-512) enable acceleration of enterprise-class and high performance computing (HPC) workloads.
• Helps maximize system performance for data intensive applications with up to 2666 MHz memory speeds and up to 768 GB of memory capacity.
• Offers flexible and scalable internal storage in a 2U rack form factor with up to 16x 2.5-inch drives for performance-optimized configurations or up to 12x 3.5-inch drives for capacity-optimized configurations, providing a wide selection of SAS/SATA HDDs/SSDs.
• Provides I/O scalability with the LOM slot and up to six PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 I/O expansion slots in a 2U rack form factor.
• Reduces I/O latency and increases overall system performance with Intel Integrated I/O Technology that embeds the PCI Express 3.0 controller into the Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family.

Availability and serviceability

The SR550 server provides many features to simplify serviceability and increase system uptime:

• Offers protection in the event of a non-correctable memory failure with Single Device Data Correction (SDDC, also known as Chipkill, requires x4-based DIMMs), Adaptive Double Device Data Correction (ADDDC, also known as Redundant Bit Steering [RBS], requires x4-based DIMMs and Intel Xeon Gold or Platinum processors), memory mirroring, and memory rank sparing.
• Provides easy access to upgrades and serviceable parts (such as processors, memory DIMMs, and adapter cards) with tool-less cover removal.
• Offers affordable data protection with software RAID and Simple Swap drives and advanced hardware RAID data redundancy with hot-swap drives.
• Provides availability for applications with redundant hot-swap power supplies and redundant non-hot-swap fans.
• Allows preventive actions in advance of possible failure, thereby increasing server uptime and application availability with Proactive Platform Alerts (including PFA and SMART alerts) for processors, voltage regulators, memory, internal storage (SAS/SATA HDDs and SSDs, M.2 storage), fans, power supplies, RAID controllers, and server ambient and sub-component temperatures.
• Continuously monitors system parameters, triggers alerts, and performs recovery actions in case of failure to minimize downtime with Built-in XClarity Controller (XCC).
• Provides quick access to system status, firmware, network, health, and alerts information via Virtual Operator Panel from the XClarity Mobile App running on the Android or iOS mobile device that is connected to the front USB port with XClarity Controller access.
• Speeds up troubleshooting tasks to reduce service time with diagnostics built into the XClarity Provisioning Manager.

Manageability and security

Powerful systems management features simplify local and remote management of the SR550 server and deliver enterprise-class data protection:

• Provides advanced service processor control, monitoring, and alerting functions with XClarity Controller, a next generation service processor.
• Improves Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) system setup, configuration, updates, simplified error handling, and operating system deployment with the embedded XClarity Provisioning Manager.
• Offers XClarity Essentials software tools that can help you set up, use, and maintain the server.
• Increases uptime, reduces costs, and improves productivity through advanced server management capabilities with Lenovo XClarity Administrator that provides comprehensive hardware management.
• Provides on-the-go monitoring and management of devices in XClarity Administrator from anywhere with the Lenovo XClarity mobile app, which can help improve efficiency and reduce downtime risks.
• Centralizes infrastructure resource management with Lenovo XClarity Integrators for VMware vCenter and Microsoft System Center, extending XClarity Administrator features to virtualization management software tools and enabling users to deploy and manage infrastructure end-to-end.
• Offers advanced cryptographic functionality (such as digital signatures and remote attestation) with an integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) or optional Trusted Cryptographic Module (TCM) or Nationz TPM (available only in China).
• Keeps user data safe with Lenovo Business Vantage, a security software tool suite designed to work with the Trusted Cryptographic Module (available only in China).
• Offers enterprise-class data protection with advanced RAID and optional self-encrypting drives.
• Provides faster, stronger encryption with industry-standard AES NI support.
• Helps prevent certain classes of malicious buffer overflow attacks with Intel Execute Disable Bit functionality, when combined with a supporting operating system.
• Enhances security through hardware-based resistance to malicious software attacks with Intel Trusted Execution Technology, allowing an application to run in its own isolated space, protected from all other software running on a system.

Energy efficiency

The SR550 server offers the following energy-efficiency features to save energy, reduce operational costs, increase energy availability, and contribute to the green environment:

• Delivers impressive compute power per watt, featuring 80 PLUS Titanium and Platinum redundant power supplies.
• Enables customers to lower energy costs with design to meet ASHRAE A4 standards in select configurations.
• Reduces power drawn with Intel Intelligent Power Capability that powers individual processor elements on and off as needed.
• Helps reduce power consumption with variable speed fans.
• Helps achieve lower heat output and reduced cooling needs with Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager that provides advanced data center power notification, analysis, and policy-based management.