The R660 (1U) and R760 (2U) are Dell’s current-generation workhorses. Both run 4th/5th Gen Xeon and DDR5, differing primarily in expansion capacity. Feature R660 (1U) R760 (2U) Drives Up to 10 SFF Up to 16 SFF / 8 LFF GPUs 1 (low-profile) Up to 3 PCIe 3 Gen5 slots 8 Gen5 slots Dell upgrade guides […]
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Server Parts for Remote Offices: Quiet, Compact, Reliable Options
Remote and branch offices need servers that are quiet, compact, and easy to maintain without on-site IT staff. Here are the best options. Best Server Types for Remote Offices Tower servers — Dell T360, HPE ML30/ML350. No rack needed, lower noise, floor placement. Short-depth rack servers — Dell R360, HPE DL20. Fit in small network […]
Server Parts for Database Workloads: SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL
Database servers have unique hardware requirements — lots of memory for caching, fast storage for I/O, and enough CPU cores for concurrent queries. Here is how to size. Component Priority Memory (Most Important) — Buffer cache reduces disk I/O. More RAM = faster queries. Storage (Second) — NVMe for OLTP, SAS SSD for mixed, HDD […]
Multi-Vendor Server Support: Why One Provider for Dell, HPE, and Lenovo
Most data centers run mixed-vendor environments. Managing separate OEM contracts for Dell, HPE, and Lenovo is expensive and complex. Here is why a single multi-vendor provider makes sense. The Problem 3 separate OEM contracts = 3 separate renewal dates, SLAs, and support teams OEM pricing increases 15-30% per year on older generations OEM drops support […]
Dell PowerEdge iDRAC9: Complete Feature Guide and License Types
iDRAC9 is Dell’s 9th generation integrated remote access controller, standard on all 14G, 15G, and 16G PowerEdge servers. It provides out-of-band management, monitoring, and remote console access. License Tiers Feature Basic Express Enterprise Datacenter Web GUI Yes Yes Yes Yes Redfish API Yes Yes Yes Yes Virtual Console No No Yes Yes Virtual Media No […]
Server Rack Planning: Power, Cooling, and Weight Considerations
Planning a server rack requires balancing power capacity, cooling airflow, and physical weight limits. Here are the key numbers. Rack Capacity Planning Factor Standard 42U Rack Usable Space ~36U (leaving space for PDU, cable mgmt) Max Weight 1000-1500 kg (depends on rack model) Power (single phase) 5-8 kW per circuit Power (three phase) 15-20 kW […]
Palo Alto PA-3200 End of Sale: Migration to PA-3400 Series
Palo Alto PA-3200 series reached end of sale August 2023 with end of support August 2028. The PA-3400 series is the direct replacement. PA-3200 vs PA-3400 Feature PA-3220 PA-3410 Threat Prevention 2 Gbps 5.3 Gbps Max Sessions 1M 1.4M Status End of Sale Current ICD provides TPM and spare parts for PA-3200 through end of […]
How to Migrate from VMware to Proxmox: Hardware Considerations
With Broadcom’s VMware licensing changes, many organizations are evaluating Proxmox VE as an alternative. This guide covers the hardware implications of migration. Hardware Compatibility CPUs — Proxmox runs on same x86 hardware. No CPU changes needed. Memory — No change. Same ECC DDR4/DDR5. Storage — Proxmox excels with ZFS (use HBA, not RAID controller). Consider […]
Enterprise SSD Brands: Samsung, Micron, Kioxia, Intel Comparison
Four brands dominate enterprise SSDs. Each has strengths in different categories — here is how they compare. Brand Comparison Brand Strength Popular Lines Samsung NVMe performance leader PM9A3, PM1743 Micron Value + endurance balance 7450, 9400 Kioxia Capacity tier, competitive pricing CM7, PM7 Intel/Solidigm Optane (ultra-low latency) P5620, D7-P5520 Note: Dell, HPE, and Lenovo rebrand […]
Dell PowerEdge R760 Complete Guide: 16G Specifications and Parts
The Dell PowerEdge R760 is the 2U flagship of Dell’s 16th Generation lineup. It supports 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, DDR5-4800 memory, PCIe Gen5, and PERC H965 RAID. Specifications Spec Value CPU 2x Intel Xeon Scalable Gen4/5 (up to 64 cores) Memory 32 DDR5 DIMMs, up to 4TB Storage Up to 16 SFF or […]