30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004 Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-
Based Servers and Workstations
Chapter 2 Validated Server Program (VSP) 11
For those System Builders, VARs and Integrators that prefer a pre-built system, the Validated
Server Program (VSP) is designed to enable rapid introduction of AMD Opteron™ processor-
based servers. AMD has joined forces with Celestica, one of the world’s leading electronics
manufacturing services (EMS) providers, to bring you the VSP. Building on tested, stable, and
reliable VSP solutions available from Celestica, your organization can:
• Gain leverage in a highly competitive market
• Streamline the development cycle and simplify your business
• Speed time-to-market
• Build revenue through value-added products and services
• Focus on customer service and other core competencies
• Boost customer satisfaction with Celestica’s end-to-end service and support
2.1 Value Proposition
VSP platforms are designed to take advantage of the performance of AMD Opteron processors,
HyperTransport™ technology links, and the AMD-8000™ series of chipsets. All of Celestica’s
server platforms are defined with reliability, availability, and serviceability as key objectives. This
attention to detail provides servers that can be relied on for mission critical applications.
2.2 Design Methodology for the VSP Platform
The design methodology for the VSP platform includes:
• Hot plug testing with multiple operating systems
• Peripheral compatibility testing with more than 100 cards, drives, and multiple operating
systems
• Worst-case power consumption analysis (including PCI-X® peripherals and drives)
• Thermal analysis of components
• Accelerated life test (used to determine MTBF figures)
• Full Flotherm analysis using the latest software modeling tools to confirm sufficient airflow in
the design
• Signal analysis on all high-speed bus and critical signal traces
• Acoustic testing
• Shock, vibration, and drop testing