Technology Overview

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Xserve G5

Rack-Optimized Server Design

With enormous processing power and ample storage in a compact 1U-high, 19-inch- wide enclosure, Xserve G5 is designed from the ground up for performance, service- ability, and easy integration into a wide range of computing environments. All the necessary rackmounting hardware is in the box, including rack rails with sliders, mounting brackets for industry-standard four-post racks and telco center-post racks, and complete setup instructions. For trouble-free servicing, the power cord connection has a cable-locking clip, and a cable management arm keeps cables with the system when you slide it out of a four-post rack.

Xserve G5 Server Configuration

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Front view

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Back view

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1Indicator lights. Xserve G5 gives you continuous feedback on the status and activity of hardware components. Indicator lights display the health and status of power, enclosure lock, drives, Ethernet links, and processor, as well as drive and processor activity.

2System identifier. Duplicate buttons on the front and back can be turned on manually or by using remote monitoring software, making it easy to locate a particular server in a rack. The buttons also illuminate if a system event occurs.

3FireWire and USB ports. Xserve G5 has two FireWire 800 ports on the back and one FireWire 400 port on the front for high-speed connectivity to storage, backup devices, and other servers. Two USB 2.0 ports on the back connect to industry- standard peripherals.

4Air ducts. A robust cooling system provides front-to-back airflow over high-performance system components. It uses large air ducts and an array of eight fans managed by a microcontroller. For minimal noise and power consumption, the fans run only as required to cool the system effectively. If a single fan fails, the others speed up to compensate.

5Drive bays. Three bays support up to 750GB1 of hot-plug SATA internal storage on three independent channels.4 Hot- plug support allows you to add storage without bringing down the server. Apple Drive Modules have LEDs that indicate drive status and health using Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) data.

6Optical drive. The slot-loading 24x-speed CD-ROM drive is convenient for software installation and recovery. Or choose the optional Combo drive for reading DVD data and backing up files on CDs.4

7Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. Xserve G5 comes with dual Gigabit Ethernet links on the main logic board. These fast interfaces operate independently to provide deployment flexibility and support for large numbers of clients.

8Serial port. The DB-9 serial port allows for system access through a serial console session, even when the network is down.

9PCI-X slots. Two open 64-bit PCI-X slots allow you to add one card running at up to 133MHz or two cards running at up to 100MHz. Throughput of up to 1GB/s maximizes performance of transaction-intensive applications and high-performance networking and storage systems.

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Apple manual Rack-Optimized Server Design, Xserve G5 Server Configuration, Back view
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Xserve G5 specifications

The Apple Xserve G5 was a powerful rack-mounted server that was introduced by Apple in 2004. Built on the robust PowerPC architecture, it marked a significant entry into the enterprise server market for the company, reflecting its commitment to high-performance computing and advanced technology solutions.

One of the main features of the Xserve G5 was its dual dual-core PowerPC G5 processors, which allowed for exceptional computation performance. This configuration enabled up to 8 processing cores in a single server unit, significantly enhancing multitasking capabilities and making it suitable for high-demand applications. With support for up to 16GB of DDR SDRAM, the server ensured ample memory for intensive operations and large-scale data processing tasks.

In terms of storage, the Xserve G5 featured a versatile design that supported up to four hot-swappable Serial ATA (SATA) drive bays. This capability enabled users to easily replace or upgrade hard drives without downtime, which is crucial in enterprise environments. The server also supported RAID configurations, offering options for increased reliability and data redundancy.

Networking capabilities were another highlight of the Xserve G5. It came equipped with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, providing robust network throughput and redundancy. This feature was particularly valuable for mission-critical applications where uptime and performance were essential. Additionally, the Xserve G5 was compatible with various networking protocols and featured built-in support for Active Directory, simplifying integration into existing IT infrastructures.

The operating system of choice for the Xserve G5 was Mac OS X Server, which offered a user-friendly interface along with powerful server management tools. The software provided a wide range of services, including file sharing, web hosting, and email services, tailored for small to medium enterprises and education institutions.

For those seeking expandability, the Xserve G5 boasted a PCI-X expansion slot, allowing users to add various hardware components such as additional network interfaces or specialized processing cards.

In terms of its physical design, the Xserve G5 had a sleek, 1U form factor, making it easy to integrate into existing server racks while maintaining a modern aesthetic. The efficient cooling system was designed to keep the unit running optimally, ensuring reliability during extended periods of use.

In conclusion, the Apple Xserve G5 represented a significant advance in server technology with its powerful dual G5 processors, ample memory and storage options, and robust networking capabilities. Its combination of performance and user-friendly Mac OS X Server made it a notable choice for organizations seeking reliable computing solutions in the mid-2000s.
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