Dell™ PowerEdge™ R710 Technical Guidebook

Intel Direct Media Interface (DMI)

The DMI (previously called the Enterprise Southbridge Interface) connects the Tylersburg IOH with the Intel I/O Controller Hub (ICH). The DMI is equivalent to a x4 PCIe Gen1 link with a transfer rate of 1 Gb/s in each direction.

PCI Express Generation 2

PCI Express is a serial point-to-point interconnect for I/O devices. PCIe Gen2 doubles the signaling bit rate of each lane from 2.5 Gb/s to 5 Gb/s. Each of the PCIe Gen2 ports are backwards-compatible with Gen1 transfer rates.

In the Tylersburg-36D IOH, there are two x2 PCIe Gen2 ports (1Gb/s) and eight x4 PCIe Gen2 ports (2 Gb/s). The x2 ports can be combined as a x4 link; however, this x4 link cannot be combined with any of the other x4 ports. Two neighboring x4 ports can be combined as a x8 link, and both resulting x8 links can combine to form a x16 link.

Intel I/O Controller Hub 9 (ICH9)

ICH9 is a highly integrated I/O controller, supporting the following functions:

•Six x1 PCIe Gen1 ports, with the capability of combining ports 1-4 as a x4 link

•These ports are unused on the PowerEdge R710

•PCI Bus 32-bit Interface Rev 2.3 running at 33MHz

•Up to six Serial ATA (SATA) ports with transfer rates up to 300 MB/s

•The PowerEdge R710 features two SATA port for optional internal optical drive or tape backup

•Six UHCI and two EHCI (High-Speed 2.0) USB host controllers, with up to twelve USB ports

•The PowerEdge R710 has eight external USB ports and two internal ports dedicated for UIPS. Refer to the 11th generation of PowerEdge servers Hardware/BIOS Specification for the USB assignments for each platform

•Power management interface (ACPI 3.0b compliant)

•Platform Environmental Control Interface (PECI)

•Intel Dynamic Power Mode Manager

•I/O interrupt controller

•SMBus 2.0 controller

•Low Pin Count (LPC) interface to Super I/O, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and SuperVU

•Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) support for up to two devices

•The PowerEdge R710’s BIOS is connected to the ICH using SPI

30

Page 29 Page 31
Page 30
Image 30
Dell manual Dell PowerEdge R710 Technical Guidebook
Page 29 Page 31

R710 specifications

The Dell PowerEdge R710 is a highly versatile and robust server that has been a popular choice for businesses seeking reliable performance and efficient management. Launched as part of Dell’s 11th generation PowerEdge line, the R710 is designed to handle various workloads, making it ideal for virtualization, data analysis, and enterprise applications.

One of the standout features of the R710 is its support for dual Intel Xeon 5500 or 5600 series processors. This capability allows for substantial processing power and improved energy efficiency through Intel’s Nehalem architecture. The server can accommodate up to 128GB of DDR3 RAM across its 16 DIMM slots, delivering the memory capacity needed for demanding applications while also providing the performance enhancements of higher memory speeds.

The R710 also boasts an impressive array of storage options. It supports up to eight 2.5-inch or six 3.5-inch hard drives, which can be configured in various RAID levels for enhanced data protection and performance. The server is compatible with both SAS and SATA drives, providing flexibility for different storage needs. Additionally, the optional PERC (PowerEdge RAID Controller) allows for enhanced RAID configurations, ensuring data integrity and performance optimization.

In terms of connectivity, the Dell R710 comes equipped with four Gigabit Ethernet ports for high-speed networking. This connectivity facilitates effective communication in virtualized and clustered environments. The server is also built with optional iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller) technology, which provides administrators with advanced management capabilities, remote control, and monitoring features that simplify server administration, minimize downtime, and enhance overall productivity.

Thermal efficiency is another key characteristic of the R710. Its innovative cooling design features intelligent fans that optimize airflow based on workload demands, ensuring that the system runs at optimal temperatures while minimizing energy consumption. This contributes to reduced operating costs and a smaller environmental footprint.

The modular design of the R710 allows for easy upgrades and maintenance, making it a practical option for IT departments. The server’s support for various operating systems, including Windows Server and various distributions of Linux, ensures compatibility with diverse environments.

In summary, the Dell PowerEdge R710 is an enterprise-class server that balances power, flexibility, and efficient management features. With its dual-processor capability, extensive memory options, robust storage configurations, and advanced management tools, it remains a solid choice for organizations looking to streamline their IT operations and enhance performance.
Top Page Image Contents