Rackmount Specialists Introduces the 38 Watt Gemini Twin 1U Rackmount Server

http://www.rackmountspecialists.com - Rackmount Specialists introduces it's new Gemini Twin 1U Rackmount Server. The custom Twin 1U form factor allow for 2 discrete servers to be mounted in 1U of rack space, thereby doubling server density. The new Gemini servers have also been designed for extremely high efficiency, with power usage under 38 watts for typical configurations, making them perfect for large scale deployments in power-constrained environments.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Intel Atom
• Server
• Gemini
• Twin 1U
• Rackmount Servers
• Green Servers
• Rackmount Specialists
• low power
• high efficiency

[ScottieDM]

Been thinking of using Netbooks on 1U high slide out trays, particularly since they come with battery backup built in, and Solaris on the Acer Aspire 1 is supported by Sun Microsystems. I see these little cuties as an alternative to using Netbooks.

On your website and in your PDF brochure it looks as if these come in left and right versions. If true that's a lame idea. I would want, even demand, fully interchangeable devices. And how do you swap one out and keep the other running?

Cost?

[rtyree]

Scottie,

They have to be left-side and right-side devices in order to acheive cooling. We offer a bracket system if you want to mount a single unit in a rack as opposed to a pair.

The problem I can see with your netbook idea is that most all of the netbooks available currently run only the single core Atom CPU's - ours runs the dual core Atom 330 (and now most other S775 CPU's in the Pro version).

If you are interested in pricing, you can contact us via our website for a quote.

[ScottieDM]

Thanks for the reply.

Left/right: Heat doesn't have a left or right. You need to go back to the drawing board. Consider the advantages, half the part numbers to stock and track. Also there would be no possibility a customer would order the wrong replacement unit.

Also important: Can one swap out half a unit without taking down the whole?

Netbook: The main problem I see with the Atom is the 2 GB memory limit. I'm not CPU limited anyway. In your favor netbooks are not built for reliability.

[rtyree]

The left/right solution was necessary. There are other 2-in-1 designs out there that have significant overheating problems (we've replaced them for several customers) - ours does not, due to the way it exhausts heat, which requires separate left/right units.

Our design allows swapping out a left or a right without taking down the other side - they are fully discrete.

The 2GB limitation is a chipset limit, not a CPU limit - we are working on an Ion-based version which would support more RAM.

[Lil306]

I know this is a bit of an old bump but rtyree statement is correct about large number of low powered nodes better than larger ones.

I like both the Nehalem CPUs, and now starting to like solutions offered with Atom Servers. I'm now looking at a 2U Supermicro server so I can run a mail, backup, db and webserver all in the same chassis :)

[rtyree]

What is boils down to is that a powerful, Xeon-based server is a specific tool that is good for specific jobs. Our atom server is a completely different tool that gets used for other, more appropriate jobs. Microsoft, for example, is deploying thousands of Atom-based machines in their cloud infrastructure. Why? Because a large number of low-powered nodes are more efficient and better suited to the job than fewer, more powerful servers. The tool you select is all a matter of the job at hand.

[nenolod]

Deploying 2 in 1 xeons is unnecessary to trump a 2 in 1 atom configuration. With a hypervisor such as ESXi, you can have 8-16 servers per U instead of 2.

Also per-cpu the power may be less, but with the xeons, you will get a much higher compute density per cabinet, and most likely much higher power efficiency...

[rtyree]

Let's set a few facts straight. Most 550x Xeons have an 80W TDP, not 40W. Even Intel's most efficient Xeon CPU, the L5408, has a 40W TDP, and typically another 40W+ is needed for the rest of the system. Plus, for the cost of a Xeon L5408 CPU, you can buy a complete Gemini server.

Most datacenters can support approx 150W / sq ft. Deploying 2-in-1 Xeon's, even Low Voltage models, requires about 300W / sq ft. Our product is designed for environments where Xeon's aren't the best tool for the job.

[nenolod]

Indeed, when deploying 1000 servers, that means paying for additional cooling capacity, power, and *rackspace*.

Why build your strategy around atoms, when you can build around xeon e5505 (45W), which can *easily* do 2 servers per amp, with four to eight times the memory to boot... if you do that, you don't *need* 1000 servers.

[rtyree]

Why? That's easy. When you are deploying 1000 servers, that extra 0.2A per server means paying for an additional 200 Amps of power service, and accounting for additional cooling capacity as well.

Anyway, I'd like to see your "real" server that runs on 0.5A @ 115v, let alone a server that allows you to mount 80 in a rack. Feel free to post the specs, if you like.