ThinkSystem SR950 V3

The Lenovo ThinkSystem SR950 V3 is an 8-socket server that features an 8U rack design, with two 4U units cabled together for ease of installation. The server offers technology advances, including 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, and scale-up capacity of up to 32TB of system memory, up to 14x PCIe slots (6x front, 8x rear), and up to 16x 2.5-inch or 16x E3.S EDSFF drive bays.

The ThinkSystem SR950 V3 is designed for the most demanding, mission-critical workloads, such as in-memory databases, large transactional databases, real-time analytics, ERP, CRM, and virtualized server workloads.

Key features

The flexible ThinkSystem SR950 V3 server supports eight 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Platinum processors. Built for mission-critical workloads like SAP HANA, databases, Big Data, business analytics, ERP & CRM, business logic, and virtualization. With the support of 8x 350W processors, up to 32TB of memory, and 14 PCIe slots, the SR950 V3 provides unmatched features and capabilities in a 8U rack-mount design.

Scalability and performance

The SR950 V3 offers numerous features to boost performance, improve scalability and reduce costs: 

• Supports eight 4th Gen Intel Xeon Processor Scalable processors, up to 480 total cores and 960 total threads, to maximize the concurrent execution of multithreaded applications
• Supports Platinum processors in the Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family. Processors supported:
• Up to 60 cores
• Core speeds of up to 2.9 GHz
• TDP ratings of up to 350W
• Support for embedded Intel accelerators:
• Up to 4x Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT)
• Up to 4x Intel Dynamic Load Balancer (DLB)
• 4x Intel In-Memory Analytics Accelerator (IAA)
• 4x Intel Data Streaming Accelerator (DSA)
• Enhanced inter-processor communications with four UPI 2.0 connections between adjacent processors ensures increased CPU I/O throughput.
• Support for up to 128 TruDDR5 memory DIMMs operating at up to 4800 MHz means you have the fastest available memory subsystem and memory capacity of up to 32 TB with 128x 256 GB 3DS RDIMMs.
• Supports configurations of 2 DIMMs per channel to operate at the 4400 MHz rated speed of the memory DIMMs.
• Up to 16TB SAP HANA Appliance or 32TB SAP HANA TDI
• Up to 16x E3.S EDSFF hot-swap PCIe 5.0 NVMe drive bays, or up to 16x 2.5-inch drive bays supporting SAS or SATA SSDs. The E3.S NVMe drives maximize drive I/O performance in terms of throughput, bandwidth, and latency.
• The server has a dedicated industry-standard OCP 3.0 small form factor (SFF) slot, with a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, supporting a variety of Ethernet network adapters. Simple-swap mechanism with thumbscrews and pull-tab enables tool-less installation and removal of the adapter. Supports shared BMC network sideband connectivity to enable out-of-band systems management.
• Up to 14 PCIe slots in addition to the OCP 3.0 Ethernet slot to maximize I/O capabilities.
• The server is Compute Express Link (CXL) v1.1 Ready. With CXL 1.1 for next-generation workloads, you can reduce compute latency in the data center and lower TCO. CXL is a protocol that runs across the standard PCIe physical layer and can support both standard PCIe devices as well as CXL devices on the same link.
• High-speed RAID controllers provide 12 Gb SAS connectivity to the drive backplanes. Supports 8-port and 16-port adapters with cache up to 4GB.
• The server supports an one or two M.2 NVMe drives, with integrated RAID support, for convenient operating system boot functions.
• Supports Intel VROC (Virtual RAID on CPU) which enables basic RAID functionality on the onboard NVMe ports of the server, with no additional adapter needed. This feature enables RAID on NVMe drives without the need for a separate RAID controller.

Availability and serviceability

The SR950 V3 provides many features to simplify serviceability and increase system uptime:

• Designed to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• The server offers Single Device Data Correction (SDDC, also known as Chipkill), Adaptive Double-Device Data Correction (ADDDC, also known as Redundant Bit Steering or RBS) and memory mirroring for redundancy in the event of a non-correctable memory failure.
• The server offers hot-swap drives, supporting RAID redundancy for data protection and greater system uptime.
• Support for an M.2 adapter with integrated RAID-1 for enhanced data protection of boot drives
• The server has 12x hot-swap redundant power supplies supporting N+N redundancy, and 12x N+2 redundant fans to provide availability for business-critical applications.
• Proactive Platform Alerts (including PFA and SMART alerts): Processors, voltage regulators, memory, internal storage (SAS/SATA HDDs and SSDs, NVMe SSDs, M.2 storage, flash storage adapters), fans, power supplies, RAID controllers, server ambient and subcomponent temperatures. Alerts can be surfaced through the XClarity Controller to managers such as Lenovo XClarity Administrator, VMware vCenter, and Microsoft System Center. These proactive alerts let you take appropriate actions in advance of possible failure, thereby increasing server uptime and application availability.
• Solid-state drives (SSDs) offer more reliability than traditional mechanical HDDs for greater uptime.
• The built-in XClarity Controller continuously monitors system parameters, triggers alerts, and performs recovery actions in case of failures, to minimize downtime.
• Built-in diagnostics in UEFI, using Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager, speed up troubleshooting tasks to reduce service time.
• Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager collects and saves service data to USB key drive or remote CIFS share folder, for troubleshooting and to reduce service time.
• Auto restart in the event of a momentary loss of AC power (based on the power policy setting in the XClarity Controller service processor)
• Offers a diagnostics port on the front of the server to allow you to attach an external diagnostics handset for enhanced systems management capabilities.
• Support for the XClarity Administrator Mobile app running on a supported smartphone or tablet and connected to the server through the front USB 2.0 port, enables additional local systems management functions.
• 3-year or 1-year customer-replaceable unit and onsite limited warranty, 9 x 5 next business day. Optional service upgrades are available.

Manageability and security

Powerful systems management features simplify local and remote management of the SR950 V3:

• Lenovo XClarity Controller 2 (XCC2) monitors server availability and performs remote management. XCC Platinum is standard, which enables remote KVM, the mounting of remote media files (ISO and IMG image files), boot capture, and power capping.
• Lenovo XClarity Administrator offers comprehensive hardware management tools that help to increase uptime, reduce costs and improve productivity through advanced server management capabilities.
• UEFI-based Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager, accessible from F1 during boot, provides system inventory information, graphical UEFI Setup, platform update function, RAID Setup wizard, operating system installation function, and diagnostic functions.
• Support for Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager, which captures real-time power and temperature data from the server and provides automated controls to lower energy costs.
• Root of Trust (RoT) module includes Platform Firmware Resiliency (PFR) and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, which further enhances key platform subsystem protections by detecting unauthorized firmware updates, recovering corrupted images to a known-safe image, and monitoring firmware to ensure it has not been compromised. Secures and authenticates system to prevent unauthorized access.
• Integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 support enables advanced cryptographic methods, such as digital signatures and remote attestation.
• Supports Secure Boot to ensure only a digitally signed operating system can be used. Supported with HDDs and SSDs, as well as M.2 drives.
• Industry-standard Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) NI support for faster, stronger encryption.
• Intel Execute Disable Bit functionality can prevent certain classes of malicious buffer overflow attacks when combined with a supported operating system.
• Intel Trusted Execution Technology provides enhanced security through hardware-based resistance to malicious software attacks, allowing an application to run in its own isolated space, protected from all other software running on a system.

Energy efficiency

The SR950 V3 offers the following energy-efficiency features to save energy, reduce operational costs, and increase energy availability:

• Energy-efficient planar components help lower operational costs.
• High-efficiency power supplies with 80 PLUS Titanium certifications
• Intel Intelligent Power Capability turns individual processor elements on and off as needed to reduce power draw.
• Low-voltage 1.1 V DDR5 memory offers energy savings compared to 1.2 V DDR4 DIMMs.
• Solid-state drives (SSDs) consume as much as 80% less power than traditional spinning 2.5-inch HDDs.
• The server uses hexagonal ventilation holes, which can be grouped more densely than round holes, providing more efficient airflow through the system and thus keeping your system cooler.
• Optional Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager provides advanced data center power notification, analysis, and policy-based management to help achieve lower heat output and reduced cooling needs.