ThinkSystem SR860 V3

The Lenovo ThinkSystem SR860 V3 is a 4-socket server that features a 4U rack design with support for high-performance GPUs. The server offers technology advances, including fourth-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, and scale-up capacity of up to 16TB of system memory, up to 18x PCIe slots, and up to 48x 2.5-inch drive bays.

Suggested uses: Mission critical workloads such as SAP HANA in-memory computing, transactional databases, deep learning, analytics, big data, and virtual machine density.

Key features

The flexible ThinkSystem SR860 V3 server supports fourth-generation Intel Xeon Scalable Gold or Platinum processors and can scale from two to four processors. Built for standard workloads like general business applications and server consolidation, it can also accommodate high-growth areas such as databases and virtualization. The ThinkSystem SR860 V3’s agile design permits rapid upgrades for processors and memory, and its large, flexible storage capacity helps to keep pace with data growth.

With the capability to support up to 64 DIMMs, four sockets, up to 48 drives for internal storage, support for up to eight 75W single-wide GPUs or four high-performance 350W double-wide GPUs, and two dedicated OCP 3.0 slots for 1, 10, 25 or 100 GbE networking, the SR860 V3 provides unmatched features and capabilities in a 4U rack-mount design.

Scalability and performance

The SR860 V3 offers numerous features to boost performance, improve scalability and reduce costs: 

• Supports two or four 4th Gen Intel Xeon Processor Scalable processors, allowing you to start with two processors and then upgrade to four when you need it.
• Supports Gold and Platinum processors in the Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family. Processors supported:
• Up to 60 cores
• Core speeds of up to 3.7 GHz
• TDP ratings of up to 350W
• Up to four processors, 240 cores, and 480 threads maximize the concurrent execution of multithreaded applications.
• Support for embedded Intel accelerators:
• Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT)
• Intel Dynamic Load Balancer (DLB)
• Intel In-Memory Analytics Accelerator (IAA)
• Intel Data Streaming Accelerator (DSA)
• Enhanced inter-processor communications with three UPI connections between adjacent processors ensures increased CPU I/O throughput.
• Support for up to 64 TruDDR5 memory DIMMs operating at up to 4800 MHz means you have the fastest available memory subsystem and memory capacity of up to 16 TB with 64x 256 GB 3DS RDIMMs.
• Supports configurations of 2 DIMMs per channel to operate at the 4400 MHz rated speed of the memory DIMMs.
• The use of solid-state drives (SSDs) instead of, or along with, traditional spinning drives (HDDs), can improve I/O performance. An SSD can support up to 100 times more I/O operations per second (IOPS) than a typical HDD.
• Up to 48x 2.5-inch drive bays -- supporting combinations of SAS or SATA HDDs, SAS or SATA SSDs, and NVMe PCIe Gen4 or Gen5 SSDs -- provide a flexible and scalable all-in-one platform to meet your increasing demands. Up to 24x NVMe drives are supported, maximizing drive I/O performance in terms of throughput, bandwidth, and latency.
• The server has two dedicated industry-standard OCP 3.0 small form factor (SFF) slots, with a PCIe 5.0 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 18 PCIe slots in addition to the two OCP 3.0 Ethernet slots 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 from Lenovo and Broadcom provide 12 Gb SAS connectivity to the drive backplanes. A variety of RAID adapters are available, with cache up to 8 GB and support for 32 drives on a single controller.
• Support for four high-performance double-wide GPUs, or eight single-wide GPUs, adding additional processing power to the server.
• Supports up to two externally accessible 7mm hot-swap drives with VROC RAID functionality, in addition to the 48 front drive bays. These 7mm drives are ideal for operating system boot functions.
• As an alternative to the 7mm drives, the server supports an M.2 adapter (non-RAID) for convenient operating system boot functions. Available M.2 adapters support VROC RAID for boot drive performance and reliability.
• 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 (including 7mm and M.2 drives) without the need for a separate RAID adapter.

Availability and serviceability

The SR860 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 VROC to enable RAID-1 support on M.2 or 7mm drives for enhanced data protection of boot drives
• The server has up to four hot-swap redundant power supplies and 12x N+1 redundant fans to provide availability for business-critical applications.
• The power-source-independent light path diagnostics uses LEDs to lead the technician to failed (or failing) components, which simplifies servicing, speeds up problem resolution, and helps improve system availability.
• 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 SR860 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 7mm or 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 SR860 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 Platinum and 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.