1. Though they just produce one SKU for the core of the chassis that works both ways (aside from the accessories). I guess I'll have to go with the rack for starters and make some DIY feet, although the owner's manual has a whole section on converting tower to rack. From what I read on the forums, seems you need to bug the reps for parts to have it done.
2. The technical guide seem to suggest those are present, but only active with Enteprise license:
"vFlash media reader: Supports one vFlash media card; functionality is activated only when iDRAC7 Enterprise is enabled"
"iDRAC7 Enterprise port: Dedicated management port for optional iDRAC7 Enterprise"
Both are also present on the owner's manual schematics. Would love to get some official feedback.
3. So how does embedded SATA work then if I can't just plug in the drives?
I've read up on the SSD issues here, both Samsung and Intel drives seem to work for some, but I know there's no guarantee. I have a bunch of drives anyway to try out. And worst case scenario, I can always just buy a 3rd party PCIe controller and have it work.
1. You might have to use a shelf - the T620 will not have the mounting screws for the rails, nor will it have the "ears" and screws for the rack front. Why not just get a rackmount unit? It doesn't require a rack to use/run.
2. Probably need a Dell support agent to answer this one.
3. Only the H310 supports JBOD. If you get an H700, it is a much better controller, but it does not support non-RAID - any disk attached to it would need to be in a RAID array before it could be seen/used by the OS (although you could do each disk in a single-disk RAID 0). Do your homework on SSD's - not all non-certified drives work as expected, and fewer non-enterprise drives will work. From what I have seen, NO non-certified SSD will show the correct LED status - it will always show amber, as if offline, even if it is online. I believe (always dependent on the controller) that people have had issues with the Samsung drives, but the Intel drives have worked ok ... don't quote me.
I don't believe the x620 has the option to use "cabled" hard drives - all configurations use a backplane ... the Embedded SATA probably just makes the drives available to the onboard SATA controller (which if RAID is enabled, is the S110) via the SW RAID Connector on the MB, rather than drives connecting directly and individually to the motherboard.
So it will be up to the OS/Hypervisor to recognize those then? I don't have much use for Raid in my line of work, so haven't put much time into researching it. I did read on the H310 card, and it has some known under performance issues, so I'd have to go with H710 just to be safe on that side too.
Just seems quite puzzling too me that Dell would offer a server that makes it so complicated to use a regular hard drive, even if it protects their revenue.
I think it's more about: why would Dell build a server and not make sure it is completely stable and reliable with any and all option they offer for the server.
To make it stable and reliable with their drives they even fine tune the firmware on their drives (which costs extra money). If you take the average generic system build versus a name brand server (be it Dell, HP or IBM), the reliability of the name brand server (using hardware they have validated) will typically make give the uptime an extra 9 (or 'half a 9') or so. For some companies that is important enough to pay the extra money to use drives that that vendor certified (had the drive manufacturer write firmware for that works best with the OEM's specific raid controllers).
Just like other major (Intel) server manufacturers, some items are hard locked in for allowing only certified drives (for Dell this is mostly their SANs), and other pieces they don't lock it down, but it may or may not play nice (like some of the examples that theflash1932 provided).
One doesn't exclude the other. I understand the risk associated with adding my own parts to the machine and Dell (or other manufacturer) or building it from scratch, so I would just appreciate being given that option (given that the hardware sure can support it), especially when the premium paid is so high.
Anyways, I spoke to a CSR via chat and been given an answer about a rail mount kit being available, vflash and nic for iDRAC7 bult in and at least the option of bringing in your own drives available, albeit the system configurator requires you to choose a raid controller and at least one drive.
Speaking of which, does anyone have any performance numbers for the MLC SSDs? Google search return some not flattering post about the rebranded SSDs Dell is selling and my CSR didn't seem to find any internal performance number comparisons either. Maybe I should move this topic to the storage forum?
KNL4
4 Posts
0
November 11th, 2013 07:00
1. Though they just produce one SKU for the core of the chassis that works both ways (aside from the accessories). I guess I'll have to go with the rack for starters and make some DIY feet, although the owner's manual has a whole section on converting tower to rack. From what I read on the forums, seems you need to bug the reps for parts to have it done.
2. The technical guide seem to suggest those are present, but only active with Enteprise license:
"vFlash media reader: Supports one vFlash media card; functionality is activated only when iDRAC7 Enterprise is enabled"
"iDRAC7 Enterprise port: Dedicated management port for optional iDRAC7 Enterprise"
Both are also present on the owner's manual schematics. Would love to get some official feedback.
3. So how does embedded SATA work then if I can't just plug in the drives?
I've read up on the SSD issues here, both Samsung and Intel drives seem to work for some, but I know there's no guarantee. I have a bunch of drives anyway to try out. And worst case scenario, I can always just buy a 3rd party PCIe controller and have it work.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
November 11th, 2013 07:00
1. You might have to use a shelf - the T620 will not have the mounting screws for the rails, nor will it have the "ears" and screws for the rack front. Why not just get a rackmount unit? It doesn't require a rack to use/run.
2. Probably need a Dell support agent to answer this one.
3. Only the H310 supports JBOD. If you get an H700, it is a much better controller, but it does not support non-RAID - any disk attached to it would need to be in a RAID array before it could be seen/used by the OS (although you could do each disk in a single-disk RAID 0). Do your homework on SSD's - not all non-certified drives work as expected, and fewer non-enterprise drives will work. From what I have seen, NO non-certified SSD will show the correct LED status - it will always show amber, as if offline, even if it is online. I believe (always dependent on the controller) that people have had issues with the Samsung drives, but the Intel drives have worked ok ... don't quote me.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
November 11th, 2013 08:00
I don't believe the x620 has the option to use "cabled" hard drives - all configurations use a backplane ... the Embedded SATA probably just makes the drives available to the onboard SATA controller (which if RAID is enabled, is the S110) via the SW RAID Connector on the MB, rather than drives connecting directly and individually to the motherboard.
KNL4
4 Posts
0
November 11th, 2013 09:00
So it will be up to the OS/Hypervisor to recognize those then? I don't have much use for Raid in my line of work, so haven't put much time into researching it. I did read on the H310 card, and it has some known under performance issues, so I'd have to go with H710 just to be safe on that side too.
Just seems quite puzzling too me that Dell would offer a server that makes it so complicated to use a regular hard drive, even if it protects their revenue.
Dev Mgr
4 Operator
•
9.3K Posts
0
November 11th, 2013 10:00
I think it's more about: why would Dell build a server and not make sure it is completely stable and reliable with any and all option they offer for the server.
To make it stable and reliable with their drives they even fine tune the firmware on their drives (which costs extra money). If you take the average generic system build versus a name brand server (be it Dell, HP or IBM), the reliability of the name brand server (using hardware they have validated) will typically make give the uptime an extra 9 (or 'half a 9') or so. For some companies that is important enough to pay the extra money to use drives that that vendor certified (had the drive manufacturer write firmware for that works best with the OEM's specific raid controllers).
Just like other major (Intel) server manufacturers, some items are hard locked in for allowing only certified drives (for Dell this is mostly their SANs), and other pieces they don't lock it down, but it may or may not play nice (like some of the examples that theflash1932 provided).
KNL4
4 Posts
0
November 11th, 2013 11:00
One doesn't exclude the other. I understand the risk associated with adding my own parts to the machine and Dell (or other manufacturer) or building it from scratch, so I would just appreciate being given that option (given that the hardware sure can support it), especially when the premium paid is so high.
Anyways, I spoke to a CSR via chat and been given an answer about a rail mount kit being available, vflash and nic for iDRAC7 bult in and at least the option of bringing in your own drives available, albeit the system configurator requires you to choose a raid controller and at least one drive.
Speaking of which, does anyone have any performance numbers for the MLC SSDs? Google search return some not flattering post about the rebranded SSDs Dell is selling and my CSR didn't seem to find any internal performance number comparisons either. Maybe I should move this topic to the storage forum?