How to identify a Dell PowerEdge server generation

PowerEdge server naming convention

Since the 10th gereration of PowerEdge servers, the naming for the server models generally consist of a letter(s) followed by three or four numbers (ex: PowerEdge R730, PowerEdge R6515, or PowerEdge MX740c).

The letter indicates the type (form factor) of the server:

• C = C Series; Modular and compute optimized server nodes and servers for hyper-scale environments
• F = Flexible - Hybrid rack-based sleds for rack-based FX2/FX2s enclosure
• M or MX* = Modular - Blade servers and other items for the modular enclosure MX7000, M1000e and/or VRTX
• R = Rack-mountable servers
• T = Tower Servers
• XE = Purpose-built for complex, emerging workloads that require high performance and large storage.
• XR = Industrial-grade servers for extreme environments.

Three number naming convention

• The first number after the letter indicates the class of the system. With 1-3 being 1 CPU systems, 4 - 7 are 2 CPU systems, 8 can be 2 or 4 CPU's and 9 is 4 CPU's.
• The second number indicates the generation, with 0 for 10th generation, 1 for 11th generation and so on.
• The third number indicates the make of the CPU, 0 for Intel and 5 for AMD.

Example, the R740 model is a Rack 2 CPU system from the 14th generation of servers with Intel Processors.

Four number naming convention

• The first number after the letter indicates the class of the system. With 1-5 defaulting to iDRAC Basic and 6 - 9 defaulting to iDRAC Express.
• The second number indicates the generation, with 0 for 10th generation, 1 for 11th generation and so on.
• The third number often indicates the number of CPU sockets, 1 for 1 CPU and 2 for 2 CPU's.
• The fourth number indicates the make of the CPU, 0 for Intel and 5 for AMD.

Example, the R6415 model is a Rack 1 CPU socket system from the 14th generation of servers with AMD processors.

* For MX7000 modular enclosure: compute sleds, storage sled and IO modules are identified with an additional letter appended to the end of the model name.

• MX750c, MX740c and MX840c has an appended c for Compute
• MX5016s has an appended s for Storage
• MX9116n has an appended n for IO Module

Enclosures and chassis naming

• PowerEdge MX7000

  The PowerEdge MX7000 was introduced during the 14th Generation range. The MX7000 enclosure has eight front-accessible slots for 2-socket single-width or 4-socket double-width compute sleds and single-width storage sled combinations. The supported server module sleds are designated as MXxxxc. The supported storage module sleds are designated as MXxxxxs.

  For MX7000 modular: compute sleds, storage sled and IO modules are identified with an additional letter appended to the end of the model name.

  • MX750c, MX740c and MX840c has an appended c for Compute sled
  • MX5016s has an appended s for Storage sled
  • MX9116n has an appended n for IO Module
  • MXG610s has an appended s for IO Module

• PowerEdge M1000E

  The PowerEdge M1000e was introduced with the 10th generation. The M1000e enclosure includes up to 16 half-height server modules, eight full-height server modules, eight sleeves with quarter-height server modules, or a mix of the three server module types. The supported server module types are designated as Mxxx.

  Follow this procedure to install server modules that are not configured for the M1000e enclosure:

  If you install server modules that are not configured for the M1000e enclosure, an error message is displayed.
  To configure a Mxxx (for PE VRTX) server module for the M1000e enclosure from the VRTX enclosure:
  1. Open the server module.
  2. Remove any PCIe Mezzanine cards installed in Fabric B and Fabric C slots of the server module.
  3. Install Mezzanine card slot B that supports Fabric B. This card must match the fabric type of I/O modules B1 and B2 of the M1000e.
  4. Install Mezzanine card slot C that supports Fabric C. This card must match the fabric type of I/O modules C1 and C2 of the M1000e.

  Additional information about configuration and installation of a server module is provided in the module Owner's Manual available at Dell.com/Poweredgemanuals

• PowerEdge VRTX

  The PowerEdge VRTX was introduced with the 12th generation. The VRTX enclosure includes up to four half-height server modules, two full-height server modules, or a mix of the server module types. The supported server module types are designated as Mxxx (for PE VRTX).
  
  Follow this procedure to install server modules that are not configured for the VRTX enclosure.

  If you install server modules that are not configured for the VRTX enclosure, an error message is displayed.
  To configure a Mxxx server module for the VRTX enclosure from the M1000e enclosure:
  1. Open the server module.
  2. Remove any mezzanine cards installed in Fabric B and Fabric C slots of the server module.
  3. Install PCIe Mezzanine cards in the vacant Fabric B and Fabric C slots.

  Additional information about configuration and installation of a server module is provided in the module Owner's Manual available at Dell.com/Poweredgemanuals

• PowerEdge FX2 / FX2s

  The PowerEdge FX2/FX2s was introduced with the 13th generation. The FX2 enclosure supports up to four half-width compute sleds, up to eight quarter-width compute sleds, up to two full-width compute sleds, or a mix of compute sled types. The PowerEdge FX2s enclosure also supports half-width storage sleds mapped to the compute sleds. The supported compute sleds are designated as FCxxx and FMxxx. The supported storage sleds are designated as FDxxx.

Legacy PowerEdge server naming convention

• First digit – Class of server
• Second digit – Generation of server (up to 9th generation)
• Third digit – Server type (5 for rack server, 0 for tower server)
• Fourth digit – Indicated whether blade or independent box (5 for blade, 0 for normal independent box)

So, for example, the 2950 model is a 2U system from the 9th generation of servers in rack format in an independent box.