Notes from the machine room (2008–2010)

We are adding to our server network the Dell PE 2950 III machines, with the following main specifications:

Intel Xeon 82.83GHz 24MB L2 Cache 1333Mhz FSB 16GB FBD 667Mhz SDRAM 6 146GB SAS 15,000 rpm 3.5” HDD RAID1 + RAID10 DRAC V Remote Hardware Management Windows 2008 Server 64Bits Datacenter Redundant NIC Redundant POWER SUPPLY

We renewed part of our hard drives and expanded the system, moving to raid 10 arrays of 8 SAS 15Krpm disks + 1 drive of the same specifications on automatic hot standby (hotspare), connected through 2 PERC cards with 1Gb of write cache and a total bandwidth of 48Gbps.

At the same time we applied the new intelligent distribution algorithm and configured redundant links and load balancing across the connections between the storage arrays, the servers and the disks (Intelligent Mirroring + Redundant Paths + Load Balancing).

We replaced all the power supplies in the Dell SAS disk arrays with new energy-efficient units rated at 488W, handling peaks of 550W, with dual temperature sensors and dual fans. Maximum heat dissipation capacity of 1430 BTU/hour.

Each array is fitted with 2 of these power supplies for redundancy and maximum reliability.

Running through these notes is a progression the chronicle recorded jump by jump: memory. The 16GB the 2950 IIIs arrived with soon fell short as the platform grew, and successive upgrades took them first to 48GB and finally to 72GB — the bank of heatsinked modules in the last photo.