Apple has announced an updated Xserve that the company says delivers
up to twice the performance of the previous system. Using Intel
“Nehalem” Xeon processors and a next generation system architecture,
the 1U rack-optimized Xserve delivers up to an 89 percent improvement
in performance per watt, according to David Moody, Apple’s vice
president of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing.
Xserve is available with up to two 2.93GHz Intel Xeon processors and
storage options that include a low-power solid state drive (SSD) and
up to 3TB of internal storage. Starting at US$2,999, Xserve includes
an unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5
(“Leopard”).
The new Xserve includes Intel Xeon processors running at speeds up to
2.93GHz, each with an integrated memory controller with three
channels of 1066MHz DDR3 ECC memory that delivers up to 2.4 times the
memory bandwidth while cutting memory latency up to 40 percent, Moody
says. he adds that it also delivers a 19 percent reduction in idle
power use.
Xserve’s storage capabilities include a 128GB SSD boot-drive option
and delivers up to 48 times faster random access times without
occupying a drive bay. Xserve’s three 3.5-inch drive bays support
both 7200 rpm SATA and 15,000 rpm SAS drives and can be configured
with up to 3TB of internal storage. Two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion
slots provide I/O bandwidth to support the latest high-bandwidth
expansion cards.
The Xserve RAID card option now delivers performance up to
497MB/second and supports RAID levels 0, 1 and 5 with 512MB of cache
without using a PCI Express expansion slot. A 72-hour backup battery
is included for enhanced data protection.
Every Xserve ships with an unlimited client edition of Leopard
Server, offering support for Mac, Linux and Windows clients without
the added cost of client-access licenses. Leopard Server sports
Server Assistant and Server Preferences, which allow even
nontechnical users to quickly manage users and groups on the server
and easily set up key services, says Moody. Leopard Server includes
Podcast Producer, a way to automatically publish podcasts to iTunes
or the web; Wiki Server, allowing people to collaboratively create
and modify their shared web sites with a few clicks; and iCal Server,
a commercial CalDAV standard-based calendar server. Leopard Server is
fully UNIX compliant and LDAP and Active Directory support allows
Xserve to fit right in to existing IT environments.
Moody says the new Xserve joins Apple’s latest hardware products in
setting new standards for environmentally friendly design. Xserve
uses PVC-free internal cables and components, contains no brominated
flame retardants and features a power supply with an average energy
efficiency of 89 percent.
The new Xserve is immediately available through the Apple Store
(http://www.apple.com) and Apple Authorized Resellers. The Xserve
standard configuration, with a suggested retail price of US$2,999,
includes: a single 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Xeon 5500 series processor with
8MB of fully shared L3 cache; 3GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC RAM; a single
160GB 7200 rpm SATA Apple Drive Module; dual Gigabit Ethernet
on-board; two PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion slots; Bonjour-enabled
Lights-Out Management processor and Server Monitor Software; internal
graphics with Mini DisplayPort output; two FireWire 800 and three USB
2.0 ports; and an unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server
version 10.5 Leopard.
Build-to-order options and accessories for Xserve include: dual 2.26
GHz, 2.66 GHz or 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon processors; 160GB and 1TB 7200
rpm SATA Apple Drive Modules; 450GB 15,000 rpm SAS drives (third
party option); internal Xserve RAID card; Gigabit Ethernet, 4Gb Fibre
Channel cards and a 750W redundant power supply.