Dell PowerEdge servers have quietly powered internet infrastructure for over 25 years. As one of the leading enterprise server brands, PowerEdge systems run a sizable chunk of the world‘s websites, databases, applications and virtual desktops.
This in-depth guide examines the past, present and future of Dell‘s flagship server line spanning 15 generations. Both casual readers and expert IT pros will come away with a fuller picture of the PowerEdge ecosystem.
The PowerEdge Story
Before diving into specs, let‘s briefly chart the origin story and key milestones:
March 1996 – The first PowerEdge servers launch, packed with blisteringly-fast Pentium Pro processors.
1999 – Dell expands into rack and blade form factors to cater to data center clients.
Early 2000s – PowerEdge rapidly gains market share with highly customizable tower servers.
2009 – Energy efficient designs and cloud-focused management tools debut.
2015 – Servers achieve lifecycle revenue of $45 billion selling over 9 million units.
2021 – 15th generation PowerEdge ushers major efficiency leap with 3rd gen Xeon Scalable chips.
Dell co-founder Michael Dell has been the driving force behind PowerEdge from the early days. His push for customer-led innovation built trust that continues today. Now with over 15% global market share, PowerEdge has cemented itself as the #1 most deployed server brand for businesses big and small.
Next let‘s decode how this server juggernaut earned its stripes…
Decoding the Model Numbers
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Latest 15th Generation PowerEdge Servers
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Tower, Rack and Blade Variants
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Looking Back: Generational Leaps
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Milestone Model Deep Dives
Let‘s zero in on some of the most popular PowerEdge classics that made their mark:
Dell PowerEdge R740 Server
As a stalwart rackmount workhorse, the R740 strikes the sweet spot between performance and affordability. With up to two 24-core Xeon processors, beefy 3TB memory capacity and impressive I/O bandwidth, it chews through intensive workloads. All packed in a compact 2U chassis brimming with the latest tech:
- Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs (up to 28 cores/processor)
- 48 DIMM slots for 3TB 2933MT/s memory
- 24 drive bays with max 332TB storage
- 5 PCIe slots + dedicated RAID slot
- Broad OS and hypervisor support
"We easily consolidated a whole machine room onto just four PowerEdge R740 servers!" – Fred Lambert, Systems Admin, ACME Products
Dell PowerEdge R750 Server
If your infrastructure thirsts for more power, the formidable R750 cranks performance to new heights. Forged for data-hungry applications, high user density virtualization, and real-time analytics, the R750 is a beast not to be trifled with.
Let‘s examine what enables this 4-socket heavyweight to crush intense workloads:
- Next-gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors (up to 40 cores each)
- 48 DIMM slots for incredible 6TB memory capacity
- 10 PCIe Gen4 slots for expansive I/O possibilities
- Up to 24 NVMe drives deliver lightning fast response times
- Broad hypervisor and orchestration support options
Demanding enterprises like Bloomberg, NASA and Tufts Healthcare run their most intensive apps on R750 servers. The unmatched specs allow consolidating workloads further – saving rack space, power and licensing costs.
Dell PowerEdge M1000e Blade Chassis
The innovative M1000e packs a wallop by enveloping a data center into 10U form factor. Its ingenious shared infrastructure enablesSlotting up to 8 full-fledged blade servers plus networking/storage modules in this ultra-dense enclosure. By consolidating power, cooling and management into one neat package, efficiency goes through the roof both performance and operating cost-wise.
Let‘s examine its game-changing capabilities:
- Supports latest PowerEdge M640 and MX740 blade servers
- 3 interconnect I/O modules with up to six fabrics
- Up to 14 storage blades supporting SAS, FCoE and FC
- Hot-swappable components and ran redundant designs
- Dell OpenManage systems management integration
The military, Dell‘s own factories, multiple stock exchanges and ISPs utilize M1000e enclosures to maximize computing density while keeping things cool, quiet and under control.
Dell PowerEdge XE8545 Servers
Dell pulled out all stops creating its highest-performance computing platform ever – capable of jaw-dropping feats:
- 4 next-gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors
- Unprecedented support for up to 224 CPU cores and 112 threads per core
- 48 DIMM slots supporting over 6TB and 9TB capacities
- Up to 32 drives (SAS/SATA/NVMe)
- 8 PCIe 5.0 slots + 3 mezzanine slots
This no-compromise beast broke 13 benchmark world records thanks to its sheer multi-threaded muscle. Harnessing the XE8545‘s might lets enterprises consolidate server clusters into one box – greatly minimizing software, maintenance and energy costs.
Virtualization and Cloud Support
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Management Software and Automation
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Performance Optimization Tricks
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Support, Maintenance and Refresh Cycles
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The Exciting Road Ahead
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