Dell VxRail VD-4520c - User Manual

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Overview

Important Technical Specifications
Usage Features
Maintenance Features

The Dell VxRail VD-4520c is a 2U half-width, single-processor compute sled designed for high-performance computing and virtualized environments. It supports one Third Generation Intel Xeon D Scalable processor with up to 16 cores, offering substantial processing power for demanding workloads. The system is equipped with four DDR4 DIMM slots, allowing for flexible memory configurations to meet various application requirements. For storage, it supports up to 4 x M.2 NVMe SSDs on a PCIe Add-in card and up to 4 x M.2 NVMe SSDs on an M.2 riser module, providing high-speed storage options. The VD-4520c also supports GPUs, network cards, and other PCIe devices on your system, with specific configurations validated by Dell Technologies to ensure optimal performance.

Important Technical Specifications:

Processor: One Third Generation Intel Xeon D Scalable processor with up to 16 cores.
Memory: Four DDR4 DIMM slots, supporting RDIMMs and LRDIMMs. Memory modules must be DDR4, and x4 and x8 DRAM-based memory modules cannot be mixed. If memory modules with different speeds are installed, they operate at the speed of the slowest installed memory modules. Four DIMMs are required for each installed processor in Optimizer Mode.
Storage: Up to 4 x M.2 NVMe SSDs on a PCIe Add-in card and up to 4 x M.2 NVMe SSDs on an M.2 riser module. It also supports a Boot Optimized Storage Subsystem (BOSS-N1) with 2 x M.2 SSDs as internal boot drives.
Network I/O: Supports up to four NIC ports on the network I/O board, with options for 10 GbE SFP x 4 (max 50 Gb), 25 GbE SFP x 4 (max 100 Gb).
USB Ports: Includes USB 3.0-compliant ports (two front, one internal) and Micro-USB USB 2.0-compliant port for iDRAC Direct (one front).
Video: Integrated Matrox G200 graphics controller embedded in the iDRAC (BMC) chip with 16 MB of video frame buffer. Supports resolutions from 640 x 480 to 1920 x 1200 at 60 Hz with color depths of 8, 16, 32 bits.
Environmental: Operating temperature range of 5°C to 55°C (23°F to 131°F) with a startup temperature of 0°C (32°F). Non-operating temperature range of -40°C to 85°C (-40°F to 185°F). Complies with various industry standards including GR-1089-CORE, GR-63-CORE, GR-3580 (NEBS Level 3), GR-3108-CORE (Class 1), MILSTD 810H, MILSTD 461G, MILSTD 901E, MILSTD 1474E, IEC-60945, IEEE 1613, IEC – 61850-3, Safety (NA), EMC (NA), and EMV (NA).
Cooling: Supports up to three standard (STD) cabled cooling fans for reverse and normal air-flow.
Physical Dimensions: Maximum weight with all SSDs is 3.15 kg (6.94 lbs) for 1 x DIMM, 1 x M.2 NVMe SSD on M.2 riser, 1 x M.2 NVMe SSD on BOSS-N1. For 4 x DIMMs, 4 x M.2 NVMe SSDs on M.2 riser, 2 x M.2 NVMe SSDs on BOSS-N1, 1 x Double Width GPU, the maximum weight is 4.69 kg (10.34 lbs).

Usage Features:

Self-Deployment: For experienced users, the VxRail VD-4520c can be self-deployed. This requires extensive network experience, understanding of VxRail infrastructure planning, and deployment knowledge. Dell Technologies provides a VxRail Configuration Portal for self-deployment guidance. During deployment, iDRAC creates vxadmin or PTAdmin accounts, which are crucial for VxRail Manager and cluster functionality. Modifying or deleting these accounts can impair system operation.
Pre-operating System Management: The system allows management of basic settings and features without booting into the operating system through pre-operating system applications like System Setup, Boot Manager, Dell Lifecycle Controller, and Preboot Execution Environment (PXE).
System Setup (BIOS): Users can configure BIOS settings, iDRAC settings, and device settings. Dell Technologies optimizes these settings during installation for best performance, and it is recommended not to change them. Key configurable options include System Information (model name, BIOS version, service tag), Memory Settings (size, type, speed, voltage, testing, operating mode), Processor Settings (logical processor, virtualization technology, directory mode, kernel DMA protection, cache line prefetch, hardware prefetch, stream prefetch, NUMA cluster, core enumeration, UPI prefetch, XPT prefetch, LLC prefetch, dead line LLC alloc, directory Atos, logical processor idling, AVX P1, Intel SST-CP, x2APIC mode, AVX ICCP pre-grant license, Dell controlled turbo, Dell controlled turbo settings, number of cores per processor, CPU physical address limit, processor core speed, local machine check exception), Boot Settings (boot mode, boot sequence retry, generic USB boot, hard-disk drive placeholder, clean all sysprep variables and order, UEFI boot mode), Network Settings (PXE device, HTTP device, HTTP device n, iSCSI settings), Integrated Devices (user accessible USB ports, internal USB port, iDRAC direct USB port, I/O/AT DMA engine, embedded video controller, embedded NICs, I/O Snoop HoldOff response, current state of embedded video controller, SR-IOV global enable), Serial Communication (serial communication, serial port address, external serial connector), System Profile (CPU power management, memory frequency, turbo boost, C1E, C states, memory patrol scrub, memory refresh rate, uncore frequency option, energy efficient policy), System Security (CPU AES-NI, system password, setup password, password status, TPM information, Intel(R) TXT, memory encryption, Intel(R) SGX, power button, AC power recovery, AC power recovery delay, user defined delay, UEFI variable access, in-band manageability interface, SMM security migration, secure boot, secure boot policy, secure boot policy summary), Redundant OS Control (redundant OS location, redundant OS state, redundant OS boot), and Miscellaneous Settings (system time, system date, asset tag, keyboard numlock, F1/F2 prompt on error, Dell Wyse P25/P45 BIOS access, power cycle request).
Boot Manager: Allows selection of boot options and diagnostic utilities. Users can choose to continue normal boot, access a one-shot boot menu, launch System Setup, invoke Dell Lifecycle Controller, or access System Utilities (Launch Diagnostics, BIOS update File Explorer, Reboot System).
PXE Boot: Enables booting and configuration of networked systems remotely. Accessed by pressing F12 during POST.

Maintenance Features:

Hardware Component Replacement: The manual provides guidelines for adding or replacing hardware components such as solid-state drives (SSDs), power supply units (PSUs), and system memory. It distinguishes between Customer Replaceable Units (CRUs) and Field Replaceable Units (FRUs). CRUs (e.g., M.2 NVMe SSD, GPU, BOSS-N1 card, system memory, system battery, network I/O board, expansion card riser 1C, PCIE Add-in-card (AIC), power interposer board, fan assembly) can be replaced by the customer, while FRUs (e.g., system board, M.2 riser module) require Dell Technologies support.
Solve Online for VxRail: Dell Technologies recommends using SolVe Online for VxRail to generate replacement procedures for hardware components or software upgrades to prevent data loss. Access to SolVe Online requires a Dell Technologies Support account.
Sled Installation Guidelines: A sled blank must be installed in all empty slots to prevent overheating.
Expansion Card Installation Guidelines: Provides details on expansion card riser configurations, including PCIe slots, controlling processor, height, length, and slot width. Expansion-card slots are not hot-swappable. Cards with the highest priority should be installed first according to slot priority.
System Memory Guidelines: The VxRail VD-4520c supports DDR4 registered DIMMs (RDIMMs) and LRDIMMs. Memory channels are organized for processor 1. Mixing more than two memory module capacities is not supported. Unbalanced or odd memory configurations can lead to performance loss or failure to identify installed memory modules. Always populate memory channels identically with equal DIMMs for best performance. Odd memory configurations with three RDIMMs are not supported.
Jumpers and Connectors: Information on jumpers and switches on the system board is provided to help disable the system and reset passwords. This knowledge is essential for correct component and cable installation. DIP switches are used to disable the system and reset passwords.
System Diagnostics: The system includes Dell Embedded System Diagnostics (ePSA) for troubleshooting. Users can run tests automatically or interactively, repeat tests, display or save test results, run thorough tests, view status messages, and view error messages. Diagnostics can be run from Boot Manager or Dell Lifecycle Controller.
Password Management: The system supports setting and resetting system passwords and setup passwords. The password jumper enables or disables the system password and setup password features. If the password jumper setting is disabled, the existing system password and setup password are deleted. Incorrect password attempts can lead to system lockout.
Redundant OS Control: Configurable options for redundant OS location (None, SATA Ports in AHCI mode, SATA ports), redundant OS state (Visible, Hidden), and redundant OS boot (None, Hidden, Enabled, Disabled).
Miscellaneous Settings: Allows configuration of system time, system date, asset tag, keyboard numlock, F1/F2 prompt on error, Dell Wyse P25/P45 BIOS access, and power cycle request.
iDRAC Settings: The iDRAC settings utility provides an interface to set up and configure iDRAC parameters using UEFI. It allows enabling or disabling various iDRAC parameters.