DELL PowerEdge R740xd2 Rack Server

Dell PowerEdge R740xd2 - Ultra-High Density 2U Storage-Optimized Rack Server

The Dell PowerEdge R740xd2 is a specialized high-capacity 2U two-socket rack server engineered specifically for content delivery, media streaming, and large-scale data storage applications. As an evolution of the R740xd platform, this storage-centric server maximizes internal drive capacity while delivering robust two-socket performance, making it the ideal choice for organizations requiring massive on-premise storage with fast response times and maximum uptime.

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Processor & Compute Performance:

  • CPU Support: Dual-socket design supporting up to two 2nd Generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors (code-named "Cascade Lake")
  • Core Count: Up to 22 cores per processor (44 cores total)
  • Advanced Features: Enhanced performance for data-intensive workloads with improved I/O throughput
  • Processing Power: Delivers enterprise-class compute capabilities to handle large datasets and concurrent user requests

Memory Specifications:

  • Memory Type: DDR4 RDIMM (Registered DIMM) with ECC
  • DIMM Slots: 16 DDR4 DIMM slots total
    • CPU1 supports up to 10 DIMMs
    • CPU2 supports up to 6 DIMMs
  • Memory Speed: Up to 2666 MT/s
  • Maximum Capacity: Up to 512GB (1TB total system memory with maximum configurations)
  • Memory Population Rules: Asymmetric memory configuration with largest capacity DIMMs placed first
  • ECC Support: Error-Correcting Code ensures data integrity and system reliability
  • Memory RAS Features: Memory sparing, mirroring, and other reliability features to prevent uncorrectable errors

Storage Configurations - Industry-Leading Capacity:

The R740xd2 is purpose-built for maximum storage density with unprecedented drive bay configurations:

3.5-inch Large Form Factor (Primary Configuration):

  • Front Bays: Up to 24 x 3.5-inch SAS/SATA hot-swap drives (slots 0-23)
  • Rear Bays: Up to 2 x 3.5-inch SAS/SATA hot-swap drives (slots 24-25)
  • Total Capacity: 26 x 3.5-inch drives (up to 364TB raw storage in a single 2U server)

Alternative Configuration with 2.5-inch SSD Acceleration:

  • Front: Up to 16 x 3.5-inch SAS/SATA drives PLUS up to 8 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA SSDs for hybrid tiered storage
  • Enables combination of high-capacity HDDs with fast SSD caching

Scalability:

  • Single Server: Up to 364TB raw capacity in 2U
  • 42U Rack: Scale out to 520 x 3.5-inch drives (up to 7.2PB raw storage capacity)

Drive Interface Support:

  • SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) for enterprise-grade reliability
  • SATA (Serial ATA) for cost-effective capacity
  • Nearline SAS for optimal balance of performance and cost

Storage Controllers:

  • Software RAID: S140 Software RAID for basic data protection
  • Hardware RAID Controllers:
    • PERC H330: Entry-level RAID controller
    • PERC H730P: High-performance RAID with cache protection
    • PERC H740P: Advanced RAID capabilities
    • PERC H750: Next-generation RAID performance (adapter only)
    • HBA330: Host Bus Adapter for non-RAID configurations
    • HBA350i: Advanced HBA option
  • External Storage: PERC H840, HBA355e for SAN connectivity
  • RAID Levels: Support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and more depending on controller

Boot Options:

  • BOSS-S1 (Boot Optimized Storage Subsystem): Dual M.2 SATA SSDs with hardware RAID 1 for OS boot reliability
  • IDSDM (Internal Dual SD Module): Dual microSD cards (16GB/32GB/64GB) with optional vFlash (16GB)
    • Located at rear of system in proprietary PCIe x1 slot
    • Requires iDRAC Enterprise license for vFlash functionality
    • Not hot-pluggable

Expansion & I/O:

  • PCIe Slots: Up to 5 PCIe Gen3 expansion slots (x16 width)
  • PCIe Generation: PCIe 3.0 throughout for high-speed I/O
  • LOM Riser: Dedicated slot for network expansion cards
  • Note: The R740xd2 prioritizes storage density over PCIe expansion compared to compute-focused models

GPU & Acceleration:

  • Not Supported: The R740xd2 does not support GPU acceleration
  • Design Focus: Optimized specifically for storage-intensive workloads rather than GPU compute tasks

Networking:

  • Embedded NIC: 2 x 1GbE (Gigabit Ethernet) Base-T LAN on Motherboard
  • Optional LOM Riser Cards:
    • 2 x 1GbE Base-T
    • 2 x 10GbE SFP+
    • 2 x 10GbE Base-T
    • 2 x 25GbE SFP+
  • Network Expansion: Additional adapters available via PCIe slots

Power Supply Options:

  • Dual Redundant: 2 x AC or DC power supply units with 1+1 redundancy
  • Auto-Sensing & Auto-Switching: Intelligent power management
  • Energy Smart Features: Dynamic efficiency optimization while maintaining availability
  • Advanced Thermal Management: Reduces power consumption
  • PSU Matching: During POST, if wattages don't match, the larger PSU is enabled
  • Power Options: Various wattage configurations available based on system requirements

Cooling & Thermal Management:

  • Optimized Airflow: Advanced thermal design ensures optimal cooling for densely packed drives
  • Hot-Swappable Fans: Field-replaceable cooling fans for continuous operation
  • Drive Cooling: Specialized airflow paths maintain optimal temperatures for 26 drive bays
  • Energy-Efficient: Intelligent fan controls minimize power consumption while ensuring reliability

Security Features - Cyber Resilient Architecture:

Dell builds comprehensive security into every phase of the server lifecycle:

  • Cryptographically Signed Firmware: Ensures only authenticated, signed firmware runs on the server, including storage drives and RAID controllers
  • Silicon Root of Trust: Hardware-based security foundation established during manufacturing
  • Secured Component Verification: Validates hardware integrity to detect unauthorized modifications
  • Secure Boot: UEFI Secure Boot prevents unauthorized firmware and OS loading
  • System Lockdown: Prevents unauthorized changes to server configuration (requires iDRAC9 Enterprise or Datacenter)
  • Trusted Platform Module (TPM): Optional TPM 1.2 or TPM 2.0 for hardware-based encryption
  • TCM 2.0: Trusted Cryptography Module option available
  • Secure Erase: Complete data sanitization for decommissioned drives
  • Physical Security: Password protection, alerts, event logging to protect data from theft or unauthorized access

Management & Automation:

iDRAC9 (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 9):

  • Agent-free, out-of-band remote management capabilities
  • Embedded lifecycle management with automated features
  • iDRAC Direct: Dedicated micro USB port for at-the-server management via mobile device
  • HTML5-based virtual console for browser-based remote access
  • QuickSync 2: Near-field communication for rapid server access via smartphone or tablet
  • RESTful API with Redfish for programmatic automation
  • Licensing tiers: iDRAC9 Basic, Express, Enterprise, or Datacenter

Dell OpenManage Portfolio:

Comprehensive tools designed to simplify and automate large-scale server management:

  • OpenManage Enterprise: Centralized console with customized reporting and automatic discovery of PowerEdge infrastructure
  • OpenManage Server Administrator: Advanced server management capabilities
  • OpenManage Mobile: Access server data and receive alerts remotely via mobile device
  • iDRAC Group Manager: Easily manage multiple remote servers through intuitive interface
  • Dell Repository Manager: Centralized firmware and driver repository management
  • Dell System Update: Automated update utilities
  • Dell Server Update Utility: Streamlined update deployment
  • Update Catalogs: Pre-tested update bundles
  • RACADM CLI: Command-line interface for scripting and automation
  • IPMI Tool: Industry-standard management protocol support

Integration & Orchestration:

  • VMware vCenter integration
  • Microsoft System Center integration
  • Red Hat Ansible modules
  • ServiceNow integration

Video & Connectivity:

  • Graphics Controller: Integrated Matrox G200eW graphics controller with 16MB video frame buffer
  • Video Ports: VGA ports (front and rear) supporting multiple resolutions
  • Supported Resolutions: Up to 1920x1200 (reduced blanking mode)

Ports & Interfaces:

Front:

  • 1 x USB 3.0
  • 1 x iDRAC Direct micro USB (managed)

Rear:

  • VGA video port
  • Serial connector
  • Dedicated iDRAC LAN port
  • 2 x USB 3.0

Internal:

  • 1 x USB 3.0

Form Factor & Design:

  • Size: 2U rack-mountable server
  • Optimized Layout: 24 front-accessible, hot-swappable drive bays for easy maintenance
  • Tool-Less Design: Simplified component replacement
  • Hot-Swappable Components: All 26 drives, power supplies, and fans are hot-swappable
  • Rack Density: Maximize storage capacity per rack unit

Operating System Support:

  • Microsoft Windows Server
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
  • Ubuntu Server
  • VMware ESXi
  • Additional supported operating systems - see www.dell.com/ossupport

Ideal Applications:

  • Content Delivery Networks (CDN): High-throughput media streaming and content distribution
  • Media & Entertainment: Video on demand (VOD), digital asset management, post-production storage
  • Surveillance & Video Analytics: IP camera storage, video management systems, archival storage
  • Cloud Storage Services: Object storage platforms, backup as a service
  • Software-Defined Storage (SDS): Foundation for VMware vSAN, ScaleIO storage clusters
  • Big Data & Analytics: Hadoop clusters, data lakes, archival repositories
  • File Servers: Centralized file storage for large organizations
  • Backup & Archive: Long-term data retention, compliance archiving
  • High-Capacity Databases: Large-scale database storage for analytics and reporting

High Availability Features:

  • 24 Front-Serviceable Drives: Hot-swappable, validated drives offer enterprise-class reliability
  • Redundant Power Supplies: 1+1 redundancy minimizes downtime
  • Hot-Swap Fans: Continuous operation during component replacement
  • Extensive Warranty Options: Dell service and support packages ensure maximum uptime

Key Advantages:

  • Massive Capacity: Up to 364TB in a single 2U server, 7.2PB in a 42U rack
  • Cost-Efficient: Large drive capacities reduce cost per terabyte
  • Ease of Management: Automated administration and front-serviceable drives simplify operations
  • Data Security: Keep data safely on-premise with built-in security features
  • Scalable Architecture: Easily scale capacity as business demands grow
  • Hybrid Storage: Tier data with combination of 2.5-inch SSDs and 3.5-inch HDDs
  • Fast Networking: Optional high-speed network cards support streaming demands

Dell Services & Support:

ProSupport Services:

  • ProSupport Plus: 24/7 expert support with proactive monitoring for critical systems
  • ProSupport: Premium hardware and software support with collaborative assistance
  • Availability and terms vary by region

ProDeploy Services:

  • Expert deployment guidance to help organizations grow, optimize, and transform IT environments
  • Certified consultants and engineers deliver deep technical expertise
  • Program management ensures projects are completed right and on time

Consulting Services:

  • Expert guidance at customer's pace and budget
  • Broad range of certified professionals backed by program management teams
  • Focus on business transformation while Dell handles technical implementation

Dell Financial Services:

  • Flexible leasing and financing options for qualified customers
  • Terms and availability vary by country and require credit approval

Why Choose the Dell PowerEdge R740xd2:

The PowerEdge R740xd2 is purpose-built for organizations that need to maximize on-premise storage capacity while maintaining enterprise-grade performance, security, and reliability. With support for up to 26 x 3.5-inch drives (364TB) in a single 2U server and the ability to scale to 7.2PB in a 42U rack, this platform delivers the highest storage density in Dell's portfolio. Combined with 2nd Gen Intel Xeon processors, flexible networking options, comprehensive security features, and Dell's legendary reliability and support, the R740xd2 is the ideal choice for content delivery, media streaming, surveillance, and large-scale data storage applications where capacity, performance, and uptime are paramount.

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