Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350

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The Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 is an Edge Server server designed to live outside the data center providing a powerful alternative to using 2U data center servers out in remote workplaces. The Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server utilizes the pinnacle of server technology to provide high performance, energy efficiency edge servers that can be deployed in locations outside of a data center, such as ROBO (Remote Office Branch Office) with no existing network infrastructures.

Typically, a corporate will end up deploying a high-end PC or Workstation to fit the requirement. Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t always provide the CPU processing power to handle the software requirements or the security necessary.

Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 use cases

It is clear Lenovo have invested time and money developing an edge server that sits between the desktop and data center, so what are the use cases for such a small footprint edge server?

  • Deploy in ROBO (Remote Office Branch Office) to act as a localized server to provide system updates and patches.
  • Run server applications to provide additional security and functionality over desktop operating systems, thus allowing a more secure and manageable deployment
  • Use as a VM server for creating a localized VDI environment for education or healthcare
  • In the middle of a field, utilizing LTE provides the connectivity to the internet or WAN
  • Manufacturing sites where the local infrastructure isn’t available to support server deployments
  • Factory floors & Telecoms
  • Where space, power and cooling are an issue
  • Remote monitoring for AI, IoT or data analytics gathering
  • Telecommunications
  • Small remote office or DR site providing fail-over
  • Hyper-converged infrastructure
  • Transport – Ships, aircraft, submarines, trains, trucks i.e. F1, oil exploration

Powerful class leading processor performance

The Lenovo Edge Server is high-performance edge server, using the Intel Xeon-D processor, and supporting a single processor from the Intel Xeon D Processor family with 16 cores of speeds of up to 2.2 GHz, and TDP ratings of up to 100W. Support for up to 4 TruDDR4 memory DIMMs an up to 256 GB of memory using 64 GB DIMMs.

The edge server is a beast, intelligent and adaptive system performance with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 allows processor cores to run at maximum speeds during peak workloads by temporarily going beyond processor TDP.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology boosts performance for multi-threaded applications by enabling simultaneous multi-threading within each processor core, up to two threads per core.

Intel Virtualization Technology integrates with the edge server on a hardware-level. Virtualization allows operating system vendors to better use the hardware for virtualization workloads.

The SE350 Edge Server also supports the NVIDIA Tesla T4 for workloads such as Edge Inferencing, making it an ideal solution for AI deployments.

Network connectivity

The Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server supports 2-models a wired or wireless variant.

  • Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 10GbE SFP+ 2-Port, 10/100/1GbE RJ45 2-Port Intel i350 Wired Network Module
  • Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 10GbE SFP+ 2-Port, 1GbE SFP 2-Port Switch, Wireless Capable Wireless Network Module

Internal Data Storage

Supporting up to 8 M.2 drives either NVMe or SATA with SED or non-SED drive support. The ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Server also supports 1 or 2 additional M.2 SATA drives for OS boot and applications, allowing the convenience of separating application code from data.

A choice of storage controllers for either RAID or non-RAID purposes. Single or mirrored drive, RAID-0, 1, (hardware RAID), NVMe direct processor connection (no RAID), Intel RSTe RAID-0, 1, 5, 10 (software RAID). Note: The use of RSTe embedded RAID is not supported by virtualization hypervisors, including VMware ESXi, Linux KVM, Xen, and Microsoft Hyper-V. The use of AHCI mode (non-RAID) is supported by these hypervisors, however.

Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350 Security

Firstly, let’s look at the security of this device as the Lenovo SE350 edge servers could typically be deployed outside of a secure data center, they include technology that encrypts the data stored on the device if it is tampered with, only enabling authorized users to access it.

Physical security features:

Intrusion detection

The server has an intrusion switch that rests against the server cover. If the cover is removed, the event is recorded, and actions can be taken to secure the server. The intrusion switch is standard.

Motion detection

The server has an on-board G-sensor accelerometer (disabled by default) that will generate an event if the server is moved. As part of the setup process in XCC, you specify the orientation of the server – desktop, ceiling, wall mount, angled in the bookshelf mount. You can also specify the sensitivity of the motion detection. The motion detection feature is standard.

Support for a Kensington lock and cable

The server has a slot on the side of the server which a customer-supplied Kensington lock and cable can be attached to, to help prevent theft of the server.

Intrusion arm/disarm feature

The Kensington cable slot can also double as an electronic switch to disarm the intrusion switch detection, so that authorized servicing of the hardware can be performed without triggering the security actions. Available as the Tamper Detection Kit, CTO only. The kit includes a Kensington lock (without cable) that is attached to the outside of the server.

Note: This intrusion arm/disarm feature is not supported with the 1U or 2U rack enclosure mounting options, due to physical restrictions with the Kensington lock.

Front bezel with key lock

Optional component that mounts on the front of the server that restricts access to networking connectors on the front of the server. Also featuring a dust filter to stop contaminates getting into the server.

Electronic security features include:

Automatic actions on tamper detection

In the event of an intrusion or movement, the server can be configured in XCC to perform actions, including server shutdown and disabling remote access to the XCC from the network ports (referred to as the BMC network bridge).

  • Self-encrypting (SED) M.2 drives ensure data is secured when the drives are powered off
  • Administrator password and a power-on password in UEFI
  • Onboard Trusted Platform Module (TPM) supporting TPM 2.0 enables advanced cryptographic functionality in the operating system and applications

Supported operating systems

Microsoft Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, VMware ESXi. Ubuntu Server certification. See the Operating system support section for specifics.

Footprint

  • With an ultra-small footprint of height: 43 mm (1.7 in.), width: 209 mm (8.2 in.), depth: 376 mm (14.8 in.).
  • With two choices of power input 12V DC using one or two external AC adaptors (2 creates redundancy) and 48V DX using a hardwired telco connection
  • Designed to operate in rugged environments, up to 55°C when air conditioning isn’t available.

Rich Media Content

https://www.lenovofiles.com/3dtours/products/superblaze/se350/index.html

Read more

Please check out our TECH CRUNCH BLOG here about Edge Servers : https://www.data-storage.uk/remote-server-edge-server/

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