Lenovo ThinkSystem SR850 V2 Server

The Lenovo ThinkSystem SR850 V2 is a 4-socket server that is densely packed into a 2U rack design. The server offers technology advances, including third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors with support for Intel Optane Persistent Memory 200 Series, and scale-up capacity with up to 12TB of system memory, up to 7x PCIe slots, and up to 24x 2.5-inch drive bays.

Suggested uses: Mission critical scaling up from 2S systems such as enterprise virtualization, CRM, ERP, SQL databases, VDI and small-mid sized SAP HANA computing environments.

Figure 1. Lenovo ThinkSystem SR850 V2

The Lenovo ThinkSystem SR850 V2 provides the advanced capabilities of four of the new third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, however if you wish, you can start with two processors and 24 DIMM slots and then easily expand by adding the processor & memory expansion tray to easily scale up to four processors and 48 DIMMs.

The SR850 V2 has space for 24x 2.5-inch drive bays, all 24 of which can be configured as NVMe drive bays, or AnyBay drive bays which support SAS, SATA or NVMe drives. NVMe drives are high-speed, low-latency storage, ideal for high-performance local storage or you can mix them with SAS or SATA SSDs or HDDs for storage tiering.

The flexible ThinkSystem SR850 V2 server supports third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable Gold or Platinum processors and can scale from two to four processors. Built for standard workloads like general business applications and server consolidation, it can also accommodate high-growth areas such as databases and virtualization. The ThinkSystem SR850 V2’s agile design permits rapid upgrades for processors and memory, and its large, flexible storage capacity helps to keep pace with data growth.

With the capability to support up to 48 DIMMs, four sockets, up to 24 drives for internal storage, up to 7 PCIe slots plus a dedicated OCP 3.0 slot for 1, 10 or 25 GbE networking, the SR850 V2 provides unmatched features and capabilities in a dense 2U rack-mount design.

Scalability and performance

The SR850 V2 offers numerous features to boost performance, improve scalability and reduce costs: 

• Supports two or four 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Processor Scalable processors, allowing you to start with two processors and then upgrade to four when you need it.
• Supports Gold and Platinum level processors in the Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family. Processors supported have up to 28 cores, core speeds of up to 3.9 GHz, and TDP ratings of up to 250W.
• The SR850 V2's processor expansion tray design enables you to start with two processors and 24 DIMM sockets and upgrade to four processors and 48 DIMM sockets when you need it, helping lower initial costs and manage growth.
• Up to four processors, 112 cores, and 224 threads maximize the concurrent execution of multithreaded applications.
• Enhanced inter-processor communications with six UPI connections between adjacent processors ensures increased CPU I/O throughput.
• Supports the new bfloat16 instruction set for Enhanced Deep Learning Boost
• 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 multithreaded applications by enabling simultaneous multithreading within each processor core, up to two threads per core.
• Intel Virtualization Technology integrates hardware-level virtualization hooks that allow operating system vendors to better use the hardware for virtualization workloads.
• Intel Speed Select Technology supported on some processor models, enables increased core Turbo Boost frequency on specific individual cores to maximize application performance.
• Enhanced Intel Deep Learning Boost provides built-in acceleration with the Vector Neural Network Instruction set (VNNI) and new bloat16 instructions. These are designed to deliver significant, more efficient Deep Learning (Inference) acceleration for high-performance Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads.
• Intel Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (AVX-512) enable acceleration of enterprise-class workloads, including databases and enterprise resource planning (ERP).
• Support for up to 48 TruDDR4 memory DIMMs operating at up to 3200 MHz means you have the fastest available memory subsystem and memory capacity of up to 12 TB with 48x 256 GB 3DS RDIMMs.
• Supports configurations of 2 DIMMs per channel to operate at the 3200 MHz rated speed of the memory DIMMs.
• Supports the new Intel Optane Persistent Memory 200 Series for advanced in-memory database applications, dense-virtualization; up to 24 PMem Modules can be installed in conjunction with regular system memory. PMem modules are up to 512 GB each, for a total of up to 12 TB of Persistent Memory (3 TB per processor).
• The use of solid-state drives (SSDs) instead of, or along with, traditional spinning drives (HDDs), can improve I/O performance. An SSD can support up to 100 times more I/O operations per second (IOPS) than a typical HDD.
• Up to 24x 2.5-inch drive bays -- supporting combinations of SAS or SATA HDDs, SAS or SATA SSDs, and NVMe PCIe SSDs -- provide a flexible and scalable all-in-one platform to meet your increasing demands. Up to 24x NVMe drives are supported, maximizing drive I/O performance in terms of throughput, bandwidth, and latency.
• The server has a dedicated industry-standard OCP 3.0 small form factor (SFF) slot, with a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, supporting a variety of Ethernet network adapters. Simple-swap mechanism with thumbscrews and pull-tab enables tool-less installation and removal of the adapter. Supports shared BMC network sideband connectivity to enable out-of-band systems management.
• Up to 7 PCIe 3.0 slots in addition to the OCP 3.0 Ethernet slot to maximize I/O capabilities.
• New high-speed RAID controllers from Broadcom provide 12 Gb SAS connectivity to the drive backplanes. A variety of RAID adapters are available, with cache up to 8 GB and support for all 24 drives in the server on a single controller. The RAID 940-16i 8GB Flash adapter supports RAID volumes with NVMe, SAS or SATA drives.
• Supports up to two externally accessible 7mm hot-swap drives with RAID functionality, in addition to the 24 front drive bays. These 7mm drives are ideal for operating system boot functions.
• Integrated SATA controller with Software RAID (Intel RSTe) support for up to 8x drives with basic RAID functionality with no additional adapter needed.
• Supports Intel VROC (Virtual RAID on CPU) which enables basic RAID functionality on the onboard NVMe ports of the server, with no additional adapter needed. This feature enables RAID on NVMe drives without the need for a separate RAID adapter.

Availability and serviceability

The SR850 V2 provides many features to simplify serviceability and increase system uptime:

• Designed to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• The server offers Single Device Data Correction (SDDC, also known as Chipkill), Adaptive Double-Device Data Correction (ADDDC, also known as Redundant Bit Steering or RBS), and memory mirroring for redundancy in the event of a non-correctable memory failure.
• The server offers hot-swap drives, supporting RAID redundancy for data protection and greater system uptime.
• Available pair of 7mm hot-swap drives support RAID-1 which can enable two SATA or two NVMe drive to be configured as a redundant pair.
• The server two hot-swap redundant power supplies and six N+1 redundant fans to provide availability for business-critical applications.
• The power-source-independent light path diagnostics uses LEDs to lead the technician to failed (or failing) components, which simplifies servicing, speeds up problem resolution, and helps improve system availability.
• Offers a diagnostics port on the front of the server to allow you to attach an external diagnostics handset for enhanced local systems management capabilities. The handset has an LCD display which provides more detailed diagnostics by displaying all error messages and VPD data needed for a service call, thereby aiding with problem resolution and system uptime.
• Proactive Platform Alerts (including PFA and SMART alerts): Processors, voltage regulators, memory, internal storage (SAS/SATA HDDs and SSDs, NVMe SSDs, flash storage adapters), fans, power supplies, RAID controllers, server ambient and subcomponent temperatures. Alerts can be surfaced through the XClarity Controller to managers such as Lenovo XClarity Administrator, VMware vCenter, and Microsoft System Center. These proactive alerts let you take appropriate actions in advance of possible failure, thereby increasing server uptime and application availability.
• Solid-state drives (SSDs) offer more reliability than traditional mechanical HDDs for greater uptime.
• The built-in XClarity Controller continuously monitors system parameters, triggers alerts, and performs recovery actions in case of failures, to minimize downtime.
• Built-in diagnostics in UEFI, using Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager, speed up troubleshooting tasks to reduce service time.
• Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager collects and saves service data to USB key drive or remote CIFS share folder, for troubleshooting and to reduce service time.
• Auto restart in the event of a momentary loss of AC power (based on the power policy setting in the XClarity Controller service processor)
• Support for the XClarity Administrator Mobile app running on a supported smartphone or tablet and connected to the server through the front USB 2.0 port, enables additional local systems management functions.
• Three-year or one-year customer-replaceable unit and onsite limited warranty, 9 x 5 next business day. Optional service upgrades are available.

The following figure shows the architectural block diagram of the SR850 V2, showing the major components and their connections.

Figure 7. SR850 V2 system architectural block diagram

The following table lists the standard specifications.

The SR850 V2 servers are shipped with the following items:

• Documentation flyer
• Rail kit (model dependent)
• Power cords (model and region dependent)

ThinkSystem SR850 V2 models can be configured by using the Lenovo Data Center Solution Configurator (DCSC).

Configure-to-order (CTO) models are used to create models with factory-integrated server customizations. For CTO models, two types of base CTO models are available for the SR850 V2 as listed in the columns in the following table:

• General purpose base CTO models are for general business (non-HPC) and is selectable by choosing General Purpose mode in DCSC.
• AI and HPC base models are intended for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High Performance Computing (HPC) configurations and solutions are enabled using the AI & HPC Hardware - ThinkSystem Hardware mode in DCSC. These configurations, along with Lenovo EveryScale Solutions, can also be built using System x and Cluster Solutions Configurator (x-config). Tip: Some HPC and AI models are not listed in DCSC and can only be configured in x-config.

Preconfigured server models may also be available for the SR850 V2, however these are region-specific; that is, each region may define their own server models, and not all server models are available in every region.

The following table lists the base CTO models of the ThinkSystem SR850 V2 server.

Models are based on a chassis feature code. The SR850 V2 has only one chassis base, however two feature codes are currently offered. There is no technical difference between the two base feature codes.

The SR850 V2 supports Gold and Platinum level processors in the third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processor family.

Topics in this section:

• Memory capacity of processors
• Processor features
• Two-processor configurations
• UEFI operating modes

The server supports two or four processors.

• Processors 1 and 2 are installed in sockets on the system board.
• Processors 3 and 4 are installed on the Processor and Memory Expansion Tray.

The Processor and Memory Expansion Tray has a sliding and rolling lift mechanism that requires only a one-handed operation to insert or remove from the server. It has a toolless design for superior usability, serviceability and reliability. 

Figure 8. SR850 V2 Processor and Memory Expansion Tray

The ordering information for the Processor and Memory Expansion Tray is shown in the following table.

The following processor quantities are supported:

• Two processors, installed in sockets 1 and 2, without the Processor and Memory Expansion Tray
• Four processors, installed in all four sockets

Note: Configurations of one or three processors are not supported.

The table below lists the supported third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors.

All supported processors have the following characteristics:

• Third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors (formerly codenamed "Cooper Lake" or CPX)
• 14 nm process technology
• Six DDR4 memory channels
• 48 PCIe 3.0 I/O lanes
• 1 MB L2 cache
• 1.375 MB or more L3 cache per core
• Six Intel Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI) links at 10.4 GT/s
• Intel Hyper-Threading Technology
• Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• Intel Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (AVX-512)
• Vector Neural Network Instructions (VNNI)
• Enhanced Deep Learning Boost (bfloat16)
• Intel Speed Select support (SST-TF and SST-CP)
• Intel Persistent Memory 200 Series support

The processors include a suffix letter in the processor model number:

• H: 4-Socket capable processor
• L: Large memory tier (supports total memory up to 4.5TB per processor)

Processors without the L suffix support up to 1.12TB per processor.

The four processors are connected together using a mesh topology. A mesh topology allows all four processors to be connected together which improves the performance of processor-to-processor communications. The SR850 V2 implements a mesh topology using 6 UPI links. The following figure shows how the SR850 V2 mesh topology is different to the ring topology of the SR850 server and the mesh topology of the SR850P server.

Figure 9. Ring toplogy (SR850) versus 3-UPI Mesh topology (SR850P) versus 6-UPI Mesh topology (SR850 V2)

Memory capacity of processors

Third-generation Xeon Scalable processors are limited to the amount of memory they can address, as follows:

• Processors with an L suffix (eg 8360HL): Up to 4.5 TB per processor (4608 GB per processor)
• Processors without an L suffix (eg 8360H): Up to 1.125 TB per processor (1152 GB per processor)

The calculation of the total memory per processor includes both the system memory DIMMs and the persistent memory modules installed in the server.

For example, these configurations do not require an L processor:

• A configuration using 12x 64GB DIMMs per processor, which is a total of 768GB per processor
• A configuration using 6x 64GB DIMMs + 6x 128GB PMem per processor, which is a total of 1.125TB per processor

For example, these configurations must have an L processor installed:

• A configuration using 12x 128GB DIMMs per processor, which is a total of 1.5TB per processor
• A configuration using 6x 32GB DIMMs + 6x 256GB PMem, which is a total of 1.6875TB per processor

Processor features

The following table lists the features of the supported third-generation Intel Xeon processors.

* L3 cache is 1.375 MB per core for all processors except the Platinum 8356H which has 4.47 MB per core

Two-processor configurations

The SR850 V2 can be used with only two processors installed. Most core functions of the server (including the XClarity Controller) are connected to processors 1 and 2 as shown in the System architecture section.

With only two processors, the server has the following capabilities:

• 24 memory DIMMs for a 3TB maximum
• Up to 12 PMem modules
• GPUs not supported
• Up to 8x NVMe drives
  • If the 3-slot riser is used for slots 5-7 (Riser 1), then NVMe drives are not supported

Some drive bay configurations require 4 processors. See the table in the Supported drive bay combinations section for details.

The following table lists the feature codes that allow you to specify the mode you wish to preset in the factory for CTO orders.

The preset modes for the SR850 V2 are as follows:

• Maximum Performance Mode (feature BFYB): Achieves maximum performance but with higher power consumption and lower energy efficiency.
• Minimal Power Mode (feature BFYC): Minimize the absolute power consumption of the system.
• Efficiency Favoring Power Savings Mode (feature BFYD): Maximize the performance/watt efficiency with a bias towards power savings. This is the favored mode for SPECpower benchmark testing, for example.
• Efficiency Favoring Performance Mode (feature BFYE): Maximize the performance/watt efficiency with a bias towards performance. This is the favored mode for Energy Star certification, for example.

For details about these preset modes, and all other performance and power efficiency UEFI settings offered in the SR850 V2, see the paper "Tuning UEFI Settings for Performance and Energy Efficiency on Intel Xeon Scalable Processor-Based ThinkSystem Servers", available from https://lenovopress.lenovo.com/lp1477.

The SR850 V2 uses Lenovo TruDDR4 memory and supports 12 DIMMs per processor, which corresponds to 48 DIMMs with four processors installed. Each processor has six memory channels with two DIMMs per channel. With 256 GB 3DS RDIMMs installed, a 4-socket server supports a total of 12 TB of system memory.

The SR850 V2 also supports Intel Optane Persistent Memory 200 Series, as described in the Persistent Memory section.

Memory operates at up to 3200 MHz at two DIMMs per channel, depending on the processor model selected. If the processor selected has a memory bus speed of 2666 MHz or 2933 MHz, then all DIMMs will operate at that speed.

The following table lists the memory options that are available for the server.

Lenovo TruDDR4 memory uses the highest quality components that are sourced from Tier 1 DRAM suppliers and only memory that meets the strict requirements of Lenovo is selected. It is compatibility tested and tuned to maximize performance and reliability. From a service and support standpoint, Lenovo TruDDR4 memory automatically assumes the system warranty, and Lenovo provides service and support worldwide.

The following rules apply when selecting the memory configuration:

• Only specific DIMM quantities are supported:
  • For 16GB and 256GB DIMMs, only quantities of 1, 4, 6 or 12 DIMMs per processor are supported
  • For 32GB, 64GB and 128GB DIMMs, only quantities of 1, 4, 6, 8 or 12 DIMMs per processor are supported
• The server supports RDIMMs and 3DS RDIMMs; UDIMMs and LRDIMMs are not supported
• Mixing RDIMMs and 3DS RDIMMs is not supported
• Mixing 128GB and 256GB 3DS RDIMMs is not supported
• Mixing x4 and x8 DIMMs is supported
• Additional restrictions may apply when mixing DIMM capacities – use the Memory Wizard to determine if your memory configuration is supported.
• If 128GB or 256GB 3DS DIMMs are selected, at most 24 front drive bays can be configured
• If 256GB 3DS DIMMs are selected, at most 16 front drive bays can be configured

For best performance, consider the following:

• Populate memory DIMMs in quantities of 6 or 12 per processor, so that all memory channels are used.
• Populate memory channels so they all have the same total memory capacity.
• Ensure all memory controllers on a processor socket have the same DIMM configuration.
• All processor sockets on the same physical server should have the same DIMM configuration.

See the Lenovo Press article "RAS Features of the Lenovo ThinkSystem Intel Servers" for more information about memory RAS features: https://lenovopress.lenovo.com/lp1711-ras-features-of-the-lenovo-thinksystem-intel-servers

If memory channel mirroring is used, then DIMMs must be installed in pairs or sets of three (minimum of one pair or set of three per processor), and all DIMMs in the pair or set of three must be identical in type and size. 50% of the installed capacity is available to the operating system.

The SR850 V2 server supports Intel Optane Persistent Memory 200 Series, a new class of memory and storage technology explicitly architected for data center usage. Persistent memory is an innovative technology that delivers a unique combination of affordable large memory capacity and persistence (non-volatility). It offers significantly lower latency than fetching data from SSDs, even NVMe SSDs, and offers higher capacities than system memory.

Persistent memory technology can help boost the performance of data-intensive applications such as SAP HANA. When data is stored closer to the processor on nonvolatile media, applications can see significant overall improvement in performance.

The following table lists the ordering information for the supported persistent memory modules.

The following are the requirements when installing persistent memory (PMem) modules:

• Only App Direct Mode is supported. Memory Mode and Mixed Mode are not supported.
• All processors that the SR850 V2 supports also support the PMem modules listed in the table below.
• All PMem modules operate at 2666 MHz. Installed memory DIMMs will also operate at 2666 MHz.
• All installed PMem modules must be the same size. Mixing PMem modules of different capacities is not supported.
• Maximum 6 PMem modules per processor (install 1 in each memory channel).
• For each memory channel with both a PMem module and a memory DIMM installed, the PMem module is installed in channel slot 1 (DIMM1, closer to the processor) and the DIMM is installed in channel slot 0 (DIMM0).
• Both interleaved and non-interleaved modes are supported.
• To maximize performance, balance all memory channels
• Memory mirroring is not supported with PMem modules installed
• Ambient temperature cannot exceed 30°C
• Only the following operating systems support PMem modules in the SR850 V2:
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 or later
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 Xen SP2 or later

In App Direct Mode, only the combinations of RDIMMs and PMem modules listed in the following table are supported. A required RDIMM:PMem ratio of between 1:1 and 1:4 must be met.

PMem modules offer the following memory protection technologies:

• ECC
• Device failure recovery - SDDC
• Die sparing - DDDC
• Patrol scrubbing

For more information, see the Intel Optane Persistent Memory 200 Series product guide, https://lenovopress.com/LP1380

The SR850 V2 supports up to 24x 2.5-inch drive bays, all of which can be SAS/SATA, NVMe or AnyBay drive bays (AnyBay supports SAS, SATA or NVMe drives). All 24x drive bays are hot-swap and all front-accessible. The server also supports rear-accessible hot-swap 7mm SSDs, either SATA or NVMe.

In this section:

• NVMe drive support
• Front drive bays
• Supported drive bay combinations
• Controller selections
• Field upgrades
• RAID flash power module (supercap) support
• 7mm drives
• SED encryption key management with ISKLM

NVMe drive support

The SR850 V2 supports up to 24x NVMe drives to maximize storage performance.

• Up to 16 NVMe drives with direct connections to the processors
  • No oversubscription (each x4 drive has a full x4 (4 lanes) connection to the processor)
  • 4 drives are connected to each processor for balanced performance
  • 16 NVMe drives precludes the use of the 3-slot riser (Slots 1-3). See I/O expansion options for details.
• Up to 24 NVMe drives using 16 direct connections plus NVMe switch adapters adapters
  • First 16 drives have no oversubscription (each x4 drive has a full x4 (4 lanes) connection to the processor)
  • Remaining 8 drives are connected to two 1610-8P switch adapters, each with only 4 drives attached (no oversubscription)

The specifics of these configurations are covered in the Supported drive bay combinations and Controller selections sections.

The tables in those sections indicate the number of NVMe drives in each configuration plus the subscription ratio. The subscription ratio is the number of PCIe lanes from the processor compared to the number of lanes to the drives. A ratio of 1:1 means all drives get the full number of lanes they need to maximize drive performance (currently 4 lanes per drive). A ratio of 2:1 means each drive only gets the half the bandwidth from the processor.

In addition, the server supports two 7mm NVMe drives for use as boot drives. These two drives are connected via separate RAID controller connected to a single PCIe 3.0 x2 host interface. See the 7mm drives section for details.

Tri-Mode support

Ordering information for the backplanes is listed in the following table.

Supported drive bay combinations

The following table shows the supported drive bay combinations - SAS/SATA, AnyBay or NVMe drives. The table lists the backplanes required for each drive bay combination.

Some configurations require 4 processors be installed. This is noted in the table.

The table indicates whether the combination permits the use of the 3-slot riser in Riser 1 (slots 1-3). Those configurations that don't support the 3-slot riser have 16 or more AnyBay or NVMe drives, or are an upgrade path for 16 drives. Such configurations can use the 2-slot riser (slots 1 & 2) instead.

The choice of storage controller for each configuration is listed in the Controller selections section.

§ The text in parenthesis refers to the subscription ratio. See the NVMe support section for details.
† Indicates whether or not the configuration supports the use of 7mm drive bays at the rear of the server
‡ Indicates whether or not the configuration (or a configuration in the upgrade path) supports the 3-slot riser in Riser 1, slots 1-3 (ThinkSystem SR850/SR860 V2 x16/x16/x16 PCIe FH Riser 1, feature code BAW7)
* Depending on the controllers used in this configuration, the 7mm drive bays may not be supported. See Controller selections section for details.
** Depending on the controllers used in this configuration, the 3-Slot Riser 1 may not be supported. See Controller selections section for details.

Controller selections

This section helps you determine with storage adapter are supported for your desired drive bay configuration.

In the tables, the controllers are grouped as follows:

• RAID/HBA 8i corresponds to any of the following:
  • ThinkSystem RAID 530-8i PCIe 12Gb Adapter, 7Y37A01082
  • ThinkSystem RAID 5350-8i PCIe 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A72482
  • ThinkSystem RAID 540-8i PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A78834
  • ThinkSystem RAID 930-8i 2GB Flash PCIe 12Gb Adapter, 7Y37A01084
  • ThinkSystem RAID 9350-8i 2GB Flash PCIe 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A72483
  • ThinkSystem RAID 940-8i 4GB Flash PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A09728
  • ThinkSystem RAID 940-8i 8GB Flash PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A09729
  • ThinkSystem 430-8i SAS/SATA 12Gb HBA, 7Y37A01088
  • ThinkSystem 4350-8i SAS/SATA 12Gb HBA, 4Y37A72480
  • ThinkSystem 440-8i SAS/SATA PCIe Gen4 12Gb HBA, 4Y37A78601
• RAID/HBA 16i corresponds to any of the following:
  • ThinkSystem RAID 530-16i PCIe 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A09727
  • ThinkSystem RAID 540-16i PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A78835
  • ThinkSystem RAID 930-16i 4GB Flash PCIe 12Gb Adapter, 7Y37A01085
  • ThinkSystem RAID 9350-16i 4GB Flash PCIe 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A72485
  • ThinkSystem RAID 940-16i 4GB Flash PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A78600
  • ThinkSystem RAID 940-16i 8GB Flash PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A09730
  • ThinkSystem 430-16i SAS/SATA 12Gb HBA, 7Y37A01089
  • ThinkSystem 4350-16i SAS/SATA 12Gb HBA, 4Y37A72481
  • ThinkSystem 440-16i SAS/SATA PCIe Gen4 12Gb HBA, 4Y37A78602
• RAID 32i corresponds to the following:
  • ThinkSystem RAID 940-32i 8GB Flash PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter, 4Y37A09733
• 1610-8P corresponds to the following:
  • ThinkSystem 1610-8P NVMe Switch Adapter, 4Y37A09764
• Retimer corresponds to the following:
  • ThinkSystem 4-Port PCIe Gen4 NVMe Retimer Adapter, 4C57A65446
• OB SATA (onboard SATA) corresponds to the following in CTO orders:
  • On Board SATA Software RAID Mode, feature AVV0
• OB NVMe (onboard NVMe) corresponds to the following in CTO orders:
  • Non RAID NVMe, feature BC4V
  • Intel VROC (VMD NVMe RAID) Intel SSD Only, feature B9X7
  • Intel VROC (VMD NVMe RAID) Premium, feature B96G

All configurations also support the 7mm rear drive bays (which can can be either SATA or NVMe). See the 7mm drives section for details.

The following table lists the supported drive bay combinations, plus the list of supported controller combinations supported by each of those drive bay combinations. Information about the controllers can be found in the Controllers for internal storage section.

Some configurations require 4 processors be installed. This is noted in the table.

The table also indicates whether the combination permits the use of the 3-slot riser (slots 5-7). Those configurations that don't support the 3-slot riser have 16 or more AnyBay or NVMe drives, or are an upgrade path for 16 drives. Such configurations can use the 2-slot riser (slots 5 & 6) instead.

Field upgrades

The SR850 V2 is orderable without drive bays, allowing you to add a backplane, cabling and controllers as field upgrades. The server also supports upgrading some configurations by adding additional front drive bays, adapters, and cables.

Each row of the following table represents a supported upgrade path. Any other upgrades may not be supported.

To add drive bays you will need to order both drive backplanes and cable kits. Backplane kits do not include cables.

* Abbreviations such as "RAID/HBA 16i Adapter" refer to a group of supported adapters; these are described in the Controller selections section

Ordering information and the contents of the kit are listed in the following table.

The following figure shows the two supercap holders that are included in the kit.

Figure 11. SR850 V2 supercap holders

Ordering information for the 7mm drive bays is in the following table. The 7mm drive kits require the Riser 1 configuration with two slots, feature BAW6 or option 4C57A15017.

Configuration notes for 7mm drive support:

• The 7mm drives are located in place of slot 3 in Riser 1. As a result, the only riser supported is the 2-slot riser which has PCIe x8 (x16 physical) slots for slots 1 and 2.
• Riser 2 is not supported when a 7mm drive kit is selected, due to physical constraints related to cabling

Each drive enclosure includes an integrated controller providing RAID functions.

The IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager software is available from Lenovo using the ordering information listed in the following table.

The SR850 V2 supports offers a variety of controller options for internal drives:

• For 2.5-inch drives:
  • Onboard SATA ports with software RAID support (Intel VROC SATA RAID, formerly known as Intel RSTe)
  • Onboard NVMe ports with software RAID support (Intel VROC NVMe RAID)
  • RAID adapters and HBAs for SAS/SATA drives
• For 7mm drive bays in the rear of the server (see the 7mm drives section)
  • SATA controller integrated into the 7mm drive bay enclosure
  • NVMe controller integrated into the 7mm drive bay enclosure

The following table lists the controllers and adapters used for the internal 2.5-inch drive bays of the SR850 V2 server.

For specifications of the RAID adapters and HBAs supported by the SR850 V2, see the ThinkSystem RAID Adapter and HBA Comparison, available from:
https://lenovopress.com/lp1288-lenovo-thinksystem-raid-adapter-and-hba-reference#sr850-v2-support=SR850%2520V2

Configuration notes:

• Supercap support limits the number of RAID adapters installable: As indicated in the table, the RAID 930 and RAID 940 adapters include and require a power module (supercap) to power the flash memory. The server supports up to 2 supercaps, installed in a dedicated holder adjacent to the top riser slots as shown in Figure 6. The number of supercaps supported also determines the maximum number of internal + external RAID 930/940 adapters that can be installed in the server. See RAID flash power module (supercap) support for field upgrade information.
• Supercap support with PMem: If either of the following two riser cards is configured in addition to any Intel Optane Persistent Memory (PMem) modules installed, then at most 1 supercap (and one RAID 930 or RAID 940) adapter can be installed, due to thermal restrictions.
  • Riser 1 (x8/x8) with 7mm drives (feature code BAW6)
  • Riser 2 (feature code BCPF)
• Field upgrades: The RAID 930 and RAID 940 adapter part numbers include both the supercap and the supercap cable.
• 7mm drive support: The storage adapters listed in the table below do not provide connectivity to the 7mm drive bays that are optionally available at the rear of the server. The 7mm drives have their own independent RAID controller. See the 7mm drives section for details.

• E810 Ethernet and X350 RAID/HBAs: The use of both an Intel E810 network adapter and an X350 HBA/RAID adapter (9350, 5350 and 4350) is supported, however E810 firmware CVL4.3 or later is required. For details, see Support Tip HT513226.

VROC SATA RAID (RSTe) is available and supported with all SATA drives. It offers a 6 Gb/s connection to each drive and on the SR850 V2 implements RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 10. RAID 1 is limited to 2 drives per array, and RAID 10 is limited to 4 drives per array. Hot-spare functionality is also supported.

VROC NVMe RAID offers RAID support for any NVMe drives directly connected to the ports on the server's system board or via adapters such as NVMe retimers or NVMe switch adapters. On the SR850 V2, RAID levels implemented are based on the VROC feature selected as indicated in the following table. RAID 1 is limited to 2 drives per array, and RAID 10 is limited to 4 drives per array. Hot-spare functionality is also supported.

The SR850 V2 supports the VROC NVMe RAID offerings listed in the following table. The VROC Intel SSD Only offering only supports RAID on Intel branded NVMe SSDs; non-Intel branded NVMe SSDs cannot be configured in a RAID array.

Configuration notes:

• If a feature code is ordered in a CTO build, the VROC functionality is enabled in the factory. For field upgrades, order a part number and it will be fulfilled as a Feature on Demand (FoD) license which can then be activated via the XCC management processor user interface.

The following tables list the drive options for internal storage of the server.

The server does not support any internal backup units.

The server does not support an internal optical drive.

An external USB optical drive is available, listed in the following table.

The server supports up to 7 PCIe 3.0 slots plus an OCP 3.0 slot for an Ethernet adapter. Two PCIe slots (slots 7 & 8) are on the system board; all others are on riser cards.

The following figure shows the locations of the PCIe slots, both without 7mm drives installed (top) and with 7mm drives installed (bottom).

Figure 13. SR850 V2 slot numbering

The slots are as follows:

• Slot 1: PCIe x16 FHHL (CPU 2) or PCIe x8 FHHL with 2-slot riser (CPU 2)
• Slot 2: PCIe x16 FHHL (CPU 1) or PCIe x8 FHHL with 2-slot riser (CPU 2)
• Slot 3: PCIe x16 FHHL (not present if 2-slot riser is selected) (CPU 2)
• Slot 4: OCP 3.0 slot with PCIe x16 connection (CPU 2)
• Slot 5: PCIe x16 FHHL (CPU 4) (not supported with 7mm drives**)
• Slot 6: PCIe x16 FHHL (CPU 1) (not supported with 7mm drives**)
• Slot 7: PCIe x8 LP (CPU 1) (x8 physical connector)
• Slot 8: PCIe x8 LP (CPU 1) (x8 physical connector)

** If you select 7mm drives bays to be installed in the server, these drive bays occupy slot 3. However, the 7mm drives are also mutually exclusive with slots 5 and 6 due to physical constraints of cabling, so those slots are not available in such a configuration.

Slots are implemented using riser cards, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 14. SR850 V2 riser card locations

Slots 1, 2, and 3 are implemented using a riser in the Riser 1 position (also known as Zone 1). There are two riser options available:

• A 3-slot riser (feature BAW7), where all slots are PCIe x16, however this riser is mutually exclusive with 8x NVMe drive connections. See the System architecture section for a graphical view of the connections.
  • Slot 1: PCIe x16 FHHL (CPU 2)
  • Slot 2: PCIe x16 FHHL (CPU 1)
  • Slot 3: PCIe x16 FHHL (CPU 2)
• A 2-slot riser (feature BAW6), where the slots are both PCIe x8 and which allow the use of the 8x NVMe drive connections. The two-slot riser is used when 7mm drives occupy slot 3.
  • Slot 1: PCIe x8 FHHL (CPU 2) (x16 physical connector)
  • Slot 2: PCIe x8 FHHL (CPU 2) (x16 physical connector)

Slots 5 and 6 are implemented using a riser in the Riser 2 position (known as Zone 2). Only one riser is available for Riser 2:

• A 2-slot riser (feature BCPF), where both slots are PCIe x16. This riser is not supported if 7mm drives are installed in slot 3, due to physical constraints of cabling the drives.
  • Slot 5: PCIe x16 FHHL (CPU 4)
  • Slot 6: PCIe x16 FHHL (CPU 1)

The following table lists the ordering information and slot information for each the riser card options. The table also lists the part numbers for field upgrades to add riser cards for models that don't include them.

* For field upgrades only; order the 7mm drive bay separately. For CTO orders, use BAW6 for the riser plus the feature code for the 7mm drive. See the 7mm drives section for information.

The server has a dedicated OCP 3.0 SFF slot with PCIe 3.0 x16 host interface. See Figure 3 for the location of the OCP slot.

The following table lists the supported OCP adapters. One port can optionally be shared with the XCC management processor for Wake-on-LAN and NC-SI support. Only one OCP card can be installed in the server.

The following table lists additional supported network adapters that can be installed in the regular PCIe slots.

For details about these adapters, see the relevant product guide:

• Ethernet adapters: https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/ethernet
• InfiniBand adapters: https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/infiniband

The following table lists the Fibre Channel HBAs supported by the server.

For more information, see the list of Lenovo Press Product Guides in the Host bus adapters category:
https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/hba

The following table lists SAS HBAs and RAID adapters supported by the server for use with external storage.

For a comparison of the functions of the supported external storage adapters, see the ThinkSystem RAID Adapter and HBA Reference:
https://lenovopress.com/lp1288#sr850-v2-support=SR850%20V2&internal-or-external-ports=External

The RAID 930-8e and 940-8e, like other RAID 930, 9350 and 940 adapters, use a flash power module (supercap) and the server supports 1 or 2 supercaps. The number of 930/940-8e RAID adapters supported is based on how many supercaps can be installed in the server. For example, if your configuration uses one RAID 930/940 adapters for internal storage, then you can only install one RAID 930/940-8e adapter, since there is only space for two supercaps total. See the RAID flash power module (supercap) support section for information.

For details about these adapters, see the relevant product guide:

• SAS HBAs: https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/hba
• RAID adapters: https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/raid

All supported flash storage adapters are now withdrawn from marketing.

The SR850 V2 supports the graphics processing units (GPUs) listed in the following table:

For details about these GPUs, see the ThinkSystem and ThinkAgile GPU Summary:
https://lenovopress.com/lp0768-thinksystem-thinkagile-gpu-summary

Configuration rules:

• Some NVIDIA A Series GPUs are available as two feature codes, one with a CEC chip and one without a CEC chip (ones without the CEC chip have "w/o CEC" in the name). The CEC is a secondary Hardware Root of Trust (RoT) module that provides an additional layer of security, which can be used by customers who have high regulatory requirements or high security standards. NVIDIA uses a multi-layered security model and hence the protection offered by the primary Root of Trust embedded in the GPU is expected to be sufficient for most customers. The CEC defeatured products still offer Secure Boot, Secure Firmware Update, Firmware Rollback Protection, and In-Band Firmware Update Disable. Specifically, without the CEC chip, the GPU does not support Key Revocation or Firmware Attestation. CEC and non-CEC GPUs of the same type of GPU can be mixed in field upgrades.

• For processors with TDP ≤ 165W:
  • 4 processors supported
  • 48 memory DIMMs supported, up to 64GB RDIMMs
  • Ambient temperature up to 35 °C (ASHRAE A2)
• For processors with 165W < TDP ≤ 205W (except 8356H):
  • 4 processors supported
  • Up to 24 memory DIMMs supported, up to 64GB RDIMMs
  • Ambient temperature up to 35 °C (ASHRAE A2)
• For processors with TDP > 205W and Intel Xeon Platinum 8356H:
  • 4 processors supported
  • Up to 24 memory DIMMs supported, up to 64GB RDIMMs
  • Ambient temperature up to 30 °C without performance degradation (or up to 35 °C with performance degradation)
• The riser cards with PCIe x16 slots (feature BAW6 for Riser 1 and feature BCPF for Riser 2) must be installed
• Other slots in the riser cards must remain empty (slots 2, 3 and 6).
• The OCP 3.0 slot, and slots 7 and 8 are available for use.
• Network adapter can be in the OCP slot or slot 7 but not both.
• Up to 8 NVMe drives are supported using onboard NVMe connections
• Up to 16 SAS/SATA drives are supported with a RAID card installed in slot 8

The SR850 V2 server has six 60 mm hot-swap dual-rotor variable-speed fans and all six fans are standard in all models. The server offers N+1 redundancy, meaning that one fan can fail and the server still operates normally.

In addition, each power supply has an integrated fan and a fan is connected to each of the two upper riser units.

The server supports up to two redundant hot-swap power supplies. Redundancy can be configured as N+1.

The 1100W Platinum power supply is auto-sensing and supports both 110V AC (100-127V 50/60 Hz) and 220V AC (200-240V 50/60 Hz) power. All other power supplies only support 220V AC power. For China customers, all power supplies support 240V DC.

Power supply options do not include a line cord. For server configurations, the inclusion of a power cord is model dependent. Configure-to-order models can be configured without a power cord if desired. Note that the 2400W power supply has a C19 connector.

Zero-output mode: When Zero-output mode (also known as Standby mode or Cold Redundancy mode) is configured in XCC and the server power load is sufficiently low, one of the installed power supplies enters into the Standby state while the other one delivers entire load. When the power load increases, the standby power supply will switch to Active state to provide sufficient power to the server. Zero-output mode can be enabled or disabled in the XClarity Controller web interface, Server Configuration > Power Policy. If you select Disable, then both power supplies will be in the Active state.

The SR850 V2 contains an integrated service processor, XClarity Controller (XCC), which provides advanced control, monitoring, and alerting functions. XCC is based on the Pilot4 XE401 baseboard management controller (BMC) using a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 service processor.

Topics in this section:

• Local management
• System status with XClarity Mobile
• Remote management
• Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager
• Lenovo XClarity Administrator
• Lenovo XClarity Essentials
• Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager
• Lenovo Capacity Planner

Light path diagnostics

The server offers light path diagnostics. If an environmental condition exceeds a threshold or if a system component fails, XCC lights LEDs inside the server to help you diagnose the problem and find the failing part. The server has fault LEDs next to the following components:

• Each processor
• Each memory DIMM
• Each drive bay
• Each system fan
• Each power supply

A Light Path button is located on the system board, adjacent to Riser 1 as shown in the Internal view in the Components and connectors section. When you press this button, the LED associated with the failed component lights up. The button is attached to a supercap so that the LED lights up even if AC power is removed.

External Diagnostics Handset

The SR850 V2 also has a port to connect an External Diagnostics Handset as shown in the following figure. The External Diagnostics Handset has the same functions as the Integrated Diagnostics Panel but has the advantages of not consuming space on the front of the server plus it can be shared amongst many servers in your data center. The handset has a magnet on the back of it to allow you to easily mount it on a convenient place on any rack cabinet.

Figure 16. External Diagnostics Handset

Ordering information for the External Diagnostics Handset with is listed in the following table.

Information tab

The front of the server also houses an information pull-out tab (also known as the network access tag). A label on the tab shows the network information (MAC address and other data) to remotely access XClarity Controller.

The steps to connect the mobile device are as follows:

1. Enable USB Management on the server, by holding down the ID button for 3 seconds (or pressing the dedicated USB management button if one is present)
2. Connect the mobile device via a USB cable to the server's USB port with the management symbol
3. In iOS or Android settings, enable Personal Hotspot or USB Tethering
4. Launch the Lenovo XClarity Mobile app

IPMI via the Ethernet port (IPMI over LAN) is supported, however it is disabled by default. For CTO orders you can specify whether you want to the feature enabled or disabled in the factory, using the feature codes listed in the following table.

The SR850 V2 has XCC Enterprise as a standard feature. XCC Enterprise includes a virtual presence (remote control and remote media) capability for remote server management.

The remote control functions include the following:

• Remotely viewing video with graphics resolutions up to 1600x1200 at 75 Hz with up to 23 bits per pixel, regardless of the system state
• Remotely accessing the server using the keyboard and mouse from a remote client
• Capturing blue-screen errors
• International keyboard mapping support
• LDAP-based authentication
• Boot Capture
• Remote mounting of ISO and IMG files
• Virtual console collaboration - Ability for up to 6 remote users to be log into the remote session simultaneously
• Power capping
• License for XClarity Energy Manager

Because Lenovo XClarity Administrator does not require any agent software to be installed on the managed endpoints, there are no CPU cycles spent on agent execution, and no memory is used, which means that up to 1GB of RAM and 1 - 2% CPU usage is saved, compared to a typical managed system where an agent is required.

Lenovo XClarity Administrator is an optional software component for the SR850 V2. The software can be downloaded and used at no charge to discover and monitor the SR850 V2 and to manage firmware upgrades.

If software support is required for Lenovo XClarity Administrator, or premium features such as configuration management and operating system deployment are required, Lenovo XClarity Pro software subscription should be ordered. Lenovo XClarity Pro is licensed on a per managed system basis, that is, each managed Lenovo system requires a license.

The following table lists the Lenovo XClarity software license options.

For more information, refer to the Lenovo XClarity Administrator Product Guide:
http://lenovopress.com/tips1200

For more information about all the available Lenovo XClarity Integrators, see the Lenovo XClarity Administrator Product Guide: https://lenovopress.com/tips1200-lenovo-xclarity-administrator

LXEM is a licensed product. A single-node LXEM license is included with the XClarity Controller Enterprise version. Because the Enterprise version of XCC is standard in the SR850 V2, a license for XClarity Energy Manager is included.

The server offers the following electronic security features:

• Administrator and power-on password
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) supporting TPM 2.0 (TPM 1.2 not supported)
• Optional Nationz TPM 2.0, available only in China (CTO only)
• Self-encrypting drives with support for IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager

The server is NIST SP 800-147B compliant.

The server also offers the following physical security features:

• Chassis intrusion switch (standard on some models, otherwise available as a field upgrade)
• Lockable top cover to help prevent access to internal components
• Optional lockable front security bezel

The optional lockable front security bezel is shown in the following figure and includes a key that enables you to secure the bezel over the drives and system controls thereby reducing the chance of unauthorized or accidental access to the server.

Figure 17. Lockable front security bezel

The following table lists the security options for the server.

* The component is CTO on pre-configured models only. Not available as a field upgrade.

For SED drives and IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager support see the SED encryption key management with ISKLM section.

Platform Firmware Resiliency - Lenovo ThinkShield

Lenovo's ThinkShield Security is a transparent and comprehensive approach to security that extends to all dimensions of our data center products: from development, to supply chain, and through the entire product lifecycle.

The ThinkSystem SR850 V2 includes Platform Firmware Resiliency (PFR) hardware Root of Trust (RoT) which enables the system to be NIST SP800-193 compliant. This offering further enhances key platform subsystem protections against unauthorized firmware updates and corruption, to restore firmware to an integral state, and to closely monitor firmware for possible compromise from cyber-attacks.

PFR operates upon the following server components:

• UEFI image – the low-level server firmware that connects the operating system to the server hardware
• XCC image – the management “engine” software that controls and reports on the server status separate from the server operating system
• FPGA image – the code that runs the server’s lowest level hardware controller on the motherboard

The Lenovo Platform Root of Trust Hardware performs the following three main functions:

• Detection – Measures the firmware and updates for authenticity
• Recovery – Recovers a corrupted image to a known-safe image
• Protection – Monitors the system to ensure the known-good firmware is not maliciously written

These enhanced protection capabilities are implemented using a dedicated, discrete security processor whose implementation has been rigorously validated by leading third-party security firms. Security evaluation results and design details are available for customer review – providing unprecedented transparency and assurance.

The SR850 V2 includes support for Secure Boot, a UEFI firmware security feature developed by the UEFI Consortium that ensures only immutable and signed software are loaded during the boot time. The use of Secure Boot helps prevent malicious code from being loaded and helps prevent attacks, such as the installation of rootkits. Lenovo offers the capability to enable secure boot in the factory, to ensure end-to-end protection. Alternatively, Secure Boot can be left disabled in the factory, allowing the customer to enable it themselves at a later point, if desired.

The following table lists the relevant feature code(s).

Security standards

The SR850 V2 supports the following security standards and capabilities:

• Industry Standard Security Capabilities
  • Intel CPU Enablement
    • AES-NI (Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions)
    • CBnT (Converged Boot Guard and Trusted Execution Technology)
    • CET (Control flow Enforcement Technology)
    • Hardware-based side channel attack resilience enhancements
    • MKTME/TME (Multi-Key Total Memory Encryption)
    • SGX (Software Guard eXtensions)
    • SGX-TEM (Trusted Environment Mode)
    • TDX (Trust Domain Extensions)
    • TXT (Trusted eXecution Technology)
    • VT (Virtualization Technology)
    • XD (eXecute Disable)
  • Microsoft Windows Security Enablement
    • Credential Guard
    • Device Guard
    • Host Guardian Service
  • TCG (Trusted Computing Group) TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0
  • UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) Forum Secure Boot
• Hardware Root of Trust and Security
  • Independent security subsystem providing platform-wide NIST SP800-193 compliant Platform Firmware Resilience (PFR)
  • Management domain RoT supplemented by the Secure Boot features of XCC
• Platform Security
  • Boot and run-time firmware integrity monitoring with rollback to known-good firmware (e.g., “self-healing”)
  • Non-volatile storage bus security monitoring and filtering
  • Resilient firmware implementation, such as to detect and defeat unauthorized flash writes or SMM (System Management Mode) memory incursions
  • Patented IPMI KCS channel privileged access authorization (USPTO Patent# 11,256,810)
  • Host and management domain authorization, including integration with CyberArk for enterprise password management
  • KMIP (Key Management Interoperability Protocol) compliant, including support for IBM SKLM and Thales KeySecure
  • Reduced “out of box” attack surface
  • Configurable network services

  For more information on platform security, see the paper “How to Harden the Security of your ThinkSystem Server and Management Applications” available from https://lenovopress.com/lp1260-how-to-harden-the-security-of-your-thinksystem-server.

• Standards Compliance and/or Support
  • NIST SP800-131A rev 2 “Transitioning the Use of Cryptographic Algorithms and Key Lengths”
  • NIST SP800-147B “BIOS Protection Guidelines for Servers”
  • NIST SP800-193 “Platform Firmware Resiliency Guidelines”
  • ISO/IEC 11889 “Trusted Platform Module Library”
  • Common Criteria TCG Protection Profile for “PC Client Specific TPM 2.0”
  • European Union Commission Regulation 2019/424 (“ErP Lot 9”) “Ecodesign Requirements for Servers and Data Storage Products” Secure Data Deletion
  • Optional FIPS 140-2 validated Self-Encrypting Disks (SEDs) with external KMIP-based key management
• Product and Supply Chain Security
  • Suppliers validated through Lenovo’s Trusted Supplier Program
  • Developed in accordance with Lenovo’s Secure Development Lifecycle (LSDL)
  • Continuous firmware security validation through automated testing, including static code analysis, dynamic network and web vulnerability testing, software composition analysis, and subsystem-specific testing, such as UEFI security configuration validation
  • Ongoing security reviews by US-based security experts, with attestation letters available from our third-party security partners
  • Digitally signed firmware, stored and built on US-based infrastructure and signed on US-based Hardware Security Modules (HSMs)
  • Manufacturing transparency via Intel Transparent Supply Chain (for details, see https://lenovopress.com/lp1434-introduction-to-intel-transparent-supply-chain-on-lenovo-thinksystem-servers)
  • TAA (Trade Agreements Act) compliant manufacturing, by default in Mexico for North American markets with additional US and EU manufacturing options
  • US 2019 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) Section 889 compliant

The following table lists the rack installation options that are available for the server.

The following table summarizes the rail kit features and specifications.

* For 0U PDU support, the rack must be at least 1100 mm (43.31 in.) deep without the CMA, or at least 1200 mm (47.24 in.) deep if the CMA is used.
*** Measured when mounted on the rack, from the front surface of the front mounting flange to the rear most point of the rail.

The server supports the following operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows Server 2016
• Microsoft Windows Server 2019
• Microsoft Windows Server 2022
• Microsoft Windows Server 2025
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.9
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.3
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.5
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.7
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.9
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.10
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.1
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.3
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.5
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 Xen SP5
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 Xen SP2
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 Xen SP3
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 Xen SP4
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 Xen SP5
• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS 64-bit
• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS 64-bit
• VMware ESXi 7.0 U1
• VMware ESXi 7.0 U3
• VMware ESXi 8.0
• VMware ESXi 8.0 U1
• VMware ESXi 8.0 U2
• VMware ESXi 8.0 U3

Notes:

• VMware ESXi 7.0 U1 does not support Intel VROC. Only VMD is supported.

For a complete list of supported, certified and tested operating systems, plus additional details and links to relevant web sites, see the Operating System Interoperability Guide: https://lenovopress.com/osig#servers=sr850-v2-7d31-7d32

For configure-to-order configurations, the SR850 V2 can be preloaded with VMware ESXi. Ordering information is listed in the following table.

Configuration rule:

• An ESXi preload cannot be selected if the configuration includes an NVIDIA GPU (ESXi preload cannot include the NVIDIA driver)

You can download supported VMware vSphere hypervisor images from the following web page and install it using the instructions provided:
https://vmware.lenovo.com/content/custom_iso/

The SR850 V2 has the following overall physical dimensions, excluding components that extend outside the standard chassis, such as EIA flanges, front security bezel (if any), and power supply handles:

• Width: 445 mm (17.5 inches)
• Height: 87 mm (3.4 inches)
• Depth: 825 mm (32.5 inches)

The following table lists the detailed dimensions. See the figure below for the definition of each dimension.

Figure 18. Server dimensions

The server has the following weight:

• Minimum configuration: 31 kg (68.3 lb)
• Maximum configuration: 40 kg (88.2 lb)

The server has the following electrical specifications:

• Input voltage:
  • 100 to 127 (nominal) Vac, 50 Hz or 60 Hz
  • 200 to 240 (nominal) Vac, 50 Hz or 60 Hz
  • 180 to 300 Vdc (China only)
• Inlet current:
  • 100-127 V:
    • 750W Titanium power supply: Not supported
    • 1100W power supply: 12.1 A*
    • 1800W power supply: Not supported
    • 2400W power supply: Not supported
  • 200-240 V:
    • 750W Titanium power supply: 3.8 A
    • 1100W power supply: 5.6 A
    • 1800W power supply: 9.3 A
    • 2400W power supply: 12.4 A

* In China, this power supply cannot exceed 10 A current.

ThinkSystem SR850 V2 complies with ASHRAE Class A2 specifications. Depending on the hardware configuration, some models comply with ASHRAE Class A3 and Class A4 specifications. System performance may be impacted when operating temperature is outside AHSARE A2 specification.

To comply with ASHRAE class A3 and class A4 specifications, the server models must meet the following hardware configuration requirements:

• Two power supplies installed
• GPUs not installed
• NVMe drives not installed
• PCIe flash storage adapters not installed
• DCPMMs not installed
• Mellanox CX-6 HDR or HDR100 adapter cards not installed
• CPU core speed may be reduced depending on the processor selected. 

Temperature and humidity

The server is supported in the following environment:

• Air temperature:
  • Operating
    • ASHARE Class A2: 10°C to 35°C (50°F to 95°F); the maximum ambient temperature decreases by 1°C for every 300 m (984 ft) increase in altitude above 900 m (2,953 ft).
    • ASHARE Class A3: 5°C to 40°C (41°F to 104°F); the maximum ambient temperature decreases by 1°C for every 175 m (574 ft) increase in altitude above 900 m (2,953 ft).
    • ASHARE Class A4: 5°C to 45°C (41°F to 113°F); the maximum ambient temperature decreases by 1°C for every 125 m (410 ft) increase in altitude above 900 m (2,953 ft).
  • Server off: 5°C to 45°C (41°F to 113°F)
  • Shipment/storage: -40°C to 60°C (-40°F to 140°F)
• Maximum altitude: 3,050 m (10,000 ft)
• Relative Humidity (non-condensing):
  • Operating
    • ASHRAE Class A2: 8% to 80%; maximum dew point: 21°C (70°F)
    • ASHRAE Class A3: 8% to 85%; maximum dew point: 24°C (75°F)
    • ASHRAE Class A4: 8% to 90%; maximum dew point: 24°C (75°F)
  • Shipment/storage: 8% to 90%

• Government regulations (such as those prescribed by OSHA or European Community Directives) may govern noise level exposure in the workplace and may apply to you and your server installation. The actual sound pressure levels in your installation depend upon a variety of factors, including the number of racks in the installation; the size, materials, and configuration of the room; the noise levels from other equipment; the room ambient temperature, and employee's location in relation to the equipment. Further, compliance with such government regulations depends on a variety of additional factors, including the duration of employees' exposure and whether employees wear hearing protection. Lenovo recommends that you consult with qualified experts in this field to determine whether you are in compliance with the applicable regulations.

The following specifications indicate the limits of particulates that the system can tolerate:

• Reactive gases:
  • The copper reactivity level shall be less than 200 Angstroms per month (Å/month)
  • The silver reactivity level shall be less than 200 Å/month
• Airborne particulates:
  • The room air should be continuously filtered with MERV 8 filters.
  • Air entering a data center should be filtered with MERV 11 or preferably MERV 13 filters.
  • The deliquescent relative humidity of the particulate contamination should be more than 60% RH
  • Environment must be free of zinc whiskers

For additional information, see the Specifications section of the documentation for the server, available from the Lenovo Documents site, https://pubs.lenovo.com/

The SR850 V2 has a 1-year or 3-year warranty based on the machine type of the system:

• 7D31 - 1-year warranty
• 7D32 - 3-year warranty
• 7D33 - SAP HANA configurations with 3-year warranty

For more information, consult the brochure Lenovo Operational Support Services for Data Centers Services.

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  A full-range, comprehensive setup for your hardware, including unpacking, inspecting, and positioning components to ensure your equipment is operational and error-free for the most seamless and efficient installation experience, so you can quickly benefit from your investments.

• DM/DG File Migration Services

  Take the burden of file migration from your IT’s shoulders. Our experts will align your requirements and business objectives to the migration plans while coordinating with your team to plan and safely execute the data migration to your storage platforms.

• DM/DG/DE Health Check Services

  Our experts perform proactive checks of your Firmware and system health to ensure your machines are operating at peak and optimal efficiency to maximize up-time, avoid system failures, ensure the security of IT solutions and simplify maintenance.

• Factory Integrated Services

  A suite of value-added offerings provided during the manufacturing phase of a server or storage system that reduces time to value. These services aim at improving your hardware deployment experience and enhance the quality of a standard configuration before it arrives at your facility.

Lenovo Support Services

In addition to response time options for hardware parts, repairs, and labor, Lenovo offers a wide array of additional support services to ensure your business is positioned for success and longevity. Our goal is to reduce your capital outlays, mitigate your IT risks, and accelerate your time to productivity.

• Premier Support for Data Centers

  Your direct line to the solution that promises the best, most comprehensive level of support to help you fully unlock the potential of your data center.

• Premier Enhanced Storage Support (PESS)

  Gain all the benefits of Premier Support for Data Centers, adding dedicated storage specialists and resources to elevate your storage support experience to the next level.

• Committed Service Repair (CSR)

  Our commitment to ensuring the fastest, most seamless resolution times for mission-critical systems that require immediate attention to ensure minimal downtime and risk for your business. This service is only available for machines under the Premier 4-Hour Response SLA.

• Multivendor Support Services (MVS)

  Your single point of accountability for resolution support across vast range of leading Server, Storage, and Networking OEMs, allowing you to manage all your supported infrastructure devices seamlessly from a single source.

• Keep Your Drive (KYD)

  Protect sensitive data and maintain compliance with corporate retention and disposal policies to ensure your data is always under your control, regardless of the number of drives that are installed in your Lenovo server.

• Technical Account Manager (TAM)

  Your single point of contact to expedite service requests, provide status updates, and furnish reports to track incidents over time, ensuring smooth operations and optimized performance as your business grows.

• Enterprise Software Support (ESS)

  Gain comprehensive, single-source, and global support for a wide range of server operating systems and Microsoft server applications.

For more information, consult the brochure Lenovo Operational Support Services for Data Centers.

Lenovo Managed Services

Achieve peak efficiency, high security, and minimal disruption with Lenovo's always-on Managed Services. Our real-time monitoring, 24x7 incident response, and problem resolution ensure your infrastructure operates seamlessly. With quarterly health checks for ongoing optimization and innovation, Lenovo's remote active monitoring boosts end-user experience and productivity by keeping your data center's hardware performing at its best.

Lenovo Managed Services provides continuous 24x7 remote monitoring (plus 24x7 call center availability) and proactive management of your data center using state-of-the-art tools, systems, and practices by a team of highly skilled and experienced Lenovo services professionals.

Quarterly reviews check error logs, verify firmware & OS device driver levels, and software as needed. We’ll also maintain records of latest patches, critical updates, and firmware levels, to ensure you systems are providing business value through optimized performance.

Lenovo Sustainability Services

• Asset Recovery Services

  Lenovo Asset Recovery Services (ARS) provides a secure, seamless solution for managing end-of-life IT assets, ensuring data is safely sanitized while contributing to a more circular IT lifecycle. By maximizing the reuse or responsible recycling of devices, ARS helps businesses meet sustainability goals while recovering potential value from their retired equipment. For more information, see the Asset Recovery Services offering page.

• CO2 Offset Services

  Lenovo’s CO2 Offset Services offer a simple and transparent way for businesses to take tangible action on their IT footprint. By integrating CO2 offsets directly into device purchases, customers can easily support verified climate projects and track their contributions, making meaningful progress toward their sustainability goals without added complexity.

• Lenovo Certified Refurbished

  Lenovo Certified Refurbished offers a cost-effective way to support IT circularity without compromising on quality and performance. Each device undergoes rigorous testing and certification, ensuring reliable performance and extending its lifecycle. With Lenovo’s trusted certification, you gain peace of mind while making a more sustainable IT choice.

Lenovo TruScale XaaS is your set of flexible IT services that makes everything easier. Streamline IT procurement, simplify infrastructure and device management, and pay only for what you use – so your business is free to grow and go anywhere.

Lenovo TruScale is  the unified solution that gives you simplified access to:

• The industry’s broadest portfolio – from pocket to cloud – all delivered as a service
• A single-contract framework for full visibility and accountability
• The global scale to rapidly and securely build teams from anywhere
• Flexible fixed and metered pay-as-you-go models with minimal upfront cost
• The growth-driving combination of hardware, software, infrastructure, and solutions – all from one single provider with one point of accountability.

For information about Lenovo TruScale offerings that are available in your region, contact your local Lenovo sales representative or business partner.

The SR850 V2 server conforms to the following standards:

• Energy Star 3.0
• FCC: Verified to comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules, Class A
• Canada ICES-003, issue 6, Class A
• UL/IEC 62368-1
• CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 62368-1
• NOM-019
• Argentina IEC 62368-1
• Japan VCCI, Class A
• Australia/New Zealand AS/NZS CISPR 32, Class A; AS/NZS 60950.1; AS/NZS 62368.1:2014
• IEC 60950-1 & IEC 62368-1 (CB Certificate and CB Test Report)
• China CCC (GB4943.1), GB9254 Class A, GB17625.1
• Taiwan BSMI CNS13438, Class A; CNS14336-1; section 5 of CNS15663
• Korea KN32, Class A; KN35
• Russia, Belorussia and Kazakhstan, EAC: TP TC 004/2011 (for Safety); TP TC 020/2011 (for EMC); TP EAC 037/2016 (for RoHS)
• CE Mark (EN55032 Class A, EN60950-1, EN62368-1, EN55024, EN55035, EN61000-3-2, (EU) 2019/424, EN 50581-1 and EN61000-3-3)
• CISPR 32, Class A
• GS (EN62368-1, EK1-ITB2000, AfPS GS 01 PAK Par. 3.1)
• India BIS certification
• RoHS

The server supports attachment to external drive enclosures using a RAID controller with external ports or a SAS host bus adapter. Adapters supported by the server are listed in the SAS adapters for external storage section.

Note: Information provided in this section is for ordering reference purposes only. For the operating system and adapter support details, refer to the interoperability matrix for a particular storage enclosure that can be found on the Lenovo Data Center Support web site:
http://datacentersupport.lenovo.com

Lenovo offers the ThinkSystem DE Series and ThinkSystem DM Series external storage systems for high-performance storage. See the DE Series and DM Series product guides for specific controller models, expansion enclosures and configuration options:

• ThinkSystem DE Series Storage
  https://lenovopress.com/storage/thinksystem/de-series#rt=product-guide
• ThinkSystem DM Series Storage
  https://lenovopress.com/storage/thinksystem/dm-series#rt=product-guide
• ThinkSystem DG Series Storage
  https://lenovopress.com/storage/thinksystem/dg-series#rt=product-guide

The server supports both USB-attached RDX backup units and SAS-attached tape drives.

The following table lists the available external SAS tape backup options.

Tip: Verify the end-to-end support of an IBM tape backup solution through the IBM System Storage Interoperation Center (SSIC): http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/storage/ssic

For more information, see the list of Product Guides in the Backup units category:
https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/backup

The following table lists the external RDX backup options available.

For more information, see the Lenovo RDX USB 3.0 Disk Backup Solution product guide:
https://lenovopress.com/tips0894-rdx-usb-30

Lenovo offers the ThinkSystem DB Series of Fibre Channel SAN switches for high-performance storage expansion. See the DB Series product guides for models and configuration options:

• ThinkSystem DB Series SAN Switches:
  https://lenovopress.com/storage/switches/rack#rt=product-guide

The following table lists the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units that are offered by Lenovo.