Xserve 2009 a Mandatory Upgrade Over Previous Models

The new Xserve’s configuration incorporates a 2.26GHz Xeon processor, 3 GB of 1066MHz DDR3 memory, and one 160GB, 7,200 rpm SATA hard drive. The expansion slots are 16x PCI Express 2.0; one slot accommodates 6.6” cards, and the other one 9.25”. The 2GB Ethernet ports and the SuperDrive are standard, 2 ports FireWire, one port DB-9 serial, and 3 ports high-speed USB 2.0.

The upgrades include 2 Xeon processors at 2.26GHz, 2.66GHz or 2.93GHz, up to 12GB of 1066MHz DDR3 RAM on single-processor models, a second power supply, a variety of controllers for Ethernet and Fiber Channel. There is an optional RAID card which has been upgraded with a processor that moves faster and a capacity of 512MB of RAM, this RAID being particular only to 2009 Xserve.

As to architectural improvements, this new Xserve uses Intel’s processors of the Xeon 5500 Series, a code that is named Nehalem (allows DIMM installations in sets of one, two or three), each processor consists of 8MB of L3 cache which is shared among the four cores of the processor.

The LOM (Lights-Out management) allows access on a secure network, an administrator could connect to LOM having a full control, but lacks shell access to Mac OS X Server and the functionality of KVM-over-IP. The performance while testing has revealed a Turbo Boost that enables the processor to disconnect idle cores, a technology hyper-threading that determines a core to execute two threads at the same time. Since one core presents itself as two virtual cores, it means that Mac OS X Server treats the 8-core Xserve as one with 16 cores, hence running faster the applications.

Compared to a 2008-model Xserve, it presents similarities in that it is oversubscribed beyond its processing capacity. As to the power, 2009 Xserve uses 25% less power whrn it is idle, and 10% less power at peak load. A feature that has always existed in Xserve is that of occupying two different worlds: data center and video editing, a duality that compromises both of the audiences, due to the included Nvidia GeForce GT120 video card which its 256 MB of video RAM is half of its desktop counterpart. The Mini DisplayPort connector prevents data center operators as it requires an adapter necessary to attach to a KVM switch.

The optional SSD is incorporated inside the Xserve itself and offers great performance for random read operations (booting an OS or launching apps), envisioned as a server without moving parts. AppleCare Premium Service and Support Plan offers a three-year warranty uplift valid only for Apple-branded SATA disks. In its previous generations, Xserve proved to be prominent because it incorporated all you might need in the box with the purchase itself, but with Apple not including video adapters it proves now to be not so prominent. The combination of enhanced performance with improved power and efficient heating determines Xserve 2009 to be a mandatory upgrade over previous models.