Supermicro's SuperServer ready to tackle 'biggest AI, analytics challenges'

Supermicro Computer has launched a new high-performance four socket server, designed to serve a broad set of enterprise level workloads.

It's design maximises compute, storage, and I/O resources, with up to 18TB of system memory capacity, 24 hot-swap NVM-e drives, and enhanced security.

The X12 generation 4-socket SuperServer is optimised for the new 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Processors (codenamed Cooper Lake) and Intel Optane Persistent Memory 200 series (codenamed Barlow Pass), both recently launched by Intel.

According to Supermicro, with Intel's latest CPU and storage technologies, the servers bring up to 112 Xeon cores in its 4 CPU sockets and up to 18TB of system memory, when provisioned in a mix of DDR and Intel Optane Data Center Persistent Memory.

CPU interconnects have been doubled from 3 UPI lanes to 6 UPI lanes for improved system latency and throughput.

Furthermore, this latest Intel Xeon Scalable platform adds support for the bfloat16 numeric format into Intel Deep Learning Boost, which accelerates AI training and inference, while retaining similar accuracy to larger FP32 formats.

In addition, the new Supermicro quad-socket SuperServer supports up-to ten PCI-E expansion slots capable of fitting two double width, or six single-width GPU cards.

Power and thermal subsystems are capable of zero-down time maintenance with hot-swappable, redundant 2000-watt high-efficiency power supplies and four hot-swappable, heavy duty fans.

Other new features supported by this new server include up to 24 NVMe drives connected through direct PCI-E lanes symmetrically to the four CPUs for faster access to storage, and support for 100Gb/s networking along with OCP3.0 compliant Advanced IO Module form-factor.

Enhanced security features are also included, such as new silicon based Root-of-Trust (RoT) implementation, signed and encrypted firmware delivery for a true, immutable chain-of-trust.

According to Supermicro, the growth in applications and use cases that require real-time analysis and manipulation of big data increases demand for such products and has resulted in Supermicro's 4-socket server portfolio growing in popularity.

This new Supermicro 2U 4-socket server is the newest generation of enterprise 4-socket Supermicro platforms which power demanding workloads such as SAP HANA, Oracle enterprise applications and database, in-memory computing, and emerging AI use cases for enterprises and hyperscalers around the world.

Supermicro CEO and president Charles Liang says, "As Supermicro's first X12 generation system, this new 4-socket server is our most robust enterprise-class platform featuring the most powerful Intel Xeon Scalable Processors, Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory, and a new silicon based Root-of-Trust implementation for enhanced security.

"This new SuperServer provides a powerful and trusted foundation for your most secure and mission critical workloads in enterprise, cloud-scale, or hybrid environments.

Intel corporate vice president and general manager of the Xeon and Memory Group, Lisa Spelman, says, "Platforms based on the new 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor, such as the Supermicro X12 SuperServer, are ready to take on the biggest AI, analytics and mission-critical application challenges.

"These platforms extend the Intel Xeon processor's lead in built-in AI acceleration as well as the capacity and performance benefits of Intel Optane persistent memory.