Abstract
The Lenovo ThinkSystem ST550 2-socket 4U rack-mountable tower server provides outstanding performance and industry-leading reliability. It is ideal for small-to-medium businesses, distributed enterprises, retail, educational institutions and branch offices.
This product guide provides essential presales information to understand the ThinkSystem ST550 server, its key features and specifications, components and options, and configuration guidelines. This guide is intended for technical specialists, sales specialists, sales engineers, IT architects, and other IT professionals who want to learn more about the ST550 and consider its use in IT solutions.
Change History
Changes in the December 6 update:
- Add a note to the Processor options section indicating that the option part numbers for processors include a system fan
Introduction
The Lenovo ThinkSystem ST550 2-socket 4U rack-mountable tower server provides outstanding performance and industry-leading reliability. It is ideal for small-to-medium businesses, distributed enterprises, retail, educational institutions, and remote/branch offices. The server supports two Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family processors and up to 768 GB of TruDDR4 system memory.
Suggested uses: business workloads such as e-mail, workgroup applications, file & print, system management, web serving, and point-of-sale applications
Figure 1 shows the Lenovo ThinkSystem ST550.
Figure 1. Lenovo ThinkSystem ST550
Did you know?
The ThinkSystem ST550 is an enterprise-grade server with support for hot-swap power supplies, fans, and drives. It also offers full support of Lenovo XClarity Administrator for comprehensive systems management and includes the next generation UEFI-based Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager for system setup and diagnosis, and the Lenovo XClarity Controller management processor for ongoing systems management and alerting. These tools make the ST550 easy to deploy, integrate, service, and manage.
Key features
The ThinkSystem ST550 is a high-performance dual-socket tower server based on the new Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family, supporting a wide range of processors to suit a wide range of budgets and application requirements.
Scalability and performance
The ST550 offers the following features to boost performance, improve scalability, and reduce costs:
- Improves productivity by offering superior system performance with up to two processors, each with up to 20 cores, and core speeds up to 3.6 GHz.
- Hyper-Threading Technology to maximize the concurrent execution of multithreaded applications, available with most processors.
- Intelligent and adaptive system performance with energy-efficient Intel Turbo Boost Technology, available with most processors, allows CPU cores to run at maximum speeds during peak workloads by temporarily going beyond processor thermal design power (TDP).
- Intel Virtualization Technology integrates hardware-level virtualization hooks that allow operating system vendors to better use the hardware for virtualization workloads.
- Intel Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (AVX-512) enable acceleration of enterprise-class workloads, including databases and enterprise resource planning (ERP).
- Each processor has six memory channels with memory speeds of up to 2666 MHz to help maximize system performance.
- Up to 768 GB of memory capacity with 64 GB load-reduced DIMMs (LRDIMMs)
- The 12 Gbps SAS internal storage connectivity doubles the data transfer rate compared to 6 Gb SAS solutions to maximize performance of storage I/O-intensive applications.
- Flexible storage configurations support either 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch hot-swap drive bays or a combination of the two (hybrid configuration). Configurations with 3-5-inch simple-swap drive bays are also available.
- Up to 16x 2.5-inch drive bays with two 5.25-inch media drive bays available
- Up to 20x 2.5-inch drive bays with the media bays converted to 4x 2.5-inch drive bays
- Up to 8x 3.5-inch drive bays with two 5.25-inch media drive bays available
- Up to 8x 3.5-inch + 4x 2.5-inch drive bays with the media bay conversion
- Up to 8x 3.5-inch simple-swap drive bays
- 3.5-inch drive bays support SAS and SATA HDDs and SSDs. 2.5-inch drive bays support SAS and SATA HDDs and SSDs, as well as NVMe drives.
- Support for up to four NVMe PCIe SSDs in a 2.5-inch form factor maximizes drive I/O performance, in terms of throughput, bandwidth, and latency.
- Scalable internal storage configurations provide for up to 95.4 TB of storage capacity using 8x 10TB 3.5-inch HDDs and 4x 3.84TB 2.5-inch SSDs.
- The use of solid-state drives (SSDs) instead of, or along with, traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) can significantly improve I/O performance. An SSD can support up to 100 times more I/O operations per second (IOPS) than a typical HDD.
- 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 4 GB and support for 20 drives on a single controller.
- Supports a new Lenovo patented-design M.2 adapter for convenient operating system boot functions. Available M.2 adapters support either one M.2 drive or two M.2 drives in a RAID 1 configuration for greater boot drive performance and reliability.
- The server has two integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports.
- The server offers PCI Express 3.0 I/O expansion capabilities that improve the theoretical maximum bandwidth by almost 100% (8 GT/ps per link using 128b/130b encoding) compared to the previous generation of PCI Express 2.0 (5 GT/s per link using 8b/10b encoding).
- The server offers up to six PCIe 3.0 I/O expansion slots plus one slot reserved for the M.2 adapter
- Support for up to two NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs) to maximize computing power.
Availability and serviceability
The ST550 provides the following features to simplify serviceability and increase system uptime:
- 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), memory mirroring, and memory rank sparing for redundancy in the event of a non-correctable memory failure.
- The server offers hot-swap (HS) SSDs and HDDs, and supports RAID redundancy for data protection and greater system uptime.
- Much like HS drives, simple-swap drives are mounted on an easy-to-remove tray and work with the same RAID options. Simple-swap require a system power-down before adding or replacing, however simple-swap drives are less expensive than hot-swap drives.
- The Dual M.2 Boot Adapter supports RAID-1 which enables two installed M.2 drives to be configured as a redundant pair.
- The server supports hot-swap power supplies; with two installed, they form a redundant pair to provide availability for business-critical applications. The server also offers an optional 4th fan which offers redundancy in most server configurations.
- Toolless cover removal provides easy access to upgrades and serviceable parts, such as CPU, memory, and adapter cards.
- Proactive Platform Alerts (including PFA and SMART alerts) for: processors, voltage regulators, memory, internal storage (SAS/SATA HDDs and SSDs), fans, power supplies, RAID controllers, and server ambient and sub-component temperatures. Alerts can be surfaced through the system IMM 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.
- SSDs, with no moving parts, offer significantly better reliability than 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 supports diagnostics and can save service data to a USB key drive or remote CIFS share folder for troubleshooting and reduce service time.
- Auto restart in the event of a momentary loss of AC power (based on power policy setting in the XClarity Controller service processor)
- Support for the XClarity Administrator Mobile app running on a supported smartphone and connected to the server through the service-enabled USB 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.
Manageability and security
The following powerful systems management features simplify local and remote management of the ST550:
- The server includes an XClarity Controller (XCC) to monitor server availability. Optional upgrade to XCC Advanced to provide remote control (keyboard video mouse) functions. Optional upgrade to XCC Enterprise enables the additional support for the mounting of remote media files (ISO and IMG image files), boot capture, and power capping.
- Lenovo XClarity Administrator offers comprehensive hardware management tools that help to increase uptime, reduce costs and improve productivity through advanced server management capabilities.
- New UEFI-based Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager, accessible from F1 during boot, provides system inventory information, graphical UEFI Setup, platform update function, RAID Setup wizard, operating system installation function, and diagnostic functions.
- Support for Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager which captures real-time power and temperature data from the server and provides automated controls to lower energy costs.
- Integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 support enables advanced cryptographic functionality, such as digital signatures and remote attestation.
- Supports Secure Boot to ensure that only a digitally signed operating system can be used. Supported with HDDs and SSDs as well as M.2 drives in the M.2 Adapter.
- Industry-standard Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) NI support for faster, stronger encryption.
- Intel Execute Disable Bit functionality can prevent certain classes of malicious buffer overflow attacks when combined with a supported operating system.
- Intel Trusted Execution Technology provides enhanced security through hardware-based resistance to malicious software attacks, allowing an application to run in its own isolated space, protected from all other software running on a system.
- Physical security measures to prevent unauthorized access: Lockable side cover to prevent access to internal components, a slot at the rear of the server for a Kensington Cable. Optional additional physical security features are a lockable front security door and a chassis intrusion switch (included in some models).
Energy efficiency
The ST550 offers the following energy-efficiency features to save energy, reduce operational costs, increase energy availability, and contribute to the green environment:
- Energy-efficient planar components help lower operational costs.
- High-efficiency power supplies with 80 PLUS Platinum and Titanium certifications. Energy Star 2.1 certified.
- Intel Intelligent Power Capability powers individual processor elements on and off as needed to reduce power draw.
- Low-voltage 1.2 V DDR4 memory DIMMs use up to 20% less energy compared to 1.35 V DDR3 DIMMs.
- SSDs use as much as 80% less power than traditional spinning 2.5-inch HDDs.
- The server uses hexagonal ventilation holes, which can be grouped more densely than round holes, providing more efficient airflow through the system.
- Optional Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager provides advanced data center power notification, analysis, and policy-based management to help achieve lower heat output and reduced cooling needs.
Components and connectors
The following figure shows the front of the server.
Figure 2. Front view of the ThinkSystem ST550 server
The following figure shows the rear of the server.
Figure 3. Rear view of the ThinkSystem ST550 server
The following figure shows the locations of key components inside the server.
Figure 4. Internal view of the ThinkSystem ST550 server
Standard specifications
The following table lists the standard specifications.
The ST550 server is shipped with the following items:
- Documentation flyer
- Power cords (model and region dependent)
Models
The following tables list the available models, grouped by region.
Refer to the Specifications section for information about standard features of the server.
Common to all models:
- All models indicated as having the 750W power supply are using the Platinum power supply.
Models for Australia and New Zealand
† Processor detail: Quantity, model, core count, TDP, core frequency
** 20 drive bays includes 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
* Additionally supports 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
‡ Physical security includes both security door & intrusion switch
Models for South East Asian countries (ASEAN)
† Processor detail: Quantity, model, core count, TDP, core frequency
** 20 drive bays includes 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
* Additionally supports 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
‡ Physical security includes both security door & intrusion switch
Models for Brazil
† Processor detail: Quantity, model, core count, TDP, core frequency
** 20 drive bays includes 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
* Additionally supports 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
‡ Physical security includes both security door & intrusion switch
Models for EMEA countries
† Processor detail: Quantity, model, core count, TDP, core frequency
** 20 drive bays includes 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
* Additionally supports 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
‡ Physical security includes both security door & intrusion switch
Models for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea (HTK)
† Processor detail: Quantity, model, core count, TDP, core frequency
** 20 drive bays includes 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
* Additionally supports 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
‡ Physical security includes both security door & intrusion switch
Models for India
† Processor detail: Quantity, model, core count, TDP, core frequency
** 20 drive bays includes 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
* Additionally supports 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
‡ Physical security includes both security door & intrusion switch
Models for Japan
† Processor detail: Quantity, model, core count, TDP, core frequency
** 20 drive bays includes 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
* Additionally supports 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
‡ Physical security includes both security door & intrusion switch
Models for Latin American countries (except Brazil)
† Processor detail: Quantity, model, core count, TDP, core frequency
** 20 drive bays includes 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
* Additionally supports 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
‡ Physical security includes both security door & intrusion switch
Models for USA and Canada
† Processor detail: Quantity, model, core count, TDP, core frequency
** 20 drive bays includes 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
* Additionally supports 4x 2.5" HS drive bays with media bay conversion
‡ Physical security includes both security door & intrusion switch
Processor options
The ST550 supports the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum level processors in the Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family. The server supports the processor options that are listed in the following table. The server supports up to two processors.
Tip: The option part numbers listed in the table below includes the processor heatsink and an additional system fan.
All supported processors have the following characteristics:
- 14 nm process technology
- Six DDR4 memory channels
- 48 PCIe 3.0 I/O lanes
- 1 MB L2 cache
- 1.375 MB L3 cache per core (except where larger, as noted with ** in the table below)
- Intel Hyper-Threading Technology (except Bronze processors)
- Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 (except Bronze processors)
- Intel Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (AVX-512)
- Two Intel Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI) links at up to 10.4 GT/s (replaces QPI)
Processors with the T suffix are those that have more robust thermal characteristics (higher T-case).
* All Gold 5000-level processors, except the 5122, support 2400 MHz memory speed. The 5122 processor supports 2666 MHz.
** L3 cache is 1.375 MB per core except with the processor indicated with **, where the cache size is larger
Memory options
The ST550 server supports Lenovo TruDDR4 memory. TruDDR4 memory uses the highest-quality components sourced from Tier 1 DRAM suppliers and only memory that meets strict requirements is selected. It is compatibility-tested and tuned to maximize performance and reliability.
TruDDR4 memory has a unique signature programmed into the DIMM, which enables ThinkSystem servers to verify whether the memory installed is qualified and supported. From a service and support standpoint, TruDDR4 memory automatically assumes the system's warranty, and service and support provided worldwide.
The ST550 supports up to 6 DIMMs per processor, for a total of 12 DIMMs when two processors are installed. Each processor has six memory channels, and supports one DIMM per channel.
All DIMMs operate at a speed of 2666 MHz. However, if the processor selected has a lower memory bus speed (eg 2400 MHz or 2133 MHz - see the Processor options table), then all DIMMs will operate at that lower speed.
The following table lists the memory options that are available for the ST550 server.
The following rules apply when selecting the memory configuration:
- The server supports RDIMMs and LRDIMMs.i
- Mixing RDIMMs and LRDIMMs is not supported.
- Mixing x4 and x8 DIMMs is supported.
- For best performance, populate memory DIMMs in quantities of 6 per processor, so that all memory channels are used.
The following memory protection technologies are supported:
- ECC
- SDDC (for x4-based memory DIMMs; look for "x4" in the DIMM description)
- ADDDC (for x4-based memory DIMMs; Gold and Platinum processors only)
- Memory channel mirroring
- Memory rank sparing
If memory channel mirroring is used, then DIMMs must be installed in pairs (minimum of one pair per processor), and both DIMMs in a pair must be identical in type and size. 50% of the installed capacity is available to the operating system.
If memory rank sparing is used, then a minimum of one quad-rank DIMM or two single-rank or dual-rank DIMMs must be installed per populated channel (the DIMMs do not need to be identical). In rank sparing mode, one rank of a DIMM in each populated channel is reserved as spare memory. The largest rank in the channel will be automatically selected as the spare rank. The amount of memory available to the operating system depends on the number, capacity and rank counts of the DIMMs installed.
Internal storage
The ST550 supports 2.5-inch hot-swap, 3.5-inch hot-swap, and 3.5-inch simple-swap drives in a variety of drive bay configurations.
In this section:
Drive bays and backplanes
The server supports up to 20 drive bays: It can support up to 16x 2.5-inch drives or 8x 3.5-inch drives, plus an additional 4x 2.5-inch drive bays installed in the space occupied by the two 5.25-inch media bays. Hot-swap (HS) drive configurations support SAS & SATA drives, and with an AnyBay backplane, can support up to four NVMe drives. Simple-swap (SS) drive configurations support SATA drives only. The server also supports one or two M.2 drives, installed in an M.2 adapter. The dual-M.2 adapter provides RAID 0 and 1 support.
The different drive bay configurations supported are shown in the following figure.
Figure 5. Internal drive bay configurations
The following table lists all available drive configurations.
The drive backplanes used with these configurations are listed in the following table.
* Backplanes are configure-to-order only, however upgrade kits are available that include backplanes, as described in the Field upgrades section below.
Adapters and cabling
This section describes the adapter and cabling requirements for each drive bay configuration.
Notes:
- For configurations with 16x 2.5-inch drive bays (i.e., two backplanes), you can select either one 16-port SAS/SATA adapter or two 8-port SAS/SATA adapters
- For configurations with 20x 2.5-inch drive bays, a single 24-port SAS/SATA adapter is used.
- For the use of AnyBay drive bays, a NVMe Switch adapter is used to provide the NVMe ports. The adapter is installed in slot 2 (which connects to processor 1).
The drive bay configurations are shown in the the subsections below. Where there are different adapter and cabling options, they are shown by the letters A, B, C, D. These configuration numbers are also referenced later in the Field upgrades section.
- 8x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
- 8x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, where 4 of the bays are AnyBay
- 16x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
- 16x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, where 4 of the bays are AnyBay
- 20x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
- 20x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, where 4 of the bays are AnyBay
- 4x 3.5-inch drive bays, all SAS/SATA
- 8x 3.5-inch hot-swap hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
- 8x 3.5-inch + 4x 2.5-in hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
- 4x 3.5-inch simple-swap drive bays, SATA only
- 8x 3.5-inch simple-swap drive bays, SATA only
1. 8x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
In this drive bay configuration, all eight 2.5-inch hot-swap drives are connected to one 8-port SAS/SATA RAID adapter or HBA using two backplane cables, as shown in the following figure.
Figure 6. Adapter and cabling for 8x 2.5-inch drive bays, all SAS/SATA
2. 8x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, where four of the bays are AnyBay
In 8x 2.5-inch drive-bay configurations where four of those bays are AnyBay drive bays, an 8-port SAS/SATA RAID adapter or HBA is needed plus an NVMe Switch Adapter to provide the four needed NVMe ports.
In this configuration you can have either up to eight SAS or SATA drives, or you can have up to four NVMe drives in the four AnyBay drive bays along with four SAS or SATA drives in the other bays.
Figure 7. Adapter and cabling for 8x 2.5-inch drive bays, where 4 of the bays are AnyBay
3. 16x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
In 16-bay configurations where all 16 2.5-inch drive bays are SAS/SATA drives, you can use either two 8-port SAS/SATA RAID adapters or HBAs or one 16-port SAS/SATA RAID adapter or HBA. These choices are shown in the following figure.
Figure 8. Adapter and cabling for 16 drive bays, all SAS/SATA
4. 16x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, where four of the bays are AnyBay
In 16-drive configurations where four of the 2.5-inch bays are AnyBay drive bays, a 16-port SAS/SATA RAID adapter or HBA is needed plus an NVMe Switch Adapter to provide the four needed NVMe ports. The configurations are shown in the following figure.
Figure 9. Adapter and cabling for 16 drive bays, where 4 of the bays are AnyBay
5. 20x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
In a 20-drive configuration, where all drives are SAS or SATA, all connectivity is provided by a single 24-port SAS/SATA RAID adapter. The top four drive bays are in place of the two 5.25" media bays. > Connectivity is shown in the following figure.
Figure 10. Adapter and cabling for 20 drive bays, all SAS/SATA
6. 20x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, where four of the bays are AnyBay
In this 20-drive configuration, all drives can be SAS or SATA drives, or four can be NVMe drives. SAS/SATA connectivity is provided by a single 24-port SAS/SATA RAID adapter. NVMe connectivity is provided by the NVMe Switch Adapter. The top four drive bays are in place of the two 5.25" media bays. Connectivity is shown in the following figure.
Figure 11. Adapter and cabling for 20 drive bays, where 4 of the bays are AnyBay
7. 4x 3.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
In this drive bay configuration, four 3.5-inch hot-swap drives are connected to one 8-port SAS/SATA RAID adapter or HBA using a single backplane cable, as shown in the following figure.
Figure 12. Adapter and cabling for 4x 3.5-inch drive bays, all SAS/SATA
8. 8x 3.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
In this drive bay configuration, eight 3.5-inch hot-swap drives are connected to one 8-port SAS/SATA RAID adapter or HBA using two backplane cables, as shown in the following figure.
Figure 13. Adapter and cabling for 8x 3.5-inch drive bays, all SAS/SATA
9. 8x 3.5-inch + 4x 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays, all SAS/SATA
In this combination drive configuration, eight 3.5-in drives and four 2.5-inch drives are supported. The top four drive bays are in place of the two 5.25" media bays. All connectivity can be provided by a single 16-port adapter or two 8-port adapters. Connectivity options are shown in the following figure.
Figure 14. Adapter and cabling for 8x 3.5-inch + 4x 2.5-inch drive bays, all SAS/SATA
10. 4x 3.5-inch simple-swap drive bays, SATA only
In this configuration, the server supports four 3.5-inch simple-swap (SS) drive bays, which support only SATA HDDs and SSDs. The drives connect to a single simple-swap bracket plate, which in turn plugs into a mini-SAS HD connector on the system board.
Figure 15. Adapter and cabling for 4x 3.5-inch simple-swap drive bays; SATA only
11. 8x 3.5-inch simple-swap drive bays, SATA only
In this configuration, the server supports eight 3.5-inch simple-swap drives bays, which support only SATA HDDs and SSDs. The drives connect to two simple-swap bracket plates, which in turn each plug into a mini-SAS HD connector on the system board.
Figure 16. Adapter and cabling for 8x 3.5-inch simple-swap drive bays; SATA only
Field upgrades
The following table shows the backplane kits you can use after the initial purchase to upgrade the server to add additional drive bays.
Table 15. Drive backplane upgrades
| Part number |
Feature |
Description |
Purpose |
| 7XH7A05906 |
AVRN |
ThinkSystem ST550 2.5" SATA/SAS 8-Bay Backplane |
Add 8x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA |
| 7XH7A05907 |
B0M8 |
ThinkSystem ST550 2.5" Anybay 8-Bay Backplane Kit |
Add 8x 2.5-inch AnyBay |
| 7XH7A05908 |
AVRM |
ThinkSystem ST550 2.5" SATA/SAS 4-Bay Backplane |
Add 4x 2.5-inch to media bay
(replace existing 5.25" bays) |
| 7XH7A05905 |
AVRQ |
ThinkSystem ST550 3.5" SATA/SAS 4-Bay Backplane |
Add 4x 3.5-inch HS SAS/SATA |
| 7XH7A05904 |
AVRY |
ThinkSystem ST550 3.5" SATA 4-Bay Simple Swap Backplate |
Add 4x 3.5-inch simple-swap |
Each kit contains the backplane and the necessary cables (including PCIe cables for the AnyBay backplane). The 2.5" SATA/SAS 4-Bay Backplane Kit also includes the necessary 4x 2.5-inch drive-bay cage.
In addition to the backplane kits, you will need a RAID adapter or HBA, and if you are adding an AnyBay backplane, you'll also need an NVMe Switch adapter. The adapters are described in the Controllers for internal storage section.
M.2 drives
The server supports one or two M.2 form-factor SATA drives for use as an operating system boot solution. With two M.2 drives configured, the drives are configured by default as a RAID-1 mirrored pair for redundancy.
The M.2 drives install into an M.2 adapter which in turn is installed in a dedicated slot on the system board. See the internal view of the server in the Components and connectors section for the location of the M.2 slot.
There are two M.2 adapters supported, as listed in the following table.
Supported drives are listed in the Internal drive options section.
For details about M.2 components, see the ThinkSystem M.2 Drives and M.2 Adapters product guide:
https://lenovopress.com/lp0769-thinksystem-m2-drives-adapters
SED encryption key management with ISKLM
The server supports self-encrypting drives (SEDs) and FIPS 140-2 drives as described in the Internal drive options section. To effectively manage a large deployment of these drives in Lenovo servers, IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM) offers a centralized key management solution. A Lenovo Feature on Demand (FoD) upgrade is used to enable this SKLM support in the management processor of the server.
The following table lists the part numbers and feature codes for the upgrades.
Controllers for internal storage
The ST550 with hot-swap drives supports internal SAS and SATA drives with the addition of a RAID adapter or HBA. For NVMe support, the server supports the use of an NVMe Switch Adapter installed in a PCIe slot.
For simple-swap drive support, the ST550 uses two onboard 6Gb SATA ports to connect the four or eight simple-swap drives. These ports enable Intel RSTe for RAID functionality.
Virtualization support: The SATA ports can be used with virtualization hypervisors, including VMware ESXi, Linux KVM, Xen, and Microsoft Hyper-V, however support is limited to AHCI (non-RAID) mode. RSTe mode is not supported with virtualization hypervisors.
The following table lists the adapters used for the internal disk storage of the ST550 server.
* The RAID 730-8i adapter is available in China only
The following two tables compare the functions of the storage adapters and the onboard SATA.
Internal drive options
The following tables list the hard disk drive and solid-state drive options for the internal disk storage of the server.
Tip: The use of M.2 drives requires an additional adapter as described in the M.2 drives subsection.
Note: NVMe PCIe SSDs support informed hot removal and hot insertion, provided the operating system supports PCIe SSD hot-swap.
Internal backup units
The server supports the internal backup unit options that are listed in the following table.
The RDX drive is attached via the USB 3.0 port on the system board.
The use of an LTO tape drive requires a SAS HBA, either the 430-8i or 430-16i SAS/SATA 12Gb HBA.
For more information about RDX drive and LTO tape drives, see the Backup Units page on the Lenovo Press site: https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/backup
Optical drives
The ST550 supports the optical drive options listed in the following table.
The internal optical drives in the table can be installed in any open 5.25-inch drive bay.
The Half High SATA DVD-ROM drive supports the following media and speeds for reading:
- CD-ROM 48X
- CD-DA (DAE) 48X
- CD-R 48X
- CD-RW 40X
- DVD-ROM (single layer) 16X
- DVD-ROM (dual layer) 12X
- DVD-R (4.7 GB) 16X
- DVD-R DL 8X
- DVD+R 16X
- DVD+R DL 8X
- DVD-RW (4.7 GB) 8X
- DVD+RW 8X
- DVD-RAM (4.7/9.4 GB) 5X
The Half High SATA DVD-RW drive supports the same media and speeds for reading as HH DVD-ROM. In addition, this drive supports the following media and speeds for writing:
- CD-R 24X
- CD-RW 4X
- High Speed CD-RW 10X
- Ultra Speed CD-RW 16X
- DVD-R 8X
- DVD-R DL 8X
- DVD+R 8X
- DVD+R DL 8X
- DVD-RW 6X
- DVD+RW 8X
- DVD-RAM 5X
The ThinkSystem External USB DVD RW Optical Disk Drive is based on the Lenovo Slim DVD Burner DB65 drive and has the following specifications:
- Read:
- CD-ROM 24X
- CD-DA (DAE) 24X
- CD-R 24X
- CD-RW 24X
- DVD-ROM (single layer) 8X
- DVD-ROM (dual layer) 8X
- DVD-R (4.7 GB) 8X
- DVD-R DL 8X
- DVD+R 8X
- DVD+R DL 8X
- DVD-RW (4.7 GB) 8X
- DVD+RW 8X
- DVD-RAM (4.7/9.4 GB) 6X
- Write:
- CD-R 10X (CLV), 24X (PCAV)
- CD-RW 4X
- High Speed CD-RW 10X
- Ultra Speed CD-RW 24X
- DVD-R 8X
- DVD-R DL 6X
- DVD+R 8X
- DVD+R DL 6X
- DVD-RW 6X
- DVD+RW 8X
- DVD-RAM 5X
I/O expansion options
The ST550 server supports up to six PCIe 3.0 slots: Four slots (1, 2, 3 and 6) are supported when only one CPU is installed. Slots 4 and 5 require the second processor. The slot lane widths, available power, and supported adapter height and length are as follows:
- Slot 1: PCIe 3.0 x8 (25W); full-height, half-length
- Slot 2: PCIe 3.0 x16 (75W); full-height, half-length
- Slot 3: PCIe 3.0 x16 (75W); full-height, full-length
- Slot 4: PCIe 3.0 x16 (x8 wired) (25W); full-height, full-length (requires second processor)
- Slot 5: PCIe 3.0 x16 (75W); full-height, full-length (requires second processor)
- Slot 6: PCIe 3.0 x8 (x4 wired) (25W); full-height, full-length
Slots 3 and 5 support double-wide GPUs. When double-wide adapters are used slots 4 and 6 cannot be used.
The following figure shows the locations of the PCIe slots.
Figure 17. ThinkSystem ST550 PCIe slots
Above the PCIe slots is a space for a COM Port Bracket which is used for making an external serial port available at the rear of the server. The following table lists the ordering information.
Network adapters
The ST550 has two onboard Gigabit Ethernet ports, connected to the integrated Intel Ethernet Connection X722 controller.
Note: The onboard Gigabit ports do not support 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps Ethernet connections.
The following table lists other supported network adapters. The maximum supported column indicates which slots each adapter is supported in. For slot locations see the I/O expansion options section.
* Requires SFP+ transceivers or DAC cables that must be purchased separately. See the following table.
For more information, see the list of Lenovo Press Product Guides in the Ethernet adapters category:
https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/ethernet
The following table lists the supported 10 Gb Ethernet SFP+ optical transceivers and DAC cables. For multi-port adapters, all adapter ports must have the same type of transceiver or DAC cable selected.
SAS adapters for external storage
The following table lists the SAS HBAs and RAID adapters suitable for connectivity to external storage.
* Limited by the number of supercap mounts in the server
The following table summarizes the features of supported adapters.
* SED (self-encrypting drive) support of the SAS HBA is by using software on the server (SED commands are passed through the HBA to the drives).
Fibre Channel host bus adapters
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
Flash Storage adapters
The server currently does not support Flash Storage adapters.
GPU adapters
The ST550 server supports the graphics processing units (GPUs) listed in the following table. Up to two GPUs are supported when two processors are installed in a server (or one GPU with only one processor).
* The P6000 is a double-width adapter: When installed in slot 3, slot 4 is no longer available. When installed in slot 5, slot 6 is no longer available.
The following other rules apply:
- If two GPUs are installed, they must be identical
- The first GPU is installed in slot 3; the second GPU is installed in slot 5 and requires the second processor to be installed.
- The number of GPUs that can be installed depends on the type of power supply that is installed and the drive bay configuration selected. For more information, see the Power Supplies section.
- Cooling requirements and limitations in fan redundancy exist for some configurations as described in the Fans and coolingsection
- The use of a GPU requires that Fan 4 (rear fan) be installed.
Tip: NVIDIA Pxxxx GPUs do not have the 1TB system memory limit that previous NVIDIA adapters had
Fans and cooling
The server can operate in environments up to ASHRAE A4 (45°C and 90% humidity). Details and restrictions are described in the Physical and electrical specifications section.
The server supports up to four simple-swap fans, three in the front of the server, just behind the drive bays and one installed at the rear of the server. See the Inside view in the Components and connectors section for locations.
Use of these fans is as follows:
- Single processor systems require 2 fans, installed in the area behind drive bays
- The third fan installed behind the drive bays (part number is 7XH7A06781) is required if either:
- The server has two processors
- The server has four 2.5-inch hot-swap drives bays installed in place of the two 5.25-inch media bays converted
- Fan 4 (the fan at the rear of the server) can be installed as an N+1 redundant fan if desired. The part number is 7XH7A05900.
- If a GPU is installed, Fan 4 is required and is non-redundant in most configurations. The following table indicates the cooling restrictions that apply when supported GPUs are installed:
- Whether or not Fan 4 is redundant
- Limits to ambient temperatures
The table below lists the fan upgrades.
Power supplies
The server supports either a single fixed power supply or one or two hot-swap power supplies. When two hot-swap power supplies are installed, they form a redundant pair. The following table lists the supported power supplies.
* Configure-to-order only
550W, 750W and 1100W Platinum power supplies are auto-sensing and support both 110V AC (100-127V 50/60 Hz) and 220V AC (200-240V 50/60 Hz) power. The 750W Titanium power supply only supports 220V AC power. In China only, all four hot-swap power supplies also support 240V DC.
Power supply options do not include a line cord.
For server configurations, the inclusion of a power supply is model dependent. Configure-to-order models can be configured without a power cord if desired.
Configuration rules
The following table shows the power supplies supported with and without GPUs and with the various supported drive bay configurations.
For further power configuration of the server, use the Lenovo Capacity Planner, available at:
https://datacentersupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/solutions-and-software/software/lenovo-capacity-planner/solutions/ht504651
Additional rules:
- 550W, 750W, 1100W power supplies can be used all processors supported by the server
- 450W power supply can only be used with processors that have a TDP of 85W or lower
- 1100W power supply supports GPUs, however limitations on cooling fan redundancy exist for some configurations as described in the Fans and cooling section
* Only with processors that have a TDP of 85W or lower
** See the Fans and cooling section for cooling restrictions with GPUs
Power cords
Country-specific line cords and rack power cables can be ordered as listed in the following table.
The ST550 also supports the following two-up cables.
Systems management
The server contains an integrated service processor, XClarity Controller (XCC), which provides advanced service-processor control, monitoring, and alerting functions. The XCC is based on the Pilot4 XE401 baseboard management controller (BMC) using a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 service processor.
Local management
The ST550 offers a front operator panel showing key LED status indicators, as shown in the following figure.
Figure 18. Front operator panel
When you press the ID button on the front panel, the blue system ID LEDs on both the front and rear of the server are lit to help you locate the server among other servers. You also can turn on the system ID LEDs using a remote management program for server presence detection.
System status with XClarity Mobile
The XClarity Mobile app now includes a tethering function where you can connect your Android or iOS device to the server via USB to see the status of the server.
The steps to connect the mobile device are as follows:
- 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)
- Connect the mobile device via a USB cable to the server's USB port with the management symbol
- In iOS or Android settings, enable Personal Hotspot or USB Tethering
- Launch the Lenovo XClarity Mobile app
Once connected you can see the following information:
- Server status including error logs (read only, no login required)
- Server management functions (XClarity login credentials required)
Remote management
Remote server management is provided through industry-standard interfaces:
- Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Version 2.0
- Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Version 3 (no SET commands; no SNMP v1)
- Common Information Model (CIM-XML)
- Representational State Transfer (REST) support
- Redfish support (DMTF compliant)
- Web browser - HTML 5-based browser interface (Java and ActiveX not required) using a responsive design (content optimized for device being used - laptop, tablet, phone) with NLS support
There are two XClarity Controller upgrades available for the server, Advanced and Enterprise.
Lenovo XClarity Controller Advanced adds the following remote control functions:
- 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
Lenovo XClarity Controller Enterprise enables the following additional features:
- Boot Capture
- Remote mounting of CD-ROM (ISO) and diskette (IMG) files as virtual drives
- 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
Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager
Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager is a UEFI-based application embedded in ThinkSystem servers and accessible via the F1 key during system boot.
Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager provides the following functions:
- Graphical UEFI Setup
- System inventory information and VPD update
- System firmware updates (UEFI and XCC)
- RAID setup wizard
- OS installation wizard (including unattended OS installation)
- Diagnostics functions
Lenovo XClarity Administrator
Lenovo XClarity Administrator is a centralized resource management solution designed to reduce complexity, speed response, and enhance the availability of Lenovo systems and solutions.
Lenovo XClarity Administrator provides agent-free hardware management for ThinkSystem servers, in addition to ThinkServer, System x, and Flex System servers. The administration dashboard is based on HTML 5 and allows fast location of resources so tasks can be run quickly.
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 provides full management function to ThinkSystem servers, including the following:
- Discovery
- Inventory
- Monitoring and alerting
- Call home
- Centralized user management
- Cryptography modes, server certificates, and encapsulation
- Configuration patterns
- Operating system deployment
- Firmware updates
For more information about Lenovo XClarity Administrator, including ordering part numbers, see the Lenovo XClarity Administrator Product Guide:
https://lenovopress.com/tips1200-lenovo-xclarity-administrator
Lenovo XClarity Essentials
Lenovo offers the following XClarity Essentials software tools that can help you set up, use, and maintain the server at no additional cost:
- Lenovo Essentials OneCLI
OneCLI is a collection of server management tools that uses a command line interface program to manage firmware, hardware, and operating systems. It provides functions to collect full system health information (including health status), configure system setting, and update system firmware and drivers.
- Lenovo Essentials UpdateXpress
The UpdateXpress tool is a standalone GUI application for firmware and device driver updates that enables you to maintain your server firmware and device drivers up-to-date and help you avoid unnecessary server outages. The tool acquires and deploys individual updates and UpdateXpress System Packs (UXSPs) which are integration-tested bundles.
- Lenovo Essentials Bootable Media Creator
The Bootable Media Creator (BOMC) tool is used to create bootable media for offline firmware update.
For more information and downloads, visit the Lenovo XClarity Essentials web page:
http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/LNVO-center
Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager
Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager is an agent-free, web-based console that provides power management for ThinkSystem servers as well as System x and ThinkServer systems. It enables server density and data center capacity to be increased through the use of power capping.
Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager is a licensed product. A single-node XClarity Energy Manager license is included with the XClarity Controller Enterprise (XCC Enterprise) upgrade as described in the Remote Management section. If your server does not have the XCC Enterprise upgrade, Energy Manager licenses can be ordered as shown in the following table.
Table 48. Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager
| Description |
Part number |
Maximum supported |
| 4L40E51621 |
Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager Node License |
1 node |
| 4L40E51622 |
Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager Node License Pack |
5 nodes |
| 4L40E51623 |
Lenovo XClarity Energy Manager Node License Pack |
50 nodes |
Security
The server offers the following security features:
- Electronic security measures:
- Administrator and power-on passwords
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) supporting both TPM 1.2 and TPM 2.0
- Optional Trusted Cryptographic Module (TCM), available only in China
- Self-encrypting drives with support for IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager
- Mechanical security measures
- Lockable side cover to help prevent access to internal components
- Slot at the rear of the server for a Kensington Cable Lock
- Optional chassis intrusion switch
- Optional lockable front security door
The TCM module, available only for China customers, is installed in a dedicated socket on the system board, as shown in Figure 4.
The optional lockable front door includes a key that enables you to secure access to the drive bays and system controls, thereby reducing the possibility of unauthorized or accidental access to the server.
The following table lists the security options for the server.
Table 49. Security features
| Part number |
Feature code |
Description |
| 7XH7A05903 |
AVRR |
ThinkSystem ST550 Security Door |
| None* |
AVKE |
ThinkSystem Trusted Cryptographic Module (China customers only) |
| None* |
AVSD |
ThinkSystem ST550 Intrusion Switch and Cable |
* Available via configure-to-order or in preconfigured models only
For SED drives and IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager support see the SED encryption key management with ISKLM section.
Keyboards and Mice
The following table lists the supported full-sized USB keyboards and mice available for Lenovo ThinkSystem servers.
The keyboards have the following features:
- Full-sized 104-key keyboard with 3 special Windows keys
- 3 LEDs for caps lock, scroll lock and num lock
- Wired USB connection with 1.8m cable
- Adjustable feet at the rear of the keyboard
Rack installation
The server can be installed in the rack with the Tower to Rack Conversion Kit. The resulting server is a 4U rack-mountable server, as shown in the following figure.
Figure 19. ThinkSystem ST550 with Rack Conversion Kit installed
The part numbers are summarized in the following table.
Table 51. Rack installation options
Part
number |
Feature
code |
Description |
| 7XH7A05901 |
AVRZ |
ThinkSystem ST550 4U Tower to Rack Conversion Kit |
| 7XH7A05902 |
AVRX |
ThinkSystem ST550 CMA Kit |
The rail kit has the specifications listed in the following table.
Operating system support
The server supports the following operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.3
- VMware ESXi 6.0 U3
- VMware ESXi 6.5
For details about the specific versions and service levels supported and any other prerequisites, see the Operating System Interoperability Guide: http://lenovopress.com/osig
Virtualization support: The onboard SATA ports of the server can be used with virtualization hypervisors, including VMware ESXi, Linux KVM, Xen, and Microsoft Hyper-V, however support is limited to AHCI (non-RAID) mode. RSTe mode is not supported with virtualization hypervisors.
For configure-to-order configurations, the server can be preloaded with VMware ESXi installed on M.2 cards. Ordering information is listed in the following table.
Physical and electrical specifications
The server features the following dimensions and weight:
- Tower:
- Width with stabilizer feet extended: 272 mm (10.7 in)
- Width with stabilizer feet retracted: 176 mm (6.9 in)
- Depth: 670 mm (26.4 in)
- Height: 438 mm (17.2 in)
- With rack conversion kit:
- Width: 482 mm (18.97 inches)
- Depth: 670 mm (26.4 in)
- Height: 176 mm (6.9 in)
Weight:
- Fully configured: 36 kg (79.36 lb)
A note about the stabilizer feet: The ST550 includes stabilizer foot stands that are used when the server is in the tower configuration. The stabilizer feet can be installed in a retracted position or in an open position. For safety reasons, it is recommended the feet be used in the open position to help prevent the server from tipping over, however if needed, the feet can be positioned so that they do not extend beyond the width of the server enclosure. When the ST550 is converted to a rack configuration, the feet are removed.
Electrical requirements are as follows:
- Models with 550 W AC power supplies:
- 100-127 (nominal) V ac; 50 Hz or 60 Hz; 6.2 A
- 200 - 240 (nominal) V ac; 50 Hz or 60 Hz; 3.0 A
- Input kilovolt-amperes (kVA) (approximately):
- Minimum configuration: 0.16 kVA
- Maximum configuration: 0.722 kVA
- Models with 750 W Platinum AC power supplies:
- 100 - 127 (nominal) V ac; 50 Hz or 60 Hz; 8.4 A
- 200 - 240 (nominal) V ac; 50 Hz or 60 Hz; 4.1 A
- Input kilovolt-amperes (kVA) (approximately):
- Minimum configuration: 0.15 kVA
- Maximum configuration: 0.954 kVA
- Models with 750 W Titanium AC power supplies:
- 200 - 240 (nominal) V ac; 50 Hz or 60 Hz; 4.1 A
- Input kilovolt-amperes (kVA) (approximately):
- Minimum configuration: 0.15 kVA
- Maximum configuration: 0.906 kVA
- Models with 1100 W Platinum AC power supplies:
- 100 - 127 (nominal) V ac; 50 Hz or 60 Hz; 12.0 A
- 200 - 240 (nominal) V ac; 50 Hz or 60 Hz; 6.0 A
- Input kilovolt-amperes (kVA) (approximately):
- Minimum configuration: 0.12 kVA
- Maximum configuration: 1.406 kVA
For China customers using 240V DC input power:
- Models with 550 W 240V DC power supplies:
- 200 - 240 (nominal) V dc; 2.5 A
- Input kilovolt-amperes (kVA) (approximately):
- Minimum configuration: 0.16 kVA
- Maximum configuration: 0.70 kVA
- Models with 750 W Platinum 240V DC power supplies:
- 200 - 240 (nominal) V dc; 3.5 A
- Input kilovolt-amperes (kVA) (approximately):
- Minimum configuration: 0.15 kVA
- Maximum configuration: 0.958 kVA
- Models with 750 W Titanium 240V DC power supplies:
- 200 - 240 (nominal) V dc; 3.5 A
- Input kilovolt-amperes (kVA) (approximately):
- Minimum configuration: 0.15 kVA
- Maximum configuration: 0.948 kVA
- Models with 1100 W Platinum 240V DC power supplies:
- 200 - 240 (nominal) V dc; 5.1 A
- Input kilovolt-amperes (kVA) (approximately):
- Minimum configuration: 0.12 kVA
- Maximum configuration: 1.408 kVA
Operating environment
The ThinkSystem ST550 server complies with ASHRAE Class A2 specifications, and depending on the hardware configuration, also complies with ASHRAE Class A3 and Class A4 specifications. System performance may be impacted when operating temperature is outside ASHRAE A2 specification.
The following restrictions apply with ASHRAE A4 and A3 support:
- No support for processors with TDP rating of 125 W or higher
- Two power supplies must be installed; fixed (cabled) power supply not supported
- The rear fan must be installed
- No support for NVMe drives
- No support for GPUs
- If the media bay conversion kit is installed (adding 4x 2.5-inch drive bays), those drive bays cannot support SAS drives (HDD or SSD) that are 2TB or larger. SATA drives are fully supported.
In addition, CPU core speed may be reduced depending on the processor selected.
The server is supported operating in the following environments:
- ASHRAE A2:
- Temperature: 10°C to 35°C
- Humidity: 20% to 80%
- Altitude 0-3000 m (10,000 ft), derated 1°C per 300 m above 950 m
- ASHRAE A3:
- Temperature: 5°C to 40°C
- Humidity: 8% to 85%
- Altitude 0-3000 m (10,000 ft), derated 1°C per 175 m above 950 m
- ASHRAE A4:
- Temperature: 5°C to 45°C
- Humidity: 8% to 90%
- Altitude 0-3000 m (10,000 ft), derated 1°C per 125 m above 950 m
Non-operating environment support:
- Without packaging:
- Temperature: -10 °C to 60 °C
- Humidity: 8 to 90%
- Storage with packaging:
- Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C
- Humidity: 8 to 90%
Thermal (heat) output:
- Maximum configuration: 4074 Btu/hr (1194 watts)
Acoustical noise emissions:
- Sound power levels (bels):
- Base configuration: 4.0 bels (idle), 4.1 bels (operating)
- Maximum configuration: 5.3 bels (idle), 5.3 bels (operating)
- Sound pressure levels (dBA):
- Base configuration: 33 dBA (idle), 33 dBA (operating)
- Maximum configuration: 43 dBA (idle), 43 dBA (operating)
The server has the following vibration and shock limits:
- Vibration:
- Operating: 0.21 G rms at 5 Hz to 500 Hz for 15 minutes across 3 axes
- Non-operating: 1.04 G rms at 2 Hz to 200 Hz for 15 minutes across 6 surfaces
- Shock:
- Operating: 15 G for 3 milliseconds in each direction (positive and negative X, Y, and Z axes)
- Non-operating:
- 12 kg - 22 kg: 50 G for 152 in./sec velocity change across 6 surfaces
- 23 kg - 31 kg: 35 G for 152 in./sec velocity change across 6 surfaces
Warranty options
The ST550 has a 1-year or 3-year warranty, based on the machine type of the system:
- 7X09: 1 year warranty
- 7X10: 3 year warranty
The standard warranty terms are customer-replaceable unit (CRU) and onsite (for field-replaceable units, FRUs, only) with standard call center support during normal business hours and 9x5 Next Business Day Parts Delivered.
Also available are Lenovo Services warranty maintenance upgrades and post-warranty maintenance agreements, with a predefined scope of services, including service hours, response time, term of service, and service agreement terms and conditions.
Lenovo warranty service upgrade offerings are country-specific. Not all warranty service upgrades are available in every country. For more information about Lenovo warranty service upgrade offerings that are available in your country, go to the Data Center Advisor and Configurator (formerly known as LESC) website http://lesc.lenovo.com, then do the following:
- In the Customize a Model box in the middle of the page, select the Services option in the Customization Option dropdown menu
- Enter the machine type & model of the system
- From the search results, you can click either Deployment Services or Support Services to view the offerings
The following table explains warranty service definitions in more detail.
The following Lenovo warranty service upgrades are available:
- Warranty and maintenance service upgrades:
- Three, four, or five years of 9x5 or 24x7 service coverage
- Parts delivered or technician installed parts from next business day to 4 or 2 hours
- Committed repair service
- Warranty extension of up to 5 years
- Post warranty extensions
- Committed Repair Service
Committed Repair Services enhances the level of Warranty Service Upgrade or Post Warranty/Maintenance Service offering associated with the selected systems. Offerings vary and are available in select countries.
- Priority handling to meet defined time frames to restore the failing machine to good working condition
- 24x7x6 committed repair: Service performed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, within 6 hours
- YourDrive YourData
Lenovo’s YourDrive YourData service is a multi-drive retention offering that ensures your data is always under your control, regardless of the number of drives that are installed in your Lenovo server. In the unlikely event of a drive failure, you retain possession of your drive while Lenovo replaces the failed drive part. Your data stays safely on your premises, in your hands. The YourDrive YourData service can be purchased in convenient bundles with Lenovo warranty upgrades and extensions.
- Microcode Support
Keeping microcode current helps prevent hardware failures and security exposure. There are two levels of service: analysis of the installed base and analysis and update where required. Offerings vary by country and can be bundled with other warranty upgrades and extensions.
- Enterprise Software Support
Lenovo Enterprise Server Software Support can help you troubleshoot your entire server software stack. Choose support for server operating systems from Microsoft, Red Hat, SUSE, and VMware; Microsoft server applications; or both operating systems and applications. Support staff can help answer troubleshooting and diagnostic questions, address product compatibility and interoperability issues, isolate causes of problems, report defects to software vendors, and more.
In addition, you can access hardware “how to” support for ThinkSystem servers. Staff can help resolve hardware problems not covered under warranty, refer you to the right documentation and publications, provide corrective service information for known defects, and transfer you to a hardware support call center if needed.
- Hardware Installation Services
Lenovo experts can seamlessly manage the physical installation of your server, storage, or networking hardware. Working at a time convenient for you (business hours or off shift), the technician will unpack and inspect the systems on your site, install options, mount in a rack cabinet, connect to power and network, check and update firmware to the latest levels, verify operation, and dispose of the packaging, allowing your team to focus on other priorities. Your new systems will be configured and ready for your software installation.
Regulatory compliance
The ST550 server conforms to the following standards:
- Energy Star 2.1
- FCC - Verified to comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules, Class A
- Canada ICES-003, issue 6, Class A
- UL/IEC 60950-1
- CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1
- IEC 62368-1:2014 (CB Certificate and CB Test Report)
- NOM-019
- Argentina IEC60950-1
- Japan VCCI, Class A
- Australia/New Zealand AS/NZS CISPR 32, Class A; AS/NZS 60950.1
- China CCC GB4943.1, GB9254 Class A, GB17625.1
- Taiwan BSMI CNS13438, Class A; CNS14336-1; CNS15663
- Korea KN32, Class A; KN35
- Russia, Belorussia and Kazakhstan, TR CU 020/2011 (for EMC) and TR CU 004/2011 (for safety)
- IEC 60950-1 (CB Certificate and CB Test Report)
- CE Mark (EN55032 Class A, EN60950-1, EN55024, EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3)
- CISPR 32, Class A
- TUV-GS (EN60950-1 /IEC60950-1,EK1-ITB2000)
- RoHS Directive
- ErP lot3
- JESL
External drive enclosures
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.
The following table lists the 6 Gbps SAS external drive enclosures that are offered by Lenovo that can be used with the server for storage expansion.
For details about supported drives and cables for the Lenovo Storage E1012 and E1024, see the Lenovo Press Product Guide:
http://lenovopress.com/lp0043
The following table lists the standard models of the 12 Gbps SAS external drive enclosures offered by Lenovo that can be used with the server for storage expansion.
* Available worldwide (except China and Japan)
^ Available only in China
** Available only in Japan
The following table lists the TopSeller models of the 12 Gbps SAS external drive enclosures offered by Lenovo that can be used with the server for storage expansion.
For details about supported drives and cables for the Lenovo Storage D1212 and D1224, see the Lenovo Press Product Guide:
http://lenovopress.com/lp0512
The following table lists the standard models of the 12 Gbps SAS external high density drive enclosures offered by Lenovo.
The following table lists the TopSeller models of the 12 Gbps SAS external high density drive enclosures offered by Lenovo.
For details about supported drives, adapters, and cables for the Lenovo Storage D3284, see the Lenovo Press Product Guide:
http://lenovopress.com/lp0513
External storage systems
The following table lists the NAS and SAN external storage systems that are offered by Lenovo.
* Available worldwide (except China and Japan).
^ Available only in China.
** Available only in Japan.
† Available worldwide except Latin America.
‡ Available only in Latin America.
For more information, see the list of Product Guides in the following categories:
Top-of-rack Ethernet switches
The following table lists the Ethernet LAN switches that are offered by Lenovo.
For more information, see the list of Product Guides in the following switch categories:
Uninterruptible power supply units
The server supports attachments to the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units that are listed in the following table.
For more information, see the list of Product Guides in the UPS category:
https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/ups
Power distribution units
The following table lists the power distribution units (PDUs) that are offered by Lenovo.
For more information, see the Lenovo Press documents in the PDU category:
https://lenovopress.com/servers/options/pdu
KVM console options
The following table lists the supported KVM consoles, keyboards, and KVM switches.
For more information, see the list of Product Guides in the KVM Switches and Consoles category:
http://lenovopress.com/servers/options/kvm
Lenovo Financial Services
Lenovo Financial Services reinforces Lenovo’s commitment to deliver pioneering products and services that are recognized for their quality, excellence, and trustworthiness. Lenovo Financial Services offers financing solutions and services that complement your technology solution anywhere in the world.
We are dedicated to delivering a positive finance experience for customers like you who want to maximize your purchase power by obtaining the technology you need today, protect against technology obsolescence, and preserve your capital for other uses.
We work with businesses, non-profit organizations, governments and educational institutions to finance their entire technology solution. We focus on making it easy to do business with us. Our highly experienced team of finance professionals operates in a work culture that emphasizes the importance of providing outstanding customer service. Our systems, processes and flexible policies support our goal of providing customers with a positive experience.
We finance your entire solution. Unlike others, we allow you to bundle everything you need from hardware and software to service contracts, installation costs, training fees, and sales tax. If you decide weeks or months later to add to your solution, we can consolidate everything into a single invoice.
Our Premier Client services provide large accounts with special handling services to ensure these complex transactions are serviced properly. As a premier client, you have a dedicated finance specialist who manages your account through its life, from first invoice through asset return or purchase. This specialist develops an in-depth understanding of your invoice and payment requirements. For you, this dedication provides a high-quality, easy, and positive financing experience.
For your region specific offers please ask your Lenovo sales representative or your technology provider about the use of Lenovo Financial Services. For more information, see the following Lenovo website:
http://www.lenovofs.com
Related product families
Product families related to this document are the following:
