As you might have guessed, configuring enterprise-grade servers takes some serious attention and care. After sourcing the right combination of compatible processors, RAM sticks, RAID controllers, drive bays, you name it, our expert technicians put meticulous work and a whole lot of love into each and every unique server we send out.
Don't just take our word for it. Take a peek behind-the-scen...
Too slow... too fast... juuust right. Yep, that's right. We're talking max RAM speed.
You may have already read the RAM Compatibility Checklist. (Hopefully.) But there's one crucial specification we didn't cover that determines whether your system even boots up - the max compatible RAM speed.
We know, just when you thought you had this RAM compatibility thing pinned down, there's ANOTHER set of...
“I installed a non-DELL PCI card into my R730. Now, the fans are running super loudly at full speed and I can’t seem to make them slow down. How do I make it stop?"If you install a non-Dell PCI card into a Dell server, you may notice the fans immediately ramp up to full speed (and with that, full volume). Fortunately, with a little tweaking, there are some ways to get the fans back under contro...
Thinking about retiring your system or transforming it into a brand new server? Whether you're doing an overhaul of your Dell server or preparing to put it to rest, you'll need to do a full system reset. In this tutorial, we'll show you how to use Dell's Lifecycle Controller to do a full system reset on your server.
Step-by-step Tutorial
Let's get right into it.
Start by booting the serv...
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Dell 12th Generation PowerEdge NDCs ChartDell 13th/14th Gen PowerEdge NDCs Chart
You asked, we answered! We recently wrote about the ins and outs of NICs and were reminded of a question we frequently receive: how on earth do you tell the difference between Dell’s various NDCs? As our friend Mike O’Dell put it,
“One thing that is daunting is the expansive list of NICs & ...
As part of our continuing series of TechMike's Quick Fix Troubleshooting Guide, we tackle common errors triggered by RAID controllers. (For your reference, here are links to our previous posts: PSU Quick Fixes and RAM and Cables).
RAID is such an integral component of virtually any Enterprise rack server that we had to dedicate an entire blog to it – it's TechMike's Quick Fix Troubleshooting...
Enterprise servers run on unique software applications that you don’t frequently see in the laptop and desktop consumer market. We’ve answered countless customer questions on these unique applications. We thought it would be helpful to add another installment of our “Customer Questions Answered” series: Software (SPOILER ALERT: Be prepared for a heavy dose of VMWare’s ESXi and Windows Server ...
Transcript
The heavy accumulation of dust can severely impact the performance of your server by forcing the fans to work harder to cool the system and allowing pieces of dirt to get between connectors.
In this video, we’ll show you step-by-step how to clean a server’s components. The server we are cleaning is a Dell R620, but the principles are the same for virtually any server.
You’ll n...
Mini vs. PCIe vs. embedded? Pass-Through/JBOD supported? SAS Supported? These are the frequent questions that get asked when it comes to RAID controllers in Dell servers.
We’ve put together a convenient Dell PERC RAID controller card comparison table, specifying its generational compatibility, interface, features supported, and cache, so you can have a high-level understanding of what func...
Some Dell servers come with a feature called “Split Backplane” or “FlexZone.” This feature allows you to have two RAID controllers in the same machine. While Dell provides several options to configure the split backplane feature in their literature, we have found this to be the most reliable process for changing a server from the Split Backplane Mode to a Unified Backplane Mode acros...
Transcript:
The blue clips that secure a mini-RAID controller in the Dell 12th Generation servers are prone to break after exposure to heat over an extended time.
In this tutorial, we’ll show you how you can replace these broken RAID clips to ensure your mini-RAID controller is securely connected to the motherboard.
The process will involve disconnecting all components from the motherboa...
Dell PowerEdge vs. HPE ProLiant Rack Servers. Is it tomato vs. tomahto, simply a matter of personal preference? Or are there fundamental considerations with what is best for your use case?
Dell and HPE are the most prominent players of the 21-billion-dollar server market and by far take up the most significant share of servers that TechMikeNY sells. As refurbishers, we have spent countles...
Call us gearheads, but at TechMikeNY, we’re fascinated by all of the hardware and parts of an enterprise server. We often field questions from our customers on cable compatibility, specifically the many variables with Dell backplane cables.
To better inform, we thought it would be helpful to describe the nuances of these backplane cables. Call it Server Anatomy 101: Know Your Backplane Cab...
RAID: The magical configuration of physical drives into virtual disks that allow for speed and redundancy. Because RAID is such a large part of enterprise servers, at TechMikeNY, we field questions on RAID controllers and configurations daily.
In this blog post, we'll share some of the common questions we get about RAID arrays and controllers and give you the information, as well as some un...
With the advances in hard drive technology, manufacturers have started taking advantage of higher hard drive density so that you, the consumer, can get the most bang for the buck. If you have ever heard the term “4Kn” in a hard drive’s specs – this is a relatively recent development in hard drive architecture that allows for more of the disk’s volume to be used.
This post will give some back...
A quick video tutorial on how to install a RAID controller in Dell 12th Generation and 13th Generation servers -- with a focus on the key differences and potential pitfalls.
