New 1U Supermicro SuperServer SYS-E300-9D 4 and 8 core Xeon D-2100 models bring back the E300-8D's M.2 slot and network ports
Introduction
I'm aware of the interest in these 2 newer SYS-E300-9D variants that quietly arrived without a press release. The product pages seem to first be noticed on October 30. The 8 core version is said to start shipping in mid-November of 2018.
As with any new product, as a blogger, it's always fun to hear what others think. Please feel free to drop a comment below or tweet a reply.
What are these 2 new systems all about, and how do they differ from the original SYS-E300-9D that arrived earlier this year. Let's roll up our sleeves and have a closer look at the specs.
Supermicro SuperServer SYS-E300-9D (June 2018)
Xeon D-2123IT 4 core Supermicro Product Page:
- supermicro.com/products/system/Mini-ITX/SYS-E300-9D.cfm
- Available now at Wiredzone.
Observations based on my hands-on testing of a temporary loaner:
- 0x 1GbE, 2x 10GBase-T, 0x 10G SFP+
- 0 M.2 slots on the motherboard, 1 2.5 drive bay mount only available when AOC area is not occupied
- only one of the 2 PCIe slots can be used for expansion within the constraints of the SuperChassis E300
- likely to be noticeably louder than its SYS-E300-8D Xeon D-1500 based predecessor due to higher TDP therefore higher 40mm fan RPM, even at idle
Supermicro SuperServer SYS-E300-9D-4CN8TP (November 2018)
Xeon D-2123IT 4 core Supermicro Product Page:
- supermicro.com/products/system/Mini-ITX/SYS-E300-9D-4CN8TP.cfm
- Availability expected in mid-November 2018.
- On Nov 13 2018, spotted X11SDV-8C-TP8F "Motherboard Manual" at supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon/D/X11SDV-8C-TP8F.cfm, direct link here.
Observations based on listed specifications:
- 4x 1GbE, 2x 10GBase-T, 2x 10G SFP+
- 1 M.2 slot on the motherboard, 1 2.5 drive bay mount only available when AOC area is not occupied
- only one of the 2 PCIe slots can be used for expansion within the constraints of the SuperChassis E300
- likely to be noticeably louder than its SYS-E300-8D Xeon D-1500 based predecessor, due to higher TDP therefore higher 40mm fan RPM, even at idle
Supermicro SuperServer SYS-E300-9D-8CN8TP (November 2018)
Xeon D-2143NT 8 core Supermicro Product Page:
- supermicro.com/products/system/Mini-ITX/SYS-E300-9D-8CN8TP.cfm
- Availability expected in mid-November 2018.
- On Nov 13 2018, spotted X11SDV-8C-TP8F "Motherboard Manual" at supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon/D/X11SDV-8C-TP8F.cfm, direct link here.
Observations based on listed specifications:
- 4x 1GbE, 2x 10GBase-T, 2x 10G SFP+
- 1 M.2 slot on the motherboard, 1 2.5 drive bay mount only available when AOC area is not occupied
- only one of the 2 PCIe slots can be used for expansion within the constraints of the SuperChassis E300.
- likely to be noticeably louder than its SYS-E300-8D Xeon D-1500 based predecessor and the Xeon D-2123IT sibling, due to higher TDP therefore higher 40mm fan RPM, even at idle
Supermicro Internet of Things Gateway Solutions
Initial Observations
RAM
Getting to 512GB is currently pricey proposition, an industry-wide issue that affects all OEMs. When shopping around for the cost of 8 Supermicro-tested 64GB modules, it's currently $669.9 per DDR4 LRDIMM-2666 module on Amazon, totaling a whopping $5,359.92 for 512GB of RAM, on top of the price of the system.
U.2 NVMe
The two OCuLink ports are intriguing, allowing the CBL-SAST-0956 U.2 OCuLink cable to attach to two U.2 NVMe drives, such as the Intel Optane SSD DC P4800X Series. But based on my prior experience with the original E300-9D, I believe the only place such a tall (15mm) 2.5" drive would fit in this system is resting under the optional PCIe card slot, with no drive-mount holes there. If there's no optional PCIe card present, you can use the under-lid mounting holes. I'm hoping to get my hands on a loaner E300-9D-8CN8TP for hands-on testing, currently not optimistic that will happen.
M.2
There are many ways to add additional M.2, but the tight constraints of this chassis will only allow one of these to physically fit, such as this single M.2 card that David Chung spotted on Amazon, which I'm currently testing.
VMware ESXi Support
This is good! Currently, the 8 core SYS-E300-9D-8CN8TP is apparently one of only 3 Supermicro Xeon D-2100 based systems on the VMware Compatibility Guide, seen listed for ESXi 6.7 Update 1 here.
SFP+
Having 4x 1GbE, 2x 10GBase-T, and 2x 10G SFP+ should be versatile enough for even the toughest network use cases and/or vSAN!
Noise
Given how difficult it is to quiet any 40mm/1U design down, I'm more keenly aware than ever that Supermicro's reluctance to innovate in the area of chassis design is hampering their Xeon D product line. A Flex-ATX motherboard with 2 PCIe slots in a mini tower that allows 2 full height PCIe slots would be fantastic. A good compromise would be a 2U design with 2 HHHL slots, with some room for fans much quieter than any 1U allows. Supermicro simply doesn't make such a system, at least not currently.
While these 2 new arrivals are a step in the right direction, I just don't see that step as going nearly far enough to allow customers to enjoy the vast expansion that Xeon D-2100 systems could offers, if only it were in the right chassis. Imagine a system sold with the SYS- prefix as a just-add-storage System. A turn-key SuperServer solution for small businesses and home labs, where both noise and expansion capabilities are very real considerations.
Closing thoughts
Given the higher return rates for 1U Xeon D-1500 systems to Wiredzone these past 3 years, I still have no regrets to focusing my attention on the much more versatile mini-tower form factor Bundles, with far greater family acceptance factor and bang-for-your-buck than all similarly priced 1U variants. That's all detailed at TinkerTry.com/compare. That said, of course I've been keeping my eye out for appealing alternatives all along, seen here for example.
Realistically, I'll likely need to wait for Intel's long-awaited 10nm production finally gets going before I can possibly justify investing in new gear to keep, not just test. I'm still very happy with my SuperServer Workstation, and am using it for all article content creation and 4K video renders for about 2 years now. Xeon D-1500 has been the absolutely rock solid platform I've sought for a about 2 decades, with full VMware vSphere 6.7 support and a crazy-easy install. I'm also sure glad I invested in the full 128GB of RAM, back when each of the 4 32GB DDR4 modules were a mere $199 USD!
The first 10nm Intel CPUs are currently thought to arrive in late 2019. How long it will take for Xeon D to get a truly innovative 10nm redesign is unknown, but I can only hope that this whole IoT/Edge Computing wave we home lab enthusiasts are riding makes that date sooner rather than later! Note how these two new Xeon D-2100 systems are marketed:
- Network Security Appliance
- SDN-WAN, vCPE controller box
- NFV Edge Computing Server
- Virtualization Server
- IoT Edge Computing/Gateway)
If one or both of these new E300-9D systems make their way onto the VMware Compatibility Guide - vSAN ReadyNodes soon, that could be make things much more interesting during this long wait.
Feel the need for an even deeper dive and analysis? I've published my observations on Xeon D-2100, along with detailed advantages and disadvantages, published right in the world's first look at the original SYS-E300-9D right here at TinkerTry.
Photos
From Supermicro.
Nov 13 2018 Update
William Lam now has his hands on one of these systems, with some pics he tweeted here, including mention of the (peculiar) use of mSATA.
See also at TinkerTry
- All Xeon D-2100 articles.
- David Chung's SDDC in a box uses 4 Xeon D nodes for vSAN, is relatively quiet, and fits in carry-on!
Oct 02 2018
See also
VMware ESXi 6.7 Installation on Intel NUC8i7HNK and NUC8i7HVK
Nov 02 2018 by Florian Grehl at Virten.net
