A Look at Lenovo’s Largest Data Center Portfolio to Date

Lenovo is making a big splash in the server market as it releases many new models with newer and better running SAN arrays, in addition to other improvements that make it easier to integrate with existing systems. This release exemplifies the purchase of IBM’s x86 server business as a move to solidify their place as a leader in the server market. 

Lenovo has released 14 new servers, seven new storage devices, and five new platforms for networking.  Although there is a lot of new technology coming from Lenovo, the ThinkServer and System x lines will still be supported even as new technology is being released.

The overall goal by releasing these 26 new ThinkSystem platforms at once is to release an option that will meet the needs for every customer and their data center workload. The goal is to also make it easier to use the new machines, make it easier and faster to gain certification, and to minimize the necessary training. All this while allowing businesses to decide if they want to incorporate the new tech with their old tech, or if they want to upgrade and start over with brand new machines.

The new technology can be divided into different groups which specialize in different aspects of server technology.

ThinkSystem

The new ThinkSystem line includes rack and tower servers that are intended to help customers with software and hyper converged systems. The designs of these servers are to run in-memory databases and large transactional databases, ERP and CRM applications and virtualized server workloads. The machines can be added to existing technology in an existing infrastructure, or can be a new system.

Platform flexibility is another goal of the ThinkSystem line. One of the ideas is to make this technology work with a wide variety of workloads so that it can make better sense economically for different businesses. Some customers may not need as much from their ThinkSystem line, so they don’t have to pay for what they won’t use, while others may need more power. When considering in-memory data-bases, many will find ThinkSystem products can handle mission-critical workloads, designed specifically to meet their exact needs at whatever level that may be.

There are also blade machines that make it easier to manage workloads. For example, the new SN550 and SN850 can be put on the Lenovo Flex System chassis which supports four generations of processor support. These are multiple generational processors so they can slide into existing cabinets which will help keep costs under control.

SAN Arrays

SAN, or storage area network arrays are aimed more for small and medium sized businesses. These machines can hold up to 12 3.5 inch or 24 2.5 inch hard disk drives and solid state drives. These machines can also support up to 96 total drives by using three expansion ports. 

The SAN array machines also have some higher-end machines that can offer up to 12Gbs SAS or 16 Gbs Fibre channel, or 1- Gbs iSCSI throughput. 

The Lenovo S3200 offers many features including multi-protocol configurations and intelligent real time tiering. It is easy to add these machines to an existing network, and with the hybrid connectivity options, you can choose, for example, between 16 Gbs and 10Gbps iSCSI. 

Switches

There are also new switches which include the 48 10GBase-T and six 40 Gbps quad form factor pluggable up-line ports. Lenovo hopes that by working with Microsoft and other companies it can be the most important player in software defined infrastructure in the business world.  Lenovo hopes to be the leader in providing the technology to integrate software and hardware into systems so that users can run their computing, networking, and storage through software commands.

Lenovo believes that by releasing 26 new systems, they can make an impact on the business market. Most people who watch tech thought something would happen when Lenovo acquired IBM x86, and now they know what it is. All that is left is for consumers to decide is what they need to add to make their systems run better.

Is your business looking for Lenovo server solutions that are no longer supported? Contact us to see how we can help.