Dell EMC PowerEdge R820 16×2.5″ High-Performance Rack Server

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R820 16×2.5″ is a high-density 2U rack server engineered for mission-critical enterprise workloads. With support for four Intel® Xeon® E5-4600 processors and up to 1.5TB of DDR3 memory, the R820 delivers top-tier performance for virtualization, big data processing, database management, VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure), and HPC (High-Performance Computing).

Built for scalability, the Dell EMC PowerEdge R820 16×2.5″ offers 16 hot-swappable 2.5-inch drive bays, making it an ideal solution for data centers requiring both compute power and storage density.

Key Features of Dell EMC PowerEdge R820 16×2.5″

Extreme Performance and Expandability

The PowerEdge R820 16×2.5″ supports four Intel Xeon E5-4600 or E5-4600 v2 processors, delivering up to 48 cores of processing power in a 2U chassis. With 48 DIMM slots, it accommodates up to 1.5TB of DDR3 memory, making it ideal for data-intensive tasks and large-scale virtual environments.

The 16×2.5″ drive configuration supports a mix of SSDs and SAS/SATA drives, enabling flexible storage options and high-speed data access.

Flexible Network Fabric

Dell’s Select Network Adapters give you the flexibility to choose your preferred I/O without sacrificing valuable PCIe slots. The Dell EMC PowerEdge R820 16×2.5″ supports multiple network configurations, ensuring smooth data flow and scalability across your infrastructure.

GPU Acceleration Support

For compute-heavy workloads like VDI or scientific modeling, the R820 supports optional GPU acceleration. This enhances performance for applications requiring high parallel processing and graphical computation.

Optimized for Virtualization

With up to 32 physical cores and built-in hypervisor redundancy, the Dell EMC PowerEdge R820 16×2.5″ is optimized for virtualization. Redundant failsafe hypervisors improve uptime and ensure continuous availability of virtual machines.

Its dense compute and memory capacity make it well-suited for running multiple VMs, delivering consistent performance for both small and large virtualized environments.

Advanced Remote Management

The server includes iDRAC7 with Lifecycle Controller, which allows for remote access and out-of-band system management. Whether deploying, updating, or monitoring, administrators can manage the R820 efficiently both locally and remotely.

Additionally, Dell’s OpenManage suite streamlines integration with popular platforms like Microsoft System Center and VMware vCenter, enabling simplified lifecycle management.

Enterprise-Grade Security Features

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R820 16×2.5″ comes with robust hardware and firmware-level security features:

Cover Latch

A tooled side cover latch prevents unauthorized physical access, ensuring internal components are protected in data center environments.

Lockable Front Bezel

The optional front bezel includes a physical lock to secure hard drives. It also houses an LCD screen that displays real-time system status for quick diagnostics.

Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

TPM 1.2 provides secure storage for cryptographic keys, password authentication, and digital certificates. It also supports Intel TXT for hardware-based root-of-trust security and enables BitLocker™ encryption in Windows environments. (Note: TPM not available in China or Russia.)

BIOS Power-Off Protection

Administrators can disable the power button from the BIOS to prevent unauthorized shutdowns or power-ups, which is useful in high-security deployments.

Intrusion Detection

An internal chassis intrusion switch alerts IT staff to any unauthorized opening of the server, enhancing the physical security monitoring of your environment.

Secure Boot Mode

The BIOS can be configured to enter a secure boot mode, locking down system-level controls and ensuring only trusted firmware and OS loaders are executed. A system password can also be enforced for additional protection.

Conclusion

The Dell EMC PowerEdge R820 16×2.5″ is a versatile, high-performance rack server built for the most demanding business and scientific computing environments. Whether you’re deploying complex virtualization workloads, supporting critical applications, or building an HPC cluster, the R820 delivers reliability, scalability, and enterprise-grade features in a compact 2U design.

With 16 hot-swappable drive bays, quad-processor support, and powerful security and management tools, the R820 stands out as a robust platform for any data center.

For more details, you can view the data sheet on our website using the following links: Technical Guide