Lenovo
Lenovo ThinkSystem SN550 Blade Server
Best high-density blade server for scaling demanding enterprise cloud infrastructure.
The Lenovo ThinkSystem SN550 is a powerful two-socket blade server engineered for demanding data center environments. Designed to integrate seamlessly into the Flex System chassis, it supports high-performance Intel Xeon Scalable processors. This server configuration is ideal for scaling virtualization, cloud infrastructure, and critical enterprise applications. It offers extensive memory capacity and flexible networking options, ensuring robust performance and adaptability for modern, intensive workloads requiring high availability and density.
$1335.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
19
/ 341
#19 in Computer Servers
Price vs Category Average
-80%
Below average
Processor Support
212
/ Up to x Intel Xeon Scalable (st and nd Gen)
Who it's for
- IT managers maximizing compute capacity in limited data center space
- System administrators seeking streamlined cable management and simplified server maintenance
- Enterprise architects running demanding virtualization and high-performance database workloads
Who should skip it
- Budget-conscious buyers avoiding high upfront costs for proprietary chassis infrastructure
- Organizations requiring extensive local storage without relying on external network arrays
- Companies preferring hardware flexibility over proprietary vendor-locked ecosystem dependencies
Performance breakdown
Compute Density
High-performance dual-socket architecture maximizes processing power within a compact blade footprint.
Memory Capacity
Supports massive RAM configurations to handle demanding virtualization and enterprise workloads.
Network Flexibility
Versatile connectivity options ensure seamless integration into diverse high-speed data environments.
Remote Management
XClarity Controller provides intuitive, centralized oversight for complex server infrastructure.
Maintenance Efficiency
Hot-swap drive bays allow for rapid servicing without disrupting critical operations.
Scalability Potential
Designed to grow alongside evolving cloud and mission-critical application requirements.
Key Specs
Processor Support
Up to 2x Intel Xeon Scalable (1st and 2nd Gen)
Maximum Memory Capacity
1536 GB
Memory Type
DDR4 ECC RDIMM/LRDIMM across 24 DIMM slots
Internal Drive Bays
Supports up to 2x 2.5-inch hot-swap drives
Storage Interface Support
SAS, SATA, and NVMe
Expansion Slots
2x Mezzanine slots
Network Options
10GbE, 25GbE, InfiniBand
Management Controller
Lenovo XClarity Controller (XCC)
Features
- Supports dual Intel Xeon Scalable processors.
- High-density blade form factor for chassis integration.
- Offers flexible 10GbE, 25GbE, or InfiniBand connectivity.
- Managed remotely via Lenovo XClarity Controller.
- Supports high-capacity DDR4 ECC memory.
- Designed for diverse, mission-critical workloads.
- Hot-swap drive bays for easy maintenance.
What customers say
The Lenovo ThinkSystem SN550 earns high praise for its exceptional reliability and powerful, high density computing. Customers value the blade form factor for its space saving efficiency and reduced operational costs. Integration within the broader ThinkSystem infrastructure simplifies deployment and ongoing management for IT teams. Even under demanding workloads like virtualization and intensive database tasks, the SN550 operates with remarkable stability. Overall, users find this server offers a compelling balance of performance, scalability, and operational efficiency, making it a trusted choice for optimizing demanding enterprise data centers.
Know before you buy
The SN550 is specifically designed to integrate into the Lenovo Flex System chassis. It is a blade server, so it requires this specific enclosure to provide power, cooling, and network connectivity.
Yes, the SN550 is well-suited for virtualization. With support for up to two Intel Xeon Scalable processors and 1536 GB of DDR4 ECC memory, it provides the density and compute power necessary to run multiple demanding virtual machines simultaneously.
The server supports up to two 2.5-inch hot-swap drives, allowing you to replace or upgrade storage without powering down the entire blade. It supports SAS, SATA, and NVMe interfaces, giving you flexibility based on your speed and capacity requirements.
Management is handled through the Lenovo XClarity Controller (XCC). This embedded controller provides comprehensive remote management, monitoring, and alerting capabilities to keep your server running efficiently from anywhere.
The SN550 offers flexible networking options to match your data center infrastructure. It supports 10GbE, 25GbE, or InfiniBand connectivity via its two mezzanine slots, ensuring high-speed data transfer for intensive workloads.
Yes, the server is compatible with both 1st and 2nd generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors. This allows you to choose the specific CPU generation that best aligns with your performance needs and existing infrastructure.
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