Lenovo ThinkAgile SX for Microsoft Azure Stack Hub: SXM4600

Lenovo ThinkAgile SXM delivers a pre-integrated, easy-to-deploy rack-level solution for hybrid cloud to dramatically reduce time-to-value and total cost of ownership (TCO). The solution is based on Lenovo's industry-leading data center infrastructure and Microsoft Azure Stack Hub, an extension of Microsoft Azure Services to on-premises environments.

Suggested workloads for the ThinkAgile SXM include virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), back-office applications, server consolidation, enterprise applications, databases, test and development environments, and hybrid and private cloud implementation. Starting with as few as four nodes to keep your acquisition costs down, the solution offers “pay as you grow” scalability as your needs grow.

Figure 1. Lenovo ThinkAgile SXM

The ThinkAgile SXM ships fully integrated into a rack cabinet, tested, configured, and ready to be plugged in and turned on; it is designed to integrate into an existing infrastructure effortlessly, to accelerate time to value and reduce infrastructure maintenance costs.

There is no up-front cloud software license acquisition cost for the ThinkAgile SXM, monthly billing is based on the actual resource usage (capacity-based licenses are also available).

Lenovo provides ThinkAgile Advantage Single Point of Support for the entire ThinkAgile solution with the nodes, networking, and software, for quicker problem determination and minimized downtime.

The Lenovo ThinkAgile SXM solution integrates computing, storage, networking, and management, and it is designed with industry-standard building blocks, including hyperconverged nodes that are built on powerful and highly reliable Lenovo ThinkSystem servers and Microsoft Azure Stack Hub software that extends Azure technologies on-premises.

The ThinkAgile SXM4600 is a 42U model that can be scaled from 4 to 16 nodes.

The ThinkAgile SXM can also be deployed in a customer-provided rack cabinet with scaling from 4 to 16 nodes.

ThinkAgile SXM offers the following key features:

• Scalable ThinkAgile SXM configurations of an on-premises, hyperconverged, hybrid cloud platform designed to optimize workload performance and provide the IT agility for business demands.
• Flexible monthly billing that is based on actual resource usage helps lower acquisition cost for the entire solution by eliminating upfront cloud software licensing fees.
• Factory-integrated, pre-configured ready-to-go solutions that are delivered in a Lenovo rack cabinet or can be installed in a customer-provided rack cabinet, with all the hardware customers need for their workloads: servers, storage, and network switches, plus Azure Stack Hub cloud software and Lenovo XClarity hardware management tools.
• Designed for effortless integration into existing infrastructures, thereby reducing deployment time and saving money.
• Lenovo deployment services that are included with the solution help get customers up and running quickly.
• Proven and reliable Lenovo ThinkSystem servers featuring the fourth generation of the Intel Xeon Scalable Processor Family provide compute power for a variety of workloads and applications.
• Microsoft Azure Stack Hub provides a scalable, highly available solution for hybrid cloud extension to deliver Microsoft Azure cloud services on-premises with integrated compute, networking, storage, security, and management services that manage VM lifecycle and automate and orchestrate workload provisioning.
• Powerful tools to manage both hardware and applications that come with the ThinkAgile SXM simplify and automate the management of the entire cloud solution, allowing customers to manage the infrastructure as a single system, rather than as individual components.
• Lenovo ThinkAgile Advantage provides a single point of contact for all support issues that customers might encounter with the server, networking, storage, and software used in the solution, for quicker problem determination and minimized downtime.

The SXM630 V3  management node, referred to as the “Hardware Lifecycle Host” or “HLH”, provides hardware management services and includes the following software components:

• Windows Server 2019 with Hyper-V
• Lenovo XClarity Administrator VM: Provides hardware management services.

The SXM650 V3  hyperconverged scale unit nodes provide compute and storage resources and include the following software components:

• Windows Server 2019 with Hyper-V.
• Azure Stack Hub software: Provides scalable hybrid cloud platform.

Network connectivity is provided by two Mellanox SN2410 25 GbE Top of Rack (TOR) network switches, referred to as “TOR-1” and “TOR-2”.

The following table lists the system specifications of the ThinkAgile SXM.

* For customer-provided rack cabinets, the Form factor, Dimensions, Total rack load capacity, Maximum rack weight, and AC power distribution attributes do not apply.

Factory-integrated models of the ThinkAgile SXM are configured by using the Lenovo Data Center Solution Configurator (DCSC):
http://dcsc.lenovo.com

Note: You are required to engage a Lenovo representative in the project that includes the ThinkAgile SXM.

The configuration process includes the following steps:

• Model selection
  • SXM4600
• Rack cabinet selection
  • 42U (SXM4600)
  • Customer-provided rack cabinet
• Power distribution infrastructure selection (SXM4600 only; does not apply to the customer-provided rack cabinet)
  • 200- 240V AC three-phase
  • 346-415V AC three-phase
• Node configuration (The type and configuration of all hyperconverged nodes must be the same)
  • One management node is derived
  • Hyperconverged nodes:
    • Node type (Hybrid or All-Flash storage)
    • Processor model
    • Memory capacity
    • Storage capacity
    • Node quantity
• Networking selection
  • Switch models are derived
• Software selection
  • Microsoft Azure Stack Hub software is derived
  • Lenovo XClarity Administrator with Pro license is derived
• Warranty:
  • Lenovo ThinkAgile Advantage support
  • Three, four, or five years of warranty service coverage
  • 9x5 Next Business Day response with parts delivered (default selection) or onsite response
  • 24x7 4-hour or 2-hour onsite response or 24x7 6-hour committed service repair (available only in select regions)
  • Premier services (optional)
  • YourDrive YourData (optional)
• Lenovo Professional Services:
  • Solution deployment services (included)
  • Solution health check services (optional)
  • Steady-state managed services (optional)

Lenovo deployment services are included, providing remote solution preparation and planning activities, reviewing customer datacenter readiness, configuring solution components, validating deployment milestones, and delivering post-installation documentation to customer on project closure.

For solutions that are to be housed in a customer-supplied rack cabinet, Lenovo Professional Services deployment services will mount and cable the solution components into the rack and provide verification services to ensure the physical hardware and setup is ready for solution deployment.

Existing ThinkAgile SXM deployments can be expanded up to the maximum number of hyperconverged nodes supported by ordering the expansion node models. Field expansion is handled by Lenovo Professional Services via a service contract.

Note: The configuration of the expansion nodes must be the same as the existing nodes.

The following table lists the base models of the ThinkAgile SXM rack cabinets.

Configuration note: For SXM4600, 1U, 3U, and 5U Filler panels are derived based on the number of nodes selected.

Power distribution units (PDUs) are used to distribute power from an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or utility power to the equipment within the ThinkAgile SXM 4600brack cabinet and to provide fault-tolerant power redundancy for high availability.

Each of the nodes and network switches has two redundant power supplies, and each of two power supplies is connected to a separate PDU to support topologies with redundant AC power sources.

The following table lists the power distribution units for the ThinkAgile SXM rack cabinets.

Configuration notes:

• Only one type of PDU is supported within the ThinkAgile SXM rack cabinet; different PDU types cannot be mixed within the rack cabinet.
• Power cables are derived based on the ThinkAgile SXM model and the number of nodes selected.

The following table summarizes the PDU and line cord specifications.

For more information on the PDU's, refer to the Lenovo Press Product Guide:

https://lenovopress.lenovo.com/lp1556-lenovo-1u-switched-monitored-3-phase-pdu 

The ThinkAgile SXM solution uses the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630 server as a management node.

Referred to as the Hardware Lifecycle Host (HLH), the SR630 is a density-optimized, 1U dual-socket server that offers outstanding uptime to keep cloud deployments running safely and comprehensive systems management tools that help make deployment easier. Outstanding reliability, availability, and serviceability and high-efficiency design improve your business environment and help save operational costs.

Components of the management node are described in the following sections:

• SR630 V3 processors
• SR630 V3 memory
• SR630 V3 internal storage
• SR630 V3 network connectivity

For more information about the SR630 V3 server, refer to the Lenovo Press Product Guide:
https://lenovopress.lenovo.com/lp1600-thinksystem-sr630-v3-server

SR630 V3 processors

The SR630 V3 for ThinkAgile SXM ships with two Intel Xeon Gold processors. The following table lists feature codes of the processors that are available for selection.

SR630 V3 memory

The SR630 V3 for ThinkAgile SXM supports 128 GB of memory with 8x 16 GB TruDDR5 RDIMMs. Each processor has eight memory channels, and supports 2 DIMMs per channel installed in four (16 GB RDIMMs) channels, and the remaining channels remain unpopulated.

The following memory protection technologies are supported:

• ECC
• Patrol scrubbing
• Demand scrubbing

SR630 V3 network connectivity

The SR630 V3 for ThinkAgile SXM uses 25 GbE connectivity with the dual-port 25 GbE Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx network adapter: One port is connected to each network switch via a 25 GbE link. Also, the 1 GbE dedicated management port on the XCC is connected to the first network switch. For more information, refer to Networking.

The ThinkAgile SXM solution uses Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 V3 servers featuring the second generation of Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family as hyperconverged scale unit nodes.

The SR650 V3 is a versatile 2U dual-socket server that offers outstanding uptime to keep cloud deployments running safely and comprehensive systems management tools that help make deployment easier. Outstanding reliability, availability, and serviceability and high-efficiency design to improve your business environment and help save operational costs.

Components of the hyperconverged node are described in the following sections:

• SR650 V3 processors
• SR650 V3 memory
• SR650 V3 Internal Storage
• SR650 V3 network connectivity

For more information about the ThinkSystem SR650 V3(Xeon SP Gen 4) server, refer to the Lenovo Press Product Guide:
https://lenovopress.lenovo.com/lp1601-thinksystem-sr650-v3-server

SR650 V3 processors

The SR650 for ThinkAgile SXM requires two Intel Xeon Silver, Gold, or Platinum Gen 4 processors. The following table lists feature codes of the supported processors that are available for selection.

The following memory protection technologies are supported:

• ECC detection/correction
• Bounded Fault detection/correction
• SDDC (for x4-based memory DIMMs; look for "x4" in the DIMM description)
• ADDDC (for 10x4-based memory DIMMs, not supported with 9x4 DIMMs)
• Memory mirroring

The following table lists the internal drive configurations for the boot volume of the hyperconverged nodes.

Boot Drives

Table 16. Internal drive configurations: Boot Drives

The following table lists the HDD and SSD selection options for the SR650 V3 hyperconverged nodes for hybrid storage.

For the VM/storage network, the SR650 V3 for ThinkAgile SXM provides two-port 25 GbE connectivity: Each port is connected to a separate network switch included in the solution. For more information, refer to Networking.

The ThinkAgile SXM solution uses two Mellanox SN2410 25 GbE switches for network connectivity.

Dedicated XClarity Controller 2 (XCC2) management ports on the management node and hyperconverged nodes are connected to one of the Mellanox SN2410 network switches via 1 GbE links. The management node and first 8 hyperconverged nodes are connected to TOR-1 while nodes 9-16 are connected to TOR-2.

25 GbE network ports on the management node and hyperconverged nodes are connected to a pair of Mellanox SN2410 network switches. The switches are connected to each other via two 100 GbE links (provided by two 100 Gb QSFP+ active optical cables (AOCs) included) that are configured in a link aggregation group (LAG). Each of the two SN2410 switches provides two 10 GbE uplinks (10 GbE SR SFP+ transceivers) or two 25 GbE uplinks (25 GbE SR SFP28 Transceiver) that are configured in a virtual link aggregation group for upstream network integration with the customer network.

The network connectivity is illustrated in the following figure. Figure 6 shows connectivity when using a single dual-port network adapter in each scale unit node.

Figure 4. Network connectivity topology using dual-port network adapters

Two Mellanox SN2410 Ethernet switches are used in all current ThinkAgile SXM configurations. The SN2410 switch is an ONIE (Open Network Install Environment) based platform for allowing a multitude of operating systems to be mounted on it and utilizing the advantages of Open Networking and the capabilities of the Mellanox Spectrum ASIC. For ThinkAgile SXM solutions, it comes preinstalled with Cumulus Linux v4.3.0, an operating system that takes the Linux user experience from servers to switches and provides rich routing functionality for large scale applications.

The following table summarizes specifications of the Mellanox SN2410 Ethernet switch for ThinkAgile SXM.

Configuration notes:

• All UTP Category 5E cables for the 1 GbE management network and 25 GbE SFP28 DAC cables for the VM/storage network are derived based on the number of nodes selected.
• VM/storage network uplinks require customer-supplied MMF OM3 or OM4 fiber optic cables with LC connectors.

The ThinkAgile SXM solution includes the following software components:

• Microsoft Azure Stack Hub
• Lenovo XClarity 2

Microsoft Azure Stack Hub

The Microsoft Azure Stack Hub running on ThinkAgile SXM offers the following key features:

• Administrator portal
  • Provides a web-based interface for the cloud infrastructure to perform administrative tasks
  • Supports management of cloud resources and services
  • Enables creation of plans, offers, and subscriptions for tenant users
  • Allows monitoring of health and alerts and managing capacity
• User (Tenant) portal
  • Provides a web-based self-service interface for tenants to interact with the cloud
  • Supports provisioning, monitoring, and management of services for subscribed tenants
• Identity management
  • Provides authentication and authorization for cloud services
  • Uses Azure Active Directory (AAD) or Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
  • Supports role-based access control (RBAC) to manage access to resources and services
• Compute Resource Provider
  • Manages lifecycle of Virtual Machines (VMs) in a cloud environment
  • Creates, updates, and deletes VM images
  • Manages VM snapshots, restore points, and availability sets
• Network Resource Provider
  • Delivers Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
  • Implements network isolation and segmentation with virtual networks
  • Enables communications across virtual networks with traffic routing
  • Secures cloud resources by filtering network traffic with network security groups
  • Offers load balancing across multiple instances for enhanced availability and performance
• Storage Resource Provider
  • Delivers cloud storage services
  • Supports unstructured objects, structured datasets, message queuing, and SMB file storage
  • Offers storage cloud administration service
• Azure Resource Manager
  • Interacts with resource providers and enables cloud orchestration
  • Automates the deployment of infrastructure, services, and applications
  • Provisions cloud resources from JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) templates
  • Supports security, auditing, and tagging of cloud resources
• Usage data reporting
  • Provides metering for the cloud
  • Monitors various cloud resources and system components
  • Collects and aggregates the resource usage data across all resource providers
  • Transmits collected data to Azure commerce for billing processing

Microsoft Azure Stack Hub provides unified storage that offers the following features:

• Provides distributed scale-out storage for cloud services and resources
• Scales easily by simply adding more hyperconverged nodes
• Protects from node or drive failures with data redundancy and self-healing

The ThinkAgile SXM solution can be configured with a three-, four, or five-year customer-replaceable unit (CRU) and onsite (for field-replaceable units [FRUs] only) limited hardware warranty with 24x7 ThinkAgile Advantage Single Point of Support (Lenovo hardware and Microsoft Azure Stack Hub software; requires an active Azure Stack Hub software support contract with Microsoft) and various levels of coverage with a well-defined scope of services, including service hours, response time, term of service, and service agreement terms and conditions.

The Lenovo local support centers perform problem determination and resolution for hardware-related issues and escalate to Microsoft, on behalf of the customer, for software-related problem determination. Microsoft will contact the customer and will own the software-related problem resolution until closure.

A Microsoft Azure Stack Hub subscription and software support contract for ThinkAgile SXM should be obtained from Microsoft by the customer.

The base warranty provides 9x5 Next Business Day response with parts delivered. Lenovo’s additional support services provide a sophisticated, unified support structure for a customer's data center, with an experience consistently ranked number one in customer satisfaction worldwide.

The following additional Lenovo support services are available for selection:

• Premier Support provides a Lenovo-owned customer experience and delivers direct access to technicians skilled in hardware, software, and advanced troubleshooting, in addition to the following capabilities:
  • Direct technician-to-technician access through a dedicated phone line.
  • 24x7x365 remote support.
  • Single point of contact service.
  • End to end case management.
  • 3rd Party collaborative software support.
  • Online case tools and live chat support.
  • On-demand remote system analysis.
• Warranty service level upgrades (Preconfigured Support) are available to meet the on-site response time targets that match the criticality of customer's systems:
  • 3, 4, or 5 years of service coverage.
  • 1-year or 2-year post-warranty extensions.
  • Foundation Service: 9x5 service coverage with next business day onsite response.
  • Essential Service: 24x7 service coverage with 4-hour onsite response or 24-hour committed repair (available only in select regions).
  • Advanced Service: 24x7 service coverage with 2-hour onsite response or 6-hour committed repair (available only in select regions).
• Managed Services

  Lenovo Managed Services provide continuous 24x7 remote monitoring (plus 24x7 call center availability) and proactive management of a customer's data center using state of the art tools, systems, and practices by a team of highly skilled and experienced Lenovo services professionals.

  Quarterly reviews check error logs, verify firmware and operating system device driver levels, and software as needed. Lenovo will also maintain records of latest patches, critical updates, and firmware levels, to ensure customer's systems are providing business value through optimized performance.

• Technical Account Management (TAM)

  A Lenovo Technical Account Manager helps customers optimize operations of their data centers based on a deep understanding of customer's business. Customers gain direct access to a Lenovo TAM, who serves as their single point of contact to expedite service requests, provide status updates, and furnish reports to track incidents over time. Also, a TAM helps proactively make service recommendations and manage service relationship with Lenovo to make certain that customer's needs are met.

• YourDrive YourData

  Lenovo’s YourDrive YourData service is a multi-drive retention offering that ensures that customer's data is always under their control, regardless of the number of drives that are installed in their Lenovo server. In the unlikely event of a drive failure, customers retain possession of their drive while Lenovo replaces the failed drive part. Customer's data stays safely on customer premises, in their hands. The YourDrive YourData service can be purchased in convenient bundles with Foundation, Essential, or Advanced services.

• Health Check

  Having a trusted partner who can perform regular and detailed health checks is central to maintaining efficiency and ensuring that customer systems and business are always running at their best. Health Check supports Lenovo-branded server, storage, and networking devices, as well as select Lenovo-supported products from other vendors that are sold by Lenovo or a Lenovo-Authorized Reseller.

Some regions might have different warranty terms and conditions than the standard warranty. This is due to local business practices or laws in the specific region. Local service teams can assist in explaining region-specific terms when needed. Examples of region-specific warranty terms are second or longer business day parts delivery or parts-only base warranty.

If warranty terms and conditions include onsite labor for repair or replacement of parts, Lenovo will dispatch a service technician to the customer site to perform the replacement. Onsite labor under base warranty is limited to labor for replacement of parts that have been determined to be field-replaceable units (FRUs). Parts that are determined to be customer-replaceable units (CRUs) do not include onsite labor under base warranty.

If warranty terms include parts-only base warranty, Lenovo is responsible for delivering only replacement parts that are under base warranty (including FRUs) that will be sent to a requested location for self-service. Parts-only service does not include a service technician being dispatched onsite. Parts must be changed at customer’s own cost and labor and defective parts must be returned following the instructions supplied with the spare parts.

Lenovo support services are region-specific. Not all support services are available in every region. For information about Lenovo support services that are available in a specific region, refer to the following resources:

• Service part numbers in Data Center Solution Configurator (DCSC):
  http://dcsc.lenovo.com/#/services
• Lenovo Services Availability Locator
  https://lenovolocator.com/

For service definitions, region-specific details, and service limitations, refer to the following documents:

• Lenovo Statement of Limited Warranty for Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) Servers and System Storage
  http://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht503310
• Lenovo Data Center Services Agreement
  http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht116628

The following Lenovo Professional Services are included with the ThinkAgile SXM solution to get customers up and running quickly:

• Conducting remote preparation and planning
• Verifying firmware versions and performing firmware updates, if needed
• Configuring XCC2 management settings
• Installing Lenovo XClarity 2
• Configuring Lenovo XClarity 2 network settings and performing discovery and inventory
• Installing Azure Stack Hub software
• Transferring knowledge
• Developing post-installation documentation

Optional basic hardware installation services are also available from Lenovo Professional Services, including unpacking and inspecting the rack on the customer site, connecting to power and network, verifying operation, and disposing of the packaging materials.

For solutions that are to be housed in a customer-supplied rack cabinet, installation services from Lenovo Professional Services to mount and cable the solution components into the rack are included with these solutions.

The ThinkAgile SXM4600 42U model have the following dimensions and weight (approximate):

• Height: 2011 mm (79.2 in)
• Width: 600 mm (23.6 in)
• Depth: 1200 mm (47.2 in)
• Total rack load capacity: 1588 kg (3500 lb)
• Total rack weight (maximum): 2086 kg (4599 lb)

ThinkAgile SXM models are supported in the following environment:

• Air temperature: 5 °C - 35 °C (41 °F - 95 °F)

• Humidity: 10% to 80% (non-condensing)
• Power load (rated maximum):
  • SXM4600 42U  (fully configured solution): 23905 W
  • Solution components:
    • SR630 V3: 722 W
    • SR650 V3: 1408 W
• Heat output (maximum):
  • SXM4600 42U (fully configured solution): 81564 BTU/hour
  • Solution components:
    • SR630 V3: 2463 BTU/hour
    • SR650 V3: 4804 BTU/hour

The ThinkAgile SXM solution components conform to the following regulations:

• United States: FCC Part 15, Class A; UL 60950-1
• Canada: ICES-003/NMB-03, Class A; CAN/CSA-C22.2 60950-1
• Argentina: IEC60950-1
• European Union: CE Mark (EN55022 Class A, IEC/EN60950-1, EN55024, EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3)
• Germany: TUV-GS (IEC/EN 60950-1, EK1-ITB2000)
• China: CCC GB4943.1, GB9254 Class A, GB17625.1
• Japan: VCCI, Class A
• Taiwan: BSMI CNS13438, Class A; CNS14336-1
• Australia/New Zealand: AS/NZS CISPR 22 Class A
• Reduction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS)

Lenovo Financial Services reinforces Lenovo’s commitment to deliver pioneering products and services that are recognized for their quality, excellence, and trustworthiness. Lenovo Financial Services offers financing solutions and services that complement your technology solution anywhere in the world.

We are dedicated to delivering a positive finance experience for customers like you who want to maximize your purchase power by obtaining the technology you need today, protect against technology obsolescence, and preserve your capital for other uses.

We work with businesses, non-profit organizations, governments and educational institutions to finance their entire technology solution. We focus on making it easy to do business with us. Our highly experienced team of finance professionals operates in a work culture that emphasizes the importance of providing outstanding customer service. Our systems, processes and flexible policies support our goal of providing customers with a positive experience.

We finance your entire solution. Unlike others, we allow you to bundle everything you need from hardware and software to service contracts, installation costs, training fees, and sales tax. If you decide weeks or months later to add to your solution, we can consolidate everything into a single invoice.

Our Premier Client services provide large accounts with special handling services to ensure these complex transactions are serviced properly. As a premier client, you have a dedicated finance specialist who manages your account through its life, from first invoice through asset return or purchase. This specialist develops an in-depth understanding of your invoice and payment requirements. For you, this dedication provides a high-quality, easy, and positive financing experience.

For more information, see these resources:

• Lenovo ThinkAgile SXM home page
  http://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/p/WMD00000272
• Lenovo Data Center Solution Configurator (DCSC):
  http://dcsc.lenovo.com
• Lenovo ThinkAgile SXM Documentation
  http://thinkagile.lenovofiles.com/help/topic/com.lenovo.thinkagile.sxm.doc/sxm_introduction.html
• Lenovo ThinkAgile SXM Best Recipes
  http://datacentersupport.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/HT505122