Smallest rugged server integrates dual Intel XeonE5-2600v4 CPUs

General Micro Systems, have unveiled powerful new features that significantly boost the S2U “King Cobra” rugged server’s capabilities on the battlefield while lowering price. The enhanced S2U server includes dual Intel Xeon E5-2600v4 family CPUs, 48TB of ultra-fast storage, integrated Cisco industrial-strength Embedded Services Router, 20 ports of managed Gigabit Ethernet switch with POE+, up to 1024GB (1TB) of system DDR4 RAM, and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) that powers the system and provides backup power for up to 15 minutes for graceful shut-down or suspend-to disk.

All of this is engineered into a dense, modular, 2U short-rack (17" deep) configuration that packs more functionality in a field-ready size than anything else on the market, at a fraction of the cost of competing systems. Unlike typical embedded servers, which must be replaced in their entirety in the field, the S2U is the industry’s only rugged server that is 100% sub system LRU (Line Replacement Unit) capable, allowing any function of the system to be replaced in the field within seconds, for ultimate flexibility and minimal downtime.

“When it comes to servers, bigger is definitely not better. Even Dell, with all of its resources and talent, can’t build anything close to what S2U delivers,” said GMS CEO Benjamin Sharfi. “Michael Dell would love to have a server equipped with all the features General Micro Systems has packed into the King Cobra. And we deliver all of these resources at a significantly lower price point for the commercial and military markets.”

The new S2U features dual server processors with Intel’s latest 14-core Xeon E5-2658v4 (Broadwell-EP) and ultra-fast DDR4 RAM. Taking advantage of GMS’ state-of-the-art, patent-pending packaging and patented RuggedCool cooling design, these high-performance processors can run at their full rated speed without the need for throttling to maintain reliability. With up to 1024GB of total system DDR4 RAM with ECC (Error-Correction Code), the S2U can run 56 virtual machines with access via the four 10/40 Gigabit and 24 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Highest performance for demanding applications
For defence, avionics, data centres, and mobile applications that demand multiple, high-performance networks but can’t afford the space and weight of traditional COTS equipment, the S2U is a one-of-a-kind server and router/switch, mass storage, and APU all in a single rugged box. Designed from the ground-up for harsh environments and space-constrained use, the S2U is ideal for applications such as TOC (Tactical Operations Centres), tent-based forward command centres, UAV/UAS control centres, and in-vehicle SIPR/NIPR (red/black) or battlefield networks.

“The S2U King Cobra is a breakthrough in server technology,” said Sharfi. “For the first time in the server market, the S2U integrates the reliability and upgradability of blade servers such as ATCA as used in large data centres, with the cost effectiveness and COTS utilisation of rack-mount PC servers. No server ever has put all the functionality required such as router, managed switch, APU, mass storage, PCIe, and OpenVPX expansion sites in one 2U, 17" deep rack-mount or freestanding system.”

Designed to survive, engineered to serve

• No foreign-sourced, commercial motherboards, switches, or power supplies used: The S2U uses the battlefield-proven OpenVPX standard for the CPU board, COM (Ethernet/router) board, and N+1 hot-swappable 600W power supplies.
• Most versatile system with more I/O than any other server or workstation: CPU board supports an XMC module, three ExpressMini modules, 12 drive bays or 24 ExpressMini/M.2 modules, and three 3U OpenVPX modules; four full-length PCIe modules can be added for additional functionality.
• Customisable, hot-swappable, front-panel drive bays: Supports 12 front-panel drive bays with SAS/SATA and new ultra-fast and reliable PCIe (NVMe) drives, including hot-swap and RAID-control (if desired) by either a RAID controller in the PCIe cage or via the CPU board using Intel’s enterprise-class RSTe.

S2U Demos at AUSA Booth #7549

GMS will be demonstrating the new S2U features in booth #7549 at the AUSA (Association of the United States Army) Meeting, 3-5^th October, 2016 in Washington, DC.