Dell PowerEdge R740 - Overview

Bob Pellerin "CTOBOB" unboxes a Dell PowerEdge R740. An enterprise-level server offers more storage space and higher core CPUs from Intel in a 2u case. This versatile workhorse is popular with hosting companies and larger corporations for a reason. Processing power, lots of ram, storage in a well-designed package. The R740 is a major refresh from the very solid R730 that it replaces. NVMe drives can be added since there is lots of room in this 2u case. You can also add a dual SD module to boot from and install such OSs as VMware ESXi 7.0 or 6.7 to turn this into a true virtualization powerhouse.

Bob looks shows the exterior and interior of the server as well as highlights the components.

As configured:
- Dual Intel® Xeon® Platinum 8180 (2.5GHz, 24C/48T)
- 256GB RAM
- Four 3.8TB SSD drives in RAID 10
- Dual 1100W power supplies

Features:
- 2u
- 2 CPU sockets
- 16 slots for RAM
- 1,2 or 3 drive bays holding 8 2.5 inch drives (SATA or SAS)

- Runs pretty much any modern operating system you can throw at it.

Build note: We increased the RAM after creating the video and added an NVMe drive used for testing.
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[kingcrimson]

I just ordered one of these for my homelab to replace an aging R610. It still works though, and before that I was using a 2950 for years. I also still have that one in storage and it still worked last time I turned it on which was recently.

These Dell servers are so reliable, I'll never use anything else. I keep my servers on 24/7/365 and they just run and run for years on a UPS with no issues as all.

Now at over 1000 days uptime with ESXi on the R610.

[kingcrimson]

I always used enterprise SAS drives in RAID on my Dell servers, and they've been extremely reliable with zero failures.

Is there any downside to using consumer Samsung SATA SSDs this time when I get my R740? Can the PERC still properly detect drive failures with those? Any other concerns to be aware of?

[Shegaw_]

My quationn is is on r740 server can i get raid controller on fixf...

[dexter]

Hi Bob,
Would these be advisable to use as an homelab for eve-ng purposes ? also can this server be installed using the normal rack servers, it looks pretty long and big !!

[el-piebernardo]

Where is the output audio port that model Dell R740

[NiM]

Hi Bob,

could you please make some videos and explain about RAID and configuration storage in the right way?

Thanks. for the videos! Cheers

[choppergirl]

We got burned buying a 4u Itanium 2 server.
Unless it was in a server room at 40F, which we didn't have, so at room temperature it ran with fans at full blast which was noisy as h377.
It was all but 100% unusuable for anything at all from the noise alone. ProxMox won't run on it. Yeah don't buy Intel. EFI bios took forever to load, and we bought extra Itanium 2's for it but couldn't find the heatsinks.. anywhere.

I wouldn't buy any of your server recommendations without you powering them up, so I could verify they were quiet. Just saying. All the tech specs run down in the world don't matter unless I can hear the thing running... or rather... not hear the thing running... from the next room over.



BTW, those metal Kingston USB drives get super hot if left plugged in. Maybe not the best USB stick to leave permanently plugged in except in a place where you got all that server airflow. Not sure why, but I experienced it today having one in a desktop PC that somehow came out of sleep and was on for only an hour or two doing nothing.