Xserve (Slot Load): Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This document contains frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Xserve (Slot Load), with answers to those questions.
Questions answered in this document:
  1. What is Xserve (Slot Load)?
  2. What is the maximum hard drive capacity of Xserve (Slot Load)?
  3. What Apple Drive Modules (ADM) are offered with Xserve (Slot Load)?
  4. Are Xserve (Slot Load) Apple Drive Modules compatible with Xserve and Xserve RAID?
  5. Can the Xserve (Slot Load) serve as a host to Xserve RAID?
  6. What is the maximum memory capacity?
  7. What ports are available?
  8. How many PCI slots are available?
  9. What is the serial port intended for?
  10. What is the power consumption and BTU information for Xserve (Slot Load)?
  11. What is the RAID inbox CD for?
  12. What graphics cards are available from Apple for Xserve (Slot Load)?
  13. Which mounting racks can the Xserve (Slot Load) be installed in?
  14. Does the Xserve (Slot Load) have redundant power supplies?

Question 1: What is Xserve (Slot Load)?

Answer: Xserve (Slot Load) is a rack-optimized 1U server with 4 hard drive bays.

Question 2: What is the maximum hard drive capacity of Xserve (Slot Load)?

Answer: With four Apple Drive Modules of 180 GB each (ATA/100), the total capacity is up to 720 GB.

Question 3: What Apple Drive Modules (ADM) are offered with Xserve (Slot Load)?

Answer: Standard configurations ship with 60 GB 7200 rpm ATA/133 ADM and offer 2 MB of cache. CTO options include the 60 GB ADM and a 180 GB 7200 rpm ATA/100 ADM with 8 MB of cache.

Question 4: Are Xserve (Slot Load) Apple Drive Modules compatible with Xserve and Xserve RAID?

Answer: The 180 GB ADM is compatible with Xserve and Xserve RAID.

Question 5 : Can the Xserve (Slot Load) serve as a host to Xserve RAID?

Answer: Yes, with the Apple Fibre Channel PCI card installed in the upper PCI slot of the dual PCI riser card.

Question 6: What is the maximum memory capacity?

Answer: The Xserve (Slot Load) supports up to 2 GB of memory in four DIMM slots, using PC2700 DDR SDRAM (333 MHz).

Question 7: What ports are available?

Answer: On the back panel are two (2) FireWire 800, two (2) USB, and one (1) DB-9 (RS-232) ports. A single FireWire 400 port is available on the front panel.

Question 8: How many PCI slots are available?

Answer: There are two full-length 64-bit, 66 MHz PCI slots and one (1) half-length 32-bit, 66 MHz combination PCI/AGP slot. So, if no AGP video card is installed a total of three PCI slots are available.

Question 9: What is the serial port intended for?

Answer: The DB-9 (9-pin) serial port allows administrators access the system through a serial console session using UNIX commands.

Question 10: What is the power consumption and BTU information for Xserve (Slot Load)?

Answer: The power consumption and BTU information is available in technical document 86251 "Xserve (Slot Load): Power Consumption and Thermal Output (BTU) Information ".

Question 11: What is the RAID inbox CD for?

Answer: If the Xserve (Slot Load) is acting as a host to Xserve RAID, the CD contains applications that need to be installed in order to configure, manage, and monitor the Xserve RAID.

Question 12: What video graphics cards are available from Apple for Xserve (Slot Load)?

Answer: Xserve (Slot Load) includes an ATI graphics card with VGA support, which is installed in the lower dual PCI slot. As a CTO option, Apple offers the ATI Radeon 8500 graphics card (bundled with AGP riser card), which has to be installed in the PCI/AGP combo slot.

Question 13: Which mounting racks can the Xserve (Slot Load) be installed in?

Answer: The server fits EIA-310-D-compliant, industry-standard 19-inch (483 mm) wide racks, including four-post racks (24 inches (607 mm), 26 inches (660 mm), and from 29 to 36 inches (734 mm to 914 mm) deep) and two-post Telco racks (center-mount brackets included).

Question 14: Does the Xserve (Slot Load) have redundant power supplies?

Answer: No.

Published Date: Oct 10, 2016