Dell PowerEdge R550 Servers

The Dell PowerEdge R550 is a 2U, dual-socket rack server designed to provide a balance of performance, scalability, and storage flexibility for modern enterprises. Powered by 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, it delivers reliable compute performance with extensive memory capacity and high-density storage options, making it well-suited for virtualization, collaboration, database workloads, and general-purpose business applications. With its flexible design, comprehensive management tools, and cost-efficient scalability, the R550 offers an enterprise-class solution that adapts to the needs of growing organizations.

Performance

The R550 supports dual 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors with up to 24 cores per CPU, delivering the compute power needed for demanding business applications. With support for PCIe Gen4, the server offers improved throughput for storage and network expansion compared to previous generations. Intel Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading technologies enhance workload responsiveness and parallel performance, making the R550 capable of handling multi-threaded applications, virtualization, and data-intensive tasks.

Memory and Scalability

The server supports up to 1TB of DDR4 ECC memory across 16 DIMM slots, running at speeds up to 2933–3200 MT/s (depending on processor). ECC memory ensures data integrity by detecting and correcting errors, making it ideal for mission-critical environments. With its memory capacity, the R550 provides the flexibility to scale as workloads expand, supporting mid-tier databases, enterprise applications, and virtualization environments that require significant memory resources.

Storage Flexibility

Designed with storage versatility in mind, the PowerEdge R550 offers:

• Up to 12 x 3.5” LFF drives or 24 x 2.5” SFF drives
• Support for SAS, SATA, and NVMe SSDs
• M.2 boot options for faster and dedicated OS storage
• Dell PERC RAID controllers with RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 support for data protection and performance
  

This flexibility allows the R550 to adapt to a wide range of storage-intensive workloads, including collaboration tools, data management, and high-capacity file storage.

I/O and Expandability

With a 2U form factor, the R550 provides significant expandability for diverse IT needs:

• Up to 5 PCIe Gen4 slots for network adapters, storage controllers, or GPUs
• Integrated dual-port 1GbE networking, with upgrade options for 10GbE, 25GbE, or higher bandwidth NICs
• OCP NIC 3.0 support for flexible networking expansion
• USB and VGA connectivity for local administration
  

This makes the R550 adaptable for growing enterprises that need to increase networking, storage, or compute acceleration capabilities over time.

Virtualization and Use Cases

The Dell PowerEdge R550 is optimized for:

• Virtualization environments (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM) to consolidate workloads
• Collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Exchange or SharePoint
• Database workloads requiring balanced compute and storage
• File/print servers, web hosting, and business applications
• Medium-scale data storage environments with high-capacity requirements

Its 2U design provides the additional storage density often needed for virtualization clusters, business-critical applications, and departmental IT needs.

Management and Automation

The R550 features iDRAC9 with Lifecycle Controller for advanced, agent-free remote management, enabling administrators to monitor, configure, and update servers without direct access. With Dell OpenManage Enterprise, organizations can centralize management across large server fleets with automation for updates and proactive monitoring. These tools reduce downtime, streamline IT operations, and enhance system reliability.

Energy Efficiency

Built with energy efficiency in mind, the R550 includes high-efficiency Platinum-certified power supplies and Dell’s intelligent thermal management to optimize cooling based on real-time workloads. This ensures consistent performance while reducing operational costs and environmental impact. The 2U chassis also provides greater airflow capacity, improving cooling efficiency for storage-heavy configurations.

Reliability and Availability

The PowerEdge R550 is engineered for reliability, featuring:

• Hot-swappable power supplies and drives for minimal downtime during replacements
• ECC memory to maintain data integrity
• Proactive health monitoring and predictive failure analysis to detect issues before they cause disruptions
• Integrated cybersecurity features such as System Lockdown and Secure Boot to protect against firmware and system attacks
  

These features ensure businesses can maintain uptime and continuity in critical workloads.

Key Features at a Glance:

• Compute Power: Dual Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs, up to 48 cores total
• Memory Capacity: Up to 1TB DDR4 ECC memory at 2933–3200 MT/s
• Storage Options: Up to 12 x 3.5” or 24 x 2.5” drives with SAS/SATA/NVMe support
• I/O Expandability: 5 PCIe Gen4 slots, OCP NIC 3.0, upgradeable networking options
• Virtualization Ready: Supports VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM
• Management Tools: iDRAC9, Lifecycle Controller, and OpenManage Enterprise
• Energy Efficiency: Platinum-certified PSUs and intelligent thermal design
• Reliability: Hot-swappable components, predictive monitoring, and built-in security
  

Business Value

The Dell PowerEdge R550 strikes an excellent balance between compute performance, storage capacity, and cost-efficiency in a 2U, dual-socket platform. Its support for large storage configurations, virtualization, and mid-tier workloads makes it an ideal choice for growing businesses and enterprises needing scalable infrastructure. With enterprise-class management, reliability features, and energy efficiency, the R550 provides long-term value for organizations seeking a versatile and future-ready server solution.