Dell PowerEdge 2500SC - Manual (Page 27)

The system board includes the following built-in features:
l Seven PCI slots located on the system board. PCI slots 1 and 2 are 64-bit, 66-MHz slots; PCI slots 3 though 5 are 64-bit, 33-MHz slots. Slots 6 and 7 are
32-bit, 33-MHz slots. Slot 7 can be used for the optional DRAC or other PCI-compatible options.
l An integrated VGA-compatible video subsystem with an ATI RAGE XL video controller. This video subsystem contains 8 MB of SDRAM video memory
(nonupgradable). Maximum resolutions are 1024 x 768 x 256 colors (noninterlaced). In 800 x 600-pixel and 640 x 480-pixel resolutions, 16.7 million colors
are available for true-color graphics.
l Embedded dual-channel Ultra3 SCSI controller.
l An optional integrated dual-channel PERC 3/Di that supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 10. The Ultra3 SCSI host adapter can become RAID capable with the
addition of the PERC 3/Di.
l An integrated Intel 10/100 NIC, which provides an Ethernet interface.
l Server management circuitry that monitors operation of the system fans as well as critical system voltages and temperatures. The server management circuitry
works in conjunction with the Dell OpenManage™ Server Agent.
Standard systems include a IDE CD-ROM drive and diskette drive installed in the externally accessible bays.
The following software is included with your Dell system:
l A system setup program for quickly viewing and changing the system configuration information for your system. For more information on this program, see
"Using the System Setup Program."
l Enhanced security features, including a user password and a supervisor password, available through the system setup program.
l Dell Diagnostics for evaluating your system's components and devices. For information on using the system diagnostics, see "Running the Dell Diagnostics" in
your Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
Supported Operating Systems
Dell supports the following operating systems for use on your PowerEdge system:
l Microsoft ® Windows NT ® 4.0 Server
l Microsoft Windows ® 2000 Server and Advanced Server
l Red Hat Linux 7.x
l Novell ® NetWare ® version 5.x
Power Protection Devices
A number of devices are available that protect against power problems such as power surges, transients, and power failures. The following subsections describe some
of these devices.
Surge Protectors
Surge protectors are available in a variety of types and usually provide a level of protection commensurate with the cost of the device. Surge protectors prevent voltage
spikes, such as those caused during an electrical storm, from entering a system through the electrical outlet. Surge protectors, however, do not offer protection against
brownouts, which occur when the voltage drops more than 20 percent below the normal AC line voltage level.
Line Conditioners
Line conditioners go beyond the overvoltage protection of surge protectors. Line conditioners keep a system's AC power source voltage at a fairly constant level and,
therefore, can handle brownouts. Because of this added protection, line conditioners cost more than surge protectors—up to several hundred dollars. However, these
devices cannot protect against a complete loss of power.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
UPS systems offer the most complete protection against variations in power because they use battery power to keep the system running when AC power is lost. The
battery is charged by the AC power while it is available, so once AC power is lost, the battery can provide power to the system for a limited amount of time—from 15
minutes to an hour or so—depending on the UPS system.
UPS systems range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, with the more expensive units allowing you to run larger systems for a longer period
of time when AC power is lost. UPS systems that provide only 5 minutes of battery power let you conduct an orderly shutdown of the system, but are not intended to