Microsoft Analytics Platform System by Dell
Technical datasheet
The Microsoft Analytics Platform System (APS, formerly PDW) by Dell is a Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) appliance built on
SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse for demanding, high-performance workload requirements. As an appliance, the Dell APS is
delivered with preconfigured hardware, storage, networking components and application and management software.
The APS scales from a 3-compute-node base system with up to 9 compute nodes per rack. The total number of racks can be
increased to 6, which can hold 54 compute nodes.
SX6036 InfiniBand switches
N3048 Ethernet switches
R630 management nodes
3rd scale unit for 9 nodes
(optional)
3 R630 compute nodes
2MD3060e JBODs
(102 drives)
Hardware/Infrastructure
Dell infrastructure for intelligent rack and power management.
Up to 6 racks used for a fully populated Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW) and HDInsight (HDI) solution.
Storage capacity scales up from 21 TB of physical storage in the base configuration to 6 PB with the
maximum number of 6 racks.1
Component
Quantity
Description
PDW Control
Server & Passive
Failover Server
2
Dell PowerEdge R630
• 2x Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2667 v2, 3.3GHz, 8 core
• 256GB RAM, 1600 MHz Performance Optimized
• 2x 600GB SAS 10k drives
• Dual hot plug 750W
• Broadcom 1GB Ethernet
• MCX354A-FCBT InfiniBand
HDInsight Head
Node & Passive
Failover Server
(Optional)
2
Dell PowerEdge R630
• 2x Intel Xeon processor E5-2667 v2, 3.3GHz, 8 core
• 256GB RAM, 1600 MHz Performance Optimized
• 2x 600GB SAS 10k drives
• Dual hot plug 750W
• Broadcom 1GB Ethernet
• MCX354A-FCBT InfiniBand
Networking
(InfiniBand)
2
Mellanox InfiniBand SX6036
• Max throughput: 56 Gbit
Networking
(Ethernet)
2
Dell Networking N3048
Active PDW
Compute Node
Base Unit
In groups of 3
Dell PowerEdge R630
• 2x Intel Xeon processor E5-2667 v2, 3.3GHz, 8 core
• 256GB RAM, 1600 MHz Performance Optimized
• 2x 600GB SAS 10k drives
• Dual hot plug 750W
• Broadcom 1GB Ethernet
• MCX354A-FCBT InfiniBand
Base Unit Storage
2 per scale unit
Dell PowerVault MD3060e Storage
• Drives (usable): 51 per JBOD, 102 total
• Hot swap spares: 9 per JBOD, 18 total
• Drive type: SAS 7.2k
• Drive size: 1TB, 2TB or 3TB
• Total raw size: 21TB
• Compressed: 113TB2
2nd scale unit for 6 nodes
(optional)
3 R630 compute nodes
2 MD3060e JBODs
(102 drives)
Base unit for 3 nodes
3 R630 compute nodes
2 MD3060e JBODs
(102 drives)
1
© 2015 Dell Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Dell offers end-to-end
capabilities for Big Data, Data
Warehouse and IoT Solutions
Purpose-built hardware
APS, servers and storage
Optional Scale
Units
Up to 2 additional scale units
in the first rack, or maximum
of 3 scale units in each
additional attached rack (up
to 9 nodes per rack).
After the base unit, additional scale units may be added
and configured as either PDW or HDInsight regions:
• 3 Compute Nodes
• 2 Storage Units
Component
Quantity
Description
Cabinet
1 per 9-node region
APC NetShelter:
• Maximum of 6 connected racks
• Maximum of 54 nodes
Data management and analysis software
Component
Description
Microsoft SQL Server Parallel
Data Warehouse (PDW) Edition
Provides cluster-based parallel SQL querying services for the Microsoft
Analytics Platform by Dell solution
Microsoft HDInsight Software
(optional)
Unstructured data solutions
Hadoop reference architecture
and cloud aggregation
••Hadoop core infrastructure to provide data storage and retrieval
for unstructured and semi-structured data, including HDFS and
MapReduce
••PolyBase, a technology that integrates SQL Server PDW with Hadoop,
enabling unified SQL querying across relational data in PDW and nonrelational data stored in HDFS
Dell Services
10110100
01001011
10110100
Component
Dell Jumpstart Services for APS
Advanced analytics
Predictive analytics
software and services
Systems integration
Training and implementation
services
Description
• Dell Basic Jumpstart Services for APS: We provide training on
the appliance and an architectural design and implementation
roadmap, along with lab sessions to demonstrate these principles
using your data.
• Dell Enhanced Jumpstart Services for APS: We build on the Basic
Jumpstart Services to develop customized production workloads
such as migration from another platform, integration of data from
disparate sources, query optimization between APS and Hadoop data or
advanced analytics and data visualization for your end users.
Deployment
• Racked, stacked and configured per customer specification
• Delivered as a complete appliance with verification by Dell and
Support
• Dell ProSupport Plus includes 3 years of hardware support (other
Microsoft on site
custom terms optional)
• ProSupport Plus provides 4-hour same-day parts delivery
• Specialized Dell OEM warranty queue for APS
• Mission-critical service on Severity 1 issues
• Enhanced escalation process, and coordination with Microsoft
Technical Support
• Mellanox 3 Year SilverPlus 4-hour onsite warranty
1
2
6PB assumed with 3TB drive option and data compression
Based upon assumption of 5:1 compression. Rates of compression will vary by scenario and workload.
Scaling out
with Analytics
Platform System
PDW or
Hadoop
PDW or
Hadoop
PDW
21 TB
6 PB
© 2015 Dell, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Dell, Dell PowerEdge, Dell PowerVault, Dell Insight Remote Support—as identified in this
document—are registered trademarks of Dell, Inc. in the U.S.A. and/or other countries All other trademarks and registered trademarks are
property of their respective owners.
To learn more about the Microsoft Analytics Platform System by
Dell, visit dell.com/microsoft
2
© 2015 Dell Inc. All Rights Reserved.