Specifications
Model
Dell EMC VEP4600 (also sold under VMware branding)
Class
Universal CPE (uCPE) / virtualised network function platform
Processor
Intel Xeon D-2187NT
Cores
16
Form Factor
1U rackmount
Depth
Approximately 38.1 cm (15 in) — allow extra depth for fans and PSUs
Configured Memory
64 GB
Configured Storage
1 TB SSD
rNDC Carriers
2 x rNDC (Dell proprietary network card form factor — not PCIe CEM)
rNDC Cards Fitted
2 x quad-port Intel X710 — adding 8x SFP+ 10G
10GbE from SoC
2 x Intel X722 10G SFP+
1GbE Ports
4 x via Intel i350-am4
Total Networking
10 x 10GbE class ports plus 4 x 1GbE
Management
ASPEED BMC with dedicated BMC serial and management ports
Console
System serial port plus BMC serial port
USB
2 x USB 3.0 on the front panel
Power Supplies
2 x 495 W 80Plus Platinum, redundant
Fans
Hot-swappable, all removable from the rear
Typical Acquisition
Around USD 495 for the tested 16-core / 64 GB / 1 TB / 10x 10GbE configuration
Supply
B2B volume supply; quote per configuration
Overview
The Dell EMC VEP4600 is a 1U universal CPE platform — a server whose entire reason for existing is to run virtualised network functions. It is also one of the best value-per-port network appliances on the secondary market, which is why it keeps turning up in labs a generation after its launch.
The networking is the point. Two rNDC carriers accept Dell's proprietary network card form factor, and in a typical build those hold two quad-port Intel X710 cards for eight SFP+ 10G ports. On top of that the Xeon D-2187NT SoC provides two Intel X722 10G SFP+ ports, and an Intel i350-am4 adds four 1GbE. Ten 10GbE-class ports plus four 1GbE in a 38 cm deep 1U chassis is a lot of I/O density.
The chassis is roughly 15 inches deep, though the rear needs clearance for the fans and power supplies — two redundant 495 W 80Plus Platinum units, which is generous efficiency for this class. An ASPEED BMC provides dedicated management and serial access independent of the host, and the fans are hot-swappable from the rear. The tested 16-core configuration carried 64 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD and the full ten 10GbE port complement.
Key Benefits
Ten 10GbE-class ports plus four 1GbE in a 38 cm deep 1U chassis — high port density per rack unit. rNDC expansion slots for the X710 quad-port carriers. Dedicated ASPEED BMC with its own serial and management ports for out-of-band control. Redundant 495 W Platinum supplies and hot-swap fans. Strong cost per port in the used market.
Applications
Universal CPE and virtualised network function hosting; SD-WAN and edge service platforms; lab and test environments needing many 10G ports cheaply; virtualised firewall and routing appliances; telco central-office and cell-site deployments; network function development and validation platforms.
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