Dell PowerEdge Sizer

User and Reference Guide

Contents
Revision History ...................................................................................................................................... 1
About Dell PowerEdge Sizer.................................................................................................................... 2
PowerEdge Sizer Workflow Overview .................................................................................................... 2
Use PowerEdge Sizer............................................................................................................................... 2
Current Environment .............................................................................................................................. 5
Size by SPEC Scores (Benchmark Sizing) ............................................................................................. 5
Manual Input................................................................................................................................... 6
Live Optics Import ........................................................................................................................... 7
SPEC Score Limitations .................................................................................................................. 10
Size by Number of CPU Cores ........................................................................................................... 10
Manual Input................................................................................................................................. 10
Live Optics Import ......................................................................................................................... 11
New Environment (Greenfield) ............................................................................................................. 14
Manual Input................................................................................................................................. 14
AI Workloads ......................................................................................................................................... 16
CPU‐only Solutions for General AI Workloads .................................................................................. 16
Sizing Logic and Assumptions for CPU‐only General AI Workloads .................................................. 16
Sizing Scenario Results .......................................................................................................................... 17
Resources Panel ................................................................................................................................ 17
Results Panel ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Overview Tab ................................................................................................................................ 19
PowerPoint Tab ............................................................................................................................. 20
Edit Sizing Solution Results ................................................................................................................... 21
Insufficient Resources ....................................................................................................................... 21
Compare Sizing Solution Results ........................................................................................................... 23
Save Sizing Solution Results .................................................................................................................. 23
Further Information .............................................................................................................................. 24
PowerEdge Server Ranking Overview ............................................................................................... 24
Memory Recommendation Logic ...................................................................................................... 24
CPU Recommendation ...................................................................................................................... 24
Sizing Logic ........................................................................................................................................ 24
Current Environment SPEC scores ................................................................................................ 24
Current Environment No. of Cores ............................................................................................... 25
New Environment (Greenfield) ..................................................................................................... 25
Revision History
Date Document Revision Description of Changes
August 2023 1.1 Added AI CPU General Inferencing section
July 2023 1.0 Initial version

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About Dell PowerEdge Sizer
The Dell PowerEdge Sizer:

 Displays a list of ranked PowerEdge server configurations to workload requirements.

 Generates a sizing output with the least expensive CPU and memory configuration that provides
the necessary resources to satisfy workload requirements.
 Provides sizing scenarios using SPEC Scores (benchmark sizing) and number of CPU cores.
 Provides users with the option to generate and download a PowerPoint report with the solution
configuration and environments summary.

PowerEdge Sizer Workflow Overview

1. Select a workload and use case
2. Receive a ranked list of recommended Dell PowerEdge server models
3. Filter the results by server type, CPU vendor, and number of sockets
4. Select a server model
5. Select Current Environment or New Environment (Greenfield) details for sizing
6. Input environment details manually or by Live Optics import
7. Receive a recommended sizing output
8. Change the recommended configuration (optional)
9. Download the sizing output as a PowerPoint export (optional)

Use PowerEdge Sizer

1. Navigate to [Link]
2. Select PowerEdge from the Product Family menu on the left side of the screen.

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3. The following screen is displayed:

4. Select a Workload and Use Case from the drop‐down menus:

5. The list of PowerEdge servers, ranked by suitability (Best, Better, and Good) for your selected
workload and use case are displayed. See PowerEdge Server Ranking Overview for further
information. Use the Filter menu to refine your results by choosing from the Server Type, CPU
Vendor, and CPU Sockets drop‐down menus.

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 The following Filter menu options are available:

Server Processor Vendor CPU Sockets

All All All
Rack AMD 1 Socket (supports one processor)
Modular Intel 2 Sockets (supports up to two processors)
Edge 4 Sockets (supports up to four processors)

NOTE: Tower servers are not supported in the current release.

6. Server choices, based on your workload, use case, and filter selections, are displayed under the
Recommended tab. Click the More option next to each server model for further information.
7. Where multiple filter selections are made, and no server model matches these options, a No
Match message is displayed on screen. Here, you can instead choose from the All tab. This tab
lists all supported PowerEdge servers without the ranking labels (Best, Better, Good). The All tab
can also be used to override the Recommended tab if you are searching for a particular server
model for your workload. Scroll through the list of available server models or use the search bar
to type the model number of your preferred server.
8. Once you have chosen your server model, click Next to continue.
9. On the following screen, choose Current Environment if you have a pre‐existing environment and
New Environment if it is a greenfield environment. Your preferred server model is displayed on
the left side of the screen under Select Solution. If you wish to change this, click the Back button,
and make a new server selection.

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Current Environment
NOTE: Use this section only if you have a pre‐existing environment for your workload.

Current Environment is a sizing scenario for existing customer environments. You can import details of
your environment manually or with a Live Optics import.

Two sizing options are available for current environments:

 SPEC Scores (Benchmark Sizing)

 Number of CPU Cores

1. SPEC Scores is selected by default. Click No of CPU Cores to select this option instead.
2. Click Next to continue, or Back to select a different server model.

Size by SPEC Scores (Benchmark Sizing)

SPEC Scores are calculated using a set of standardized performance tests to rate and compare the
performance of processors. Vendors can submit their hardware for testing, and results are published on
[Link]. These details are used in the PowerEdge Sizer tool to compare the server models in your
existing environment against newer models to find the optimal fit for your workload needs.

The weighting used to calculate the final SPEC blend from SPECint is and SPECfp is:

SPECBlend = SPECint2017 * 60% + SPECfp2017 * 40%

NOTE: Make sure you read and understand the following notices relating to SPEC Scores:
 CPU performance sizing based on SPEC Scores does not consider potential core count
limitations recommended for specific workloads. When using SPEC Scores to size core
counts, you must manually validate the minimum core requirements for the workload.
 Published SPEC Scores are not always available for some vendors and models.

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 NOTE: Some vendors do not publish SPEC Scores. The vendors that appear in the PowerEdge Sizer
tool do publish SPEC Scores, but not for all server models. Where SPEC scores are missing for
server models, results are interpolated from existing values.
 If your vendor does not appear in the sizing tool, you must size your solution by No. of
CPU Cores.
 If your server model does not appear in the sizing tool, you can add another supported
model with matching specifications, or else size by No. of CPU Cores.

Two methods are available to add your Current Environment data:

 Manual Input
 Live Optics Import

You can add data using both Manual Input and Live Optics Import in the same scenario. You can also add
multiple Manual Inputs, and more than one Live Optics project in the same scenario.

Manual Input

1. On the following screen, Manual Input is selected by default. Add your environment details using
the drop‐down menus.

Vendor Select from the list of supported vendors.

Model Select from the list of server models supported for the chosen
vendor.
Processor Select from the list of processors supported for the chosen
vendor and sever model.
CPU Utilization Manually enter the peak CPU utilization from 1‐100%.
Used Memory Per Server Manually enter the peak used memory per server in GiB. If you
exceed the limit an error message is displayed.
Dell servers: This is the maximum configurable memory for
each server model.
Non‐Dell servers: Use the highest possible value of 16,384 GiB.
No. of Servers The number of servers you have in your configuration.

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 NOTE: Make sure you enter the peak value and not the average value for CPU Utilization and
Used Memory Per Server to ensure your solution is not undersized.

2. When all fields are completed click Add to add your server data to the Current Environment
panel. Use the trash can and pencil icons to delete servers from the Current Environment panel,
or to edit server details.

3. Continue adding your server models until all environment data is captured.
4. Click Size Scenario to complete the sizing solution or use the Live Optics Import tab to add
additional servers to your environment.

Live Optics Import

1. On the following screen select the Live Optics Import tab.

2. Enter your Live Optics project ID and click Import.

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3. The following screen displays all server models associated with your Live Optics project ID. By
default, none of the servers are selected.

NOTE: Servers with no CPU or memory utilization are not supported in the current release and
are excluded from the selection screen.

4. Select the servers you wish to include in your sizing scenario and click Import. To select all the
servers in the list, click the checkbox next to Server Name. The project data is imported through
APIs from the PowerInsight database.

a. Uploaded Servers ‐ Physical servers that match the supported vendors and models in the
database.
b. Virtual Servers – Virtual Machines targeted by the Live Optics collector as servers. They
are not supported and are excluded from the sizing scenario.
c. Not Uploaded Servers ‐ Unknown or unsupported vendors and server models with no
published SPEC Scores.

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 If no servers are uploaded, the following message displays:

5. Servers added by Live Optics Import display in the Current Environment panel on the right side
of the screen with the Live Optics logo beside them. Use the trash can and pencil icons to delete
servers from the Current Environment panel, or to edit server details.

6. Click Size Scenario to size the solution.

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SPEC Score Limitations
 Sizing cannot be done for any server which is not supported (has no SPEC Scores available).
 Live Optics Import excludes any server model which does not have associated SPEC Scores. All
other models which are supported are imported and included in the sizing scenario.
 SPEC scores provided by [Link] are based only on fully populated CPU sockets. If a server has
two sockets only the 2 CPU option is considered in the sizing scenario.

Size by Number of CPU Cores

If SPEC Scores are not available or Live Optics cannot import your full environment data, you must size
your solution by No. of CPU Cores. This scenario considers only the number of CPU cores required for
your workload, and not server performance.

Two methods are available to add your Current Environment data:

 Manual Input
 Live Optics Import

You can add data using both Manual Input and Live Optics Import in the same scenario. You can also add
multiple Manual Inputs, and more than one Live Optics project in the same scenario.

Manual Input

1. On the following screen, select Manual Input is selected by default. Add your environment details
using the drop‐down menus.

CPU Cores Per Server Select the number of cores per server.
CPU Utilization Manually enter the peak CPU utilization from 1‐100%.
Used Memory Per Server Manually enter the peak used memory per server in GiB. If you
exceed the limit an error message is displayed.
Dell servers: This is the maximum configurable memory for
each server model.
Non‐Dell servers: Use the highest possible value of 16,384 GiB.
No. of Servers The number of servers you have in your configuration.

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 NOTE: Make sure you enter the peak value and not the average value for CPU Utilization and
Used Memory Per Server to ensure your solution is not undersized.

2. When all fields are completed click Add to add your server data to the Current Environment
panel. Use the trash can and pencil icons to delete servers from the Current Environment panel,
or to edit server details.

3. Continue adding your server models until all environment data is captured.
4. Click Size Scenario to complete the sizing solution or use the Live Optics Import tab to add
additional servers to your environment.

Live Optics Import

1. On the following screen select the Live Optics Import tab.

2. Enter your Live Optics project ID and click Import.

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3. The following screen displays showing all server models associated with your Live Optics project
ID. By default, none of the servers are selected.

NOTE: Servers with no CPU or memory utilization are not supported in the current release and
are excluded from selection.

4. Select the servers you wish to include in your sizing scenario and click Import. To select all the
servers in the list, click the checkbox next to Server Name. The project data is imported through
APIs from the PowerInsight database.

a. Uploaded Servers ‐ Physical servers that match the supported vendors and models in the
database.
b. Virtual Servers – Virtual Machines targeted by the Live Optics collector as servers. They
are unsupported and are not added to the sizing scenario.

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5. Servers added by Live Optics Import display in the Current Environment panel on the right side
of the screen with the Live Optics logo beside them. Use the trash can and pencil icons to delete
servers from the Current Environment panel, or to edit server details.

6. Click Size Scenario to size the solution.

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New Environment (Greenfield)
NOTE: Use this section only if you do not have a pre‐existing environment for your workload.

New Environment is a sizing scenario for a customer greenfield environment. You must enter details of
the environment manually.

Manual Input

1. On the following screen, select New Environment.

2. Add the details of your requirements using the drop‐down menus.

CPU Cores Per Server Select the required number of cores per server.
CPU Utilization Manually enter the Peak CPU utilization from 1‐100%.
Used Memory Per Server Manually enter the peak used memory per server in GiB. If you
exceed the limit an error message is displayed.
Dell servers: This is the maximum configurable memory for
each server model.
Non‐Dell servers: Use the highest possible value of 16,384 GiB.
No. of Servers The required number of servers in your configuration.

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 NOTE: Make sure you enter the peak value and not the average value for CPU Utilization and
Used Memory Per Server to ensure your solution is not undersized.

3. When all fields are completed click Add to add your server data to the New Environment panel
on the left side of the screen.
4. Continue adding your server models until all environment data is captured. Use the trash can and
pencil icons to delete servers from the New Environment panel, or to edit server details.

5. Click Size Scenario to complete the sizing solution.

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AI Workloads

CPU‐only Solutions for General AI Workloads

Dell PowerEdge Sizer supports CPU only sizing solutions for general AI inferencing. The AI sizing workflow
varies slightly from the standard PowerEdge sizing workflow.

NOTE: The Dell PowerEdge R760 rack server is the only recommended platform for AI workload sizing
solutions.

Sizing Logic and Assumptions for CPU‐only General AI Workloads

This section describes the sizing logic for AI workloads.

User Provided Inputs

Sizing Bias Choose from Best Performance or Best Value (least expensive).
Number of Concurrent Provide the number of inferences that must run in parallel. A maximum of
Inferences 50 concurrent inferences is supported.

The PowerEdge R760 rack server is available with two different CPU models (8460Y+ and 8480+).

The CPU model is recommended based on the Sizing Bias input.

 If you select Best Performance, the 8480+ is recommended

 If you select Best Value, the 8460Y+ is recommended

The number of CPUs required is based on the Number of Concurrent Inferences input. The assumption is
that one concurrent inference requires one CPU and its respective CPU cores.

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Sizing Scenario Results
The following section provides an overview of the sizing scenario results page (there are minor
differences on this page depending on server type, for example, a rack unit (RU) value for rack servers
and chassis counts for modular servers).

Resources Panel
The resources panel is located on the left side of the screen and displays resource information including
Future Growth, Target Utilization, CPU, Number of Servers, and Memory. On this panel you can use the
Edit button to make changes to your current solution, and the Compare button to compare your chosen
PowerEdge server to another PowerEdge model.

Future Growth
Future Growth provides an estimation for future resource requirements due to expected growth. If you
change the default Future Growth value, this multiplies the sizing solution by your chosen future growth
value. Decimal values (for example 1.3, 1.8, 2.7) are allowed up to a maximum value of 3.

Target Utilization
Target Utilization refers to the utilization level of system resources. The recommended value is 80%,
leaving a 20% buffer for extra resources. If you edit the Target Utilization value, the sizing scenario is
triggered, and updates to reflect your changes.

NOTE: We strongly recommend that you do not increase the Target Utilization value to more than 80%.

Servers
You can increase or decrease the number of servers based on the maximum resources available for a
particular server model, where CPU and memory requirements for your solution are met.

NOTE: The minimum required number of servers updates each time the Target Utilization and
Future Growth values are changed. You can increase the number of servers in your solution from
the recommended number only. If you enter a server count which is less than the minimum
recommended amount, an error message displays.
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No. CPU per server
Changing the processor affects the number of servers based on the SPEC Score or Number of Cores
equation (only if higher than what is needed for memory).

SPEC Scores ‐ You cannot change the number of CPUs as the values account for fully populated CPU slots.

No. of Cores ‐ You can decrease the number of CPUs to at least one CPU (if applicable).

Processor
You can change the CPU based on your requirements. This does not trigger the sizing logic, but instead
displays the performance increase or decrease based on your choice on the comparison bars on the left
side of the screen. If one or more of the bars turns red, your selected solution is undersized and must be
updated to meet the minimum recommended resources. See Insufficient Resources for further
information.

Memory Population
The drop‐down menu contains the memory population configurations supported by a particular server
model. Changing the memory population value changes the number of supported DIMMs in the
respective memory population configuration.

Memory Population Diagram

The memory population diagram at the bottom of the screen outlines where DIMMs should be placed to
ensure a balanced or near balanced memory population. See Memory Recommendation Logic for further
information.

DIMMs No.
If you change the Number of DIMMs, the Memory comparison bar automatically updates and displays a
match or greater result. Match reflects the exact resources required based on your input, and greater
means additional resources are now available. However, if the Memory bar turns red, your selection is
undersized and must be updated to meet the minimum recommended resources. See Insufficient
Resources for further information.

DIMMs Size
If you change the DIMMs Size, the Memory comparison bar automatically updates and displays a match
or greater result. Match reflects the exact resources required based on your input, and greater means
additional resources are now available. However, if the Memory bar turns red, your selection is
undersized and must be updated to meet the minimum recommended resources. See Insufficient
Resources for further information.

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Results Panel
The panel on the right side of the screen provides further information on your sizing solution. From here
you can also download your recommended solution in PowerPoint format.

Overview Tab
The Overview tab provides comparison information between your current environment and the
recommended sizing solution. A unique Sizer ID number is displayed under Additional Details.

Servers
The number of servers you currently have compared to the recommended solution.

Ratio
The ratio of servers you currently have compared to the recommended solution.

Total RU (Rack Servers only)

Amount of rack unit space the recommended solution requires. Use this value to determine if you must
purchase additional racks.

Cores
Match or greater means the solution recommends the same or greater number of cores. If the result is
less than match, this means improved performance can be obtained from fewer cores. In these
calculations we match at the Target Utilization value.

For example, if the Target Utilization value is set to 70%, we match at 70% and leave a 30% buffer for
extra resources. Increasing or decreasing the Target Utilization value increases or decreases the available
buffer size.

NOTE: We strongly recommend that you do not increase the Target Utilization value to more than 80%.

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 NOTE:
SPEC Scores does not consider the number of cores in your current environment or in the
recommended solution provided by the sizing tool. The performance value is the most valuable
SPEC Scores metric.

No. of Cores only considers the number of cores required for your workload. It does not consider
the performance metric.

Performance
Match means the same performance you already have is recommended in the solution. Values greater
than match indicate that additional performance is required, or that extra servers have been added to
the solution to match the memory value.

For example, if the Target Utilization value is set to 70%, we match at 70% and leave a 30% buffer for
extra resources. Increasing or decreasing the Target Utilization value increases or decreases the available
buffer size.

NOTE: We strongly recommend that you do not increase the Target Utilization value to more than 80%.

Memory
Match means the same memory you already have is recommended in the solution. Values greater than
match indicate that additional memory is required, or that extra servers have been added to the solution
to match the performance value.

For example, if the Target Utilization value is set to 70%, we match at 70% and leave a 30% buffer for
extra resources. Increasing or decreasing the Target Utilization value increases or decreases the available
buffer size.

NOTE: We strongly recommend that you do not increase the Target Utilization value to more than 80%.

Comparison Bars
The comparison bars for Cores, Performance, and Memory change color if new edits to the
recommended scenario provide a match (or greater) result, or an insufficient result.

SPEC Score Scenario

Cores Always blue even if it is less than match (SPEC Scores scenario only).
Performance Blue for match or greater. Red if it does not match the current environment.
Memory Blue for match or greater. Red if it does not match the current environment.

Number of Cores and New (Greenfield) Environments

Cores Turns red if it is less than match for the recommended scenario.
Performance Turns red if it is less than match for the recommended scenario.
Memory Turns red if it is less than match for the recommended scenario.

PowerPoint Tab
You can download the recommended solution from the PowerEdge sizer tool in PowerPoint format. Enter
your details in the required fields, and click Create PowerPoint to generate your report.

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Edit Sizing Solution Results
1. Use the Edit button to make changes in the Future Growth and Target Utilization, Base and CPU,
and Memory fields.
2. Click Save to save your changes or Cancel to stop editing. If Cancel is selected any changes
previously made will not be saved.
3. Click Reset (when in edit mode) to reset any edits back to your original chosen scenario.

Insufficient Resources
Where you make manual changes to the CPU or memory of a recommended scenario and the result is not
a match or greater, the comparison bar turns red, and an insufficient resources warning message displays
in the Overview panel. You can save the scenario, but you will not be able download the PowerPoint
report for the scenario under the PowerPoint tab.

NOTE:
For SPEC Score sizing, the Performance and Memory comparison bars must display a match or
great result. The Cores bar does not have to be a match or greater, as results are based on
performance only. Improved results might be achieved from fewer servers containing fewer cores
due to consolidation.

For Number of Cores sizing and sizing for a New Environment (Greenfield), the Cores comparison
bar must display a match or great result. If you change the number of CPUs, this affects both the
Cores and Memory calculation as the number of DIMMs will differ based on the new number of
CPUs.

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PowerPoint Tab
In an insufficient resources scenario, the option to download your PowerPoint report is replaced by an
error message. The solution is undersized and must be updated to meet the minimum recommended
resources. You cannot download the PowerPoint report until the minimum requirements are met.

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Compare Sizing Solution Results
1. Click the Compare button to compare your current PowerEdge server model choice with another.
2. Select another PowerEdge server model from the drop‐down menu and comparison results are
displayed.

3. Use the radio button next to the server model to select the solution you wish to use. You can
change to the server model displayed in the comparison panel instead of your original choice. The
tool updates your choice, and the new model displays in your sizing solution result.
4. Click Save in the top right corner of the screen to saves your changes.

Save Sizing Solution Results

To export your recommended solution in XML or PowerPoint format, you must save it first.

1. Click the Save button in the top right corner of the screen.
2. Fill in the required fields and click Save.

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Further Information
PowerEdge Server Ranking Overview
Using PowerSell APIs, a list of workloads, use cases, and server models that support PowerEdge ranking
are imported into the sizing tool. When new workloads, use cases, and PowerEdge server models are
supported by PowerSell, the list is updated and pushed to the sizing tool. Currently, the list is updated
through the API every 24 hours.

Memory Recommendation Logic

The PowerEdge sizer recommends CPU and memory based on the least expensive option. However, the
following limitations must be considered:

 The current release supports only RDIMMs and LRDIMMs configurations.

 The default recommendations are always based on a single DIMM type.
 The default recommended option is Optimized mode.
 In Optimized mode there is a set of allowed memory populations per server model. We always
recommend the least expensive option of the below memory populations only:
o Balanced
o Near Balanced
 Other memory populations/operation mode options are supported in the sizer tool if supported
by the solution server model only.

CPU Recommendation
In the current release, the CPU model recommendation is based on the least expensive possible option.
This choice can be manually edited on the results screen. The results automatically update and display
the new sizing output based on the selections made.

Sizing Logic
Sizing logic differs slightly based on the chosen sizing scenario (SPEC Scores or No. of Cores):

Current Environment SPEC scores

Sizing is done once based on both performance and memory to calculate the number of servers. The
calculation containing the highest number of servers is the sizing output we recommend. This ensures
that both performance and memory requirements are satisfied.

Performance Calculation

[(SPEC Score * No. of Severs * Input CPU Utilization %) * FUTURE GROWTH / (Solution Server
SPEC Score * Utilization%)] = Number of solution servers needed based on CPU performance

NOTE: Default Target Utilization % = 80% Default Future Growth = 1

Memory Calculation
[(Used Memory * No Servers) * FUTURE GROWTH / (Solution Distributed Memory *
Utilization %)] = Number of solution servers needed based on memory

NOTE: Default Target Utilization % = 80% Default Future Growth = 1

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Current Environment No. of Cores
Sizing is done once based on both performance and memory to calculate the number of servers. The
calculation containing the highest number of servers is the sizing output we recommend. This ensures
that both performance and memory requirements are satisfied.

CPU Cores Calculation

[(No. of Cores Per Server * No. of Severs * Input CPU Utilization %) * FUTURE GROWTH / (Solution
Server No of Cores * Utilization %)] =Number of solution servers needed based on CPU Cores

NOTE: Default Target Utilization % = 80% Default Future Growth = 1

Memory Calculation

[(Used Memory * No Servers) * FUTURE GROWTH / (Solution Distributed Memory *

Utilization %)] Number of solution servers needed based on Memory

NOTE: Default Target Utilization % = 80% Default Future Growth = 1

New Environment (Greenfield)

For new environments, scenarios are sized based on CPU, memory, and GHz (GHz is an optional field, but
should you wish to enter a value, it must be included for each manual entry). The calculation containing
the highest number of servers is the sizing output we recommend. This ensures that both performance
and memory requirements are satisfied.

CPU
(Number of CPU cores per Server Needed * Total number of Servers) * FUTURE GROWTH /
(Number of CPUs available for the solution * Utilization %)

NOTE: Default Target Utilization % = 80% Default Future Growth = 1

Memory
(Total Memory Input GB per Server * Number of Servers) * FUTURE GROWTH / (Total Solution
Memory (GB) * Utilization %)

NOTE: Default Target Utilization % = 80% Default Future Growth = 1

GHz (Optional)
(GHz input by user per server * Number of Servers) * FUTURE GROWTH / ((Solution GHz)
* Utilization %)

NOTE: Default Target Utilization % = 80% Default Future Growth = 1

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