DELL PowerEdge R550 Server
You might be interested in
-
Condition
Refurbished
-
CPU
2×8GB DDR4 RDIMM 2133MHz
-
RAM
noHDD (up to 8 HDD 2.5'' SFF)
-
Condition
Refurbished
-
CPU
2×8GB DDR4 RDIMM 2133MHz
-
RAM
noHDD (up to 8 HDD 2.5'' SFF)
-
Condition
Refurbished
-
CPU
2×8GB DDR4 RDIMM 2133MHz
-
RAM
noHDD (up to 8 HDD 2.5'' SFF)
-
Condition
Refurbished
-
CPU
2×8GB DDR4 RDIMM 2133MHz
-
RAM
noHDD (up to 8 HDD 2.5'' SFF)
Processor
Up to two 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, with up to 24 cores per processor
Memory
- 16 DDR4 DIMM slots
- Supports RDIMM, maximum capacity 1 TB
- Memory speed: up to 2933 MT/s
- Supports registered ECC DDR4 DIMMs only
Storage controllers
- Internal controllers: PERC H345, PERC H355, HBA355i, PERC H745, PERC H755, S150
- Internal boot options: Internal Dual SD Module, USB, or Boot Optimized Storage Subsystem BOSS-S2 with HWRAID 2 x M.2 SSDs
- External PERC RAID controller: PERC H840
- External non-RAID HBA: HBA355e
Drive bays
- Up to 16 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA HDD/SSD, maximum capacity 122.88 TB
- Up to 8 x 3.5-inch SAS/SATA HDD/SSD, maximum capacity 128 TB
- Up to 8 x 2.5-inch SAS/SATA HDD, maximum capacity 61.44 TB
Power supplies
- 600 W Platinum Mixed Mode, 100-240 V AC or 240 V DC, hot-swap redundant
- 800 W Platinum Mixed Mode, 100-240 V AC or 240 V DC, hot-swap redundant
- 1100 W -48 V DC, hot-swap redundant; works only with -48 V DC to -60 V DC power input
Cooling options
Air cooling
Fans
- Standard STD fans
- Up to 5 cabled fans
Dimensions
- Height: 86.8 mm
- Width: 482 mm
- Depth with bezel: 721.69 mm
- Depth without bezel: 685.78 mm
Form factor
2U rack server
Embedded management
- iDRAC9
- iDRAC Direct
- iDRAC RESTful API with Redfish
- iDRAC Service Module
- Quick Sync 2 wireless module
Bezel
Optional LCD bezel or security bezel
OpenManage software
- OpenManage Enterprise
- OpenManage Power Manager plugin
- OpenManage SupportAssist plugin
- OpenManage Update Manager plugin
Mobility
OpenManage Mobile
OpenManage integrations
- BMC Truesight
- Microsoft System Center
- Red Hat Ansible Modules
- VMware vCenter and vRealize Operations Manager
OpenManage connections
- IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus
- IBM Tivoli Network Manager IP Edition
- Micro Focus Operations Manager
- Nagios Core
- Nagios XI
Security
- Cryptographically signed firmware
- Secure Boot
- Secure Erase
- Silicon Root of Trust
- System Lockdown, requires iDRAC9 Enterprise or Datacenter
- TPM 1.2/2.0 FIPS, CC-TCG certified
- TPM 2.0 China NationZ
Embedded NIC
2 x 1 GbE LOM
Network options
1 x OCP 3.0, optional
GPU options
Not supported
Front ports
- 1 x dedicated iDRAC Micro-AB USB port
- 1 x USB 2.0
- 1 x VGA
Rear ports
- 1 x USB 2.0
- 1 x serial port, optional
- 1 x iDRAC Ethernet port
- 1 x USB 3.0
- 1 x VGA
Internal ports
1 x USB 3.0, optional
PCIe
- 3 x PCIe Gen4 slots plus 1 x PCIe Gen3 slot
- 3 x16 Gen4 low profile
- 1 x8 Gen3, x4 lane, low profile
Operating systems and hypervisors
- Canonical Ubuntu Server LTS
- Citrix Hypervisor
- Microsoft Windows Server with Hyper-V
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
- VMware ESXi
OEM-ready version
OEM-ready version available: customization from bezel to BIOS and packaging
Dell PowerEdge R550 overview
Dell PowerEdge R550 is a mid-range 2U dual-socket rack server based on 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors and DDR4 memory. It sits between compact 1U systems such as Dell PowerEdge R450 and denser compute platforms such as Dell PowerEdge R650 or R750. The main reason to consider the Dell R550 server is its balanced 2U design: more room for storage and serviceability than a 1U platform, while keeping the configuration cost and complexity under control.
The Dell PowerEdge R550 server is suitable for business applications, moderate virtualization, backup, file services, remote office infrastructure, mixed workloads and mid-level database servers. It should not be positioned as an equal replacement for R650 or R750 in heavy compute use, but it can be a strong fit when a company needs a practical 2U platform with flexible local storage.
When to choose Dell PowerEdge R550
Choose Dell PowerEdge R550 when the workload needs more storage flexibility than R450 but does not require the maximum compute density of R650. In many businesses, this makes the R550 a useful platform for application hosting, file services, backup, moderate virtualization and branch office consolidation.
For virtualization, the R550 can support a balanced cluster node when CPU core count, RAM and storage are selected carefully. It is especially useful when local SSD storage is needed for VM datastores, but the deployment does not require the highest memory density or expansion options available in larger enterprise platforms.
For database workloads, Dell R550 configuration should focus on a sensible balance between CPU frequency, RAM and low-latency storage. It can serve Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL or other mid-range databases when sized properly. For very heavy transactional workloads or high-density compute clusters, compare it with Dell PowerEdge R650 or Dell PowerEdge R750xs.
Chassis and drive bay options
The Servermall page lists Dell R550 8SFF and Dell R550 16SFF configurations. Both are SFF options, which makes this page more performance-oriented than LFF capacity-oriented.
| Chassis option | Best for | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Dell R550 8SFF | Balanced application servers and moderate virtualization | Useful when local storage is required but drive count is not the main priority. |
| Dell R550 16SFF | SSD-based virtualization, file services and database workloads | More flexible for separating boot, data, cache and redundancy groups in a 2U chassis. |
Dell R550 8SFF is a practical fit for application hosting and remote office infrastructure. Dell R550 16SFF is better when storage design matters more: VM datastores, SSD-based file services or database volumes. If large HDD capacity is the main goal, confirm whether an LFF configuration is available for the specific offer or compare with another 2U model.
Final drive compatibility depends on the selected backplane, storage controller and exact server configuration.
Recommended Dell PowerEdge R550 configurations by workload
| Workload | Recommended focus |
|---|---|
| Moderate virtualization | Balanced CPU core count, larger RAM allocation, Dell R550 16SFF SSD storage and redundant networking. |
| Business applications | Stable dual-socket CPU configuration, reliable RAID storage and RAM sized for application growth. |
| File services | 8SFF or 16SFF depending on drive count, SSD/SAS storage and a controller matched to redundancy needs. |
| Backup | Moderate CPU/RAM, enough drive bays for retention targets and network bandwidth for backup windows. |
| Mid-level database | CPU frequency/core balance, RAM for cache and low-latency SSD storage. |
| Remote office / branch | Redundant PSU, remote management, simple RAID policy and spare capacity for future services. |
The Dell R550 configuration should be built around the most constrained resource. For virtualization, that is often RAM. For backup, it may be drive capacity and network throughput. For databases, it may be latency and memory.
How to choose CPU, RAM, RAID and storage
With Intel Xeon Scalable processors, more cores help virtualization, containers and multi-user workloads, while higher clock speed can matter for databases and single-thread-sensitive applications. The Dell R550 server is usually selected for balanced infrastructure, so avoid paying for CPU capacity that the workload or software licensing will not use. CPU and core count may affect software licensing for VMware, Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server and other commercial platforms.
RAM planning is especially important for virtualization and databases. In many R550 deployments, adding RAM will provide more practical benefit than a small CPU upgrade. Plan enough memory for current workloads, maintenance windows, failover headroom and growth.
Hardware RAID is suitable for standard deployments with local protected arrays. HBA/JBOD mode is appropriate for ZFS, Ceph, vSAN, Proxmox/ZFS and other software-defined storage designs where the software layer manages disks directly. If BOSS or boot SSD options are available, they can separate the OS or hypervisor from application data.
For storage, SFF SSDs and SAS drives support balanced performance. LFF HDD capacity is not the focus of the listed Servermall R550 configurations, so large archive deployments may need a different drive layout. NVMe should be selected only where supported by the exact configuration.
Dell PowerEdge R550 vs related Dell models
| Model | When to consider |
|---|---|
| Dell PowerEdge R450 | Choose R450 when 1U density matters and local storage needs are moderate. |
| Dell PowerEdge R650 | Choose R650 for denser compute, higher-performance 1U virtualization nodes and more demanding workloads. |
| Dell PowerEdge T550 | Choose T550 when a dual-socket tower server is needed for an office or server room without a rack. |
| Dell PowerEdge R750xs | Consider R750xs for a cost-optimized 2U platform with broader enterprise and scale-out positioning. |
Dell PowerEdge R550 is a balanced 2U platform, not the highest compute option. It makes most sense when storage flexibility and moderate enterprise performance must be combined.
New and refurbished Dell PowerEdge R550 servers
A refurbished Dell R550 can be a rational production choice when the server is tested, configured for the required workload and supplied with warranty. It is useful for companies replacing older 2U servers or adding capacity to an existing environment without moving to the newest generation.
New units may be preferable when procurement rules require new hardware or when several servers must be standardized for a new deployment. Servermall offers EU delivery and warranty options; depending on the offer, Dell R550 new and refurbished servers may be available with a 5-year warranty. Confirm condition, lead time, controller, drive layout, PSU and network options before purchase.
Summary: is Dell PowerEdge R550 the right server for your workload×
Dell PowerEdge R550 is a practical 2U Intel Xeon Scalable server for moderate virtualization, business applications, file services, backup and mid-level databases. Choose it when you need more storage flexibility than a compact 1U server but do not need the heavy-compute profile of R650 or R750. Before ordering, confirm CPU, RAM, storage, RAID/HBA, network, PSU and warranty requirements.
asked
questions
Ask to consultant
The Servermall warranty includes:
- Access on a 24x7 basis (including holidays) to the Servermall Customer Service and Support organization for troubleshooting assistance of Servermall Refurbished Servers and Associated Goods and select software issues.
- 5 year warranty. In case of problem diagnostics or repair, we will do on the server installation site. For free.
- On-site dispatch of replacement parts to the Installation Site or other mutually agreed upon Customer’s business location approved by Servermall to address a Product problem.
Subscribe to our news and get a 50 € discount on the server.
Free shipping across EU if ordering equipment from 500 €. Delivery from 4 working days.
to buy a servers
at Servermall
warranty
testing
We want to make sure that our equipment is fully reliable for you. That’s why all our equipment (even new) is subject to complete diagnostics, testing, and part replacement.
testing
We fully load our equipment with various utilities and software. Rest assured, it’ll work for a very long time.
Power supply
The components work at full capacity and are tested for several days. If we are not sure about something, we replace it.
of all equipment
Our regulations imply the same testing for both used and new equipment. Oh, and by the way, we complement the official manufacturer’s warranty with our own warranty.