Intel Select Solutions for Virtual Radio Access Network (vRAN) with Lenovo ThinkEdge SE450

5G is fueling a rapid transition to virtualization and cloud-native technologies and many operators are embracing a shift to virtualized RAN (vRAN) for greater agility. vRAN architectures offer many advantages including the following:

• Enhanced user experience and faster network performance: critical real-time tasks are optimized for performance and completed at the edge, closer to where the data is being generated and used for reduced latency. Reduced costs including both CapEx and OpEx: using standards-based infrastructure improves hardware utilization efficiency and reduces operating costs through reduced maintenance and power savings
• Flexible performance and agile adaptability: as general-purpose infrastructure decoupled from specific workloads can transparently adapt when the new network elements and services are added and can respond dynamically to changing network requirements.

Intel Select Solutions for vRAN provide pre-validated reference designs that help accelerate 5G deployments.

The foundation of the Intel Select Solutions for vRAN is a robust set of Intel architecture components that include the 3^rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor, the Intel vRAN Accelerator ACC100, Intel Ethernet 800 Series Network Adapters and Intel QuickAssist Technology (Intel QAT).

The new Lenovo ThinkEdge SE450 has been verified by Intel as an Intel Select Solution for vRAN and can be configured to meet either the Base or the Plus Configuration requirements for best-in-class solutions. The SE450, built on the flexible performance of the 3^rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor, is complemented by a software stack based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

The ThinkEdge SE450 is purposely designed to operate outside of the datacenter, where the data is created and where the users need it.  The small form factor of the server allows it to be installed in remote locations with no typical IT infrastructure.  For example, the SE450 can be installed in a small cabinet, mounted on the wall or self-standing with a floor stand.  The server is also built to operate in ruggedized conditions, sustaining wider operating temperature as well as shock and vibration.

Figure 1. Lenovo ThinkEdge SE450

The small form factor and ruggedized server does not compromise on performance by supporting Intel’s 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable processors and up to four (4) PCI expansion cards.

Security at the edge is crucial, which is why the SE450 includes the later TPM 2.0 technology and various secure technologies protecting the device and data it contains.

The new SE450 is designed to process a huge amount of data, directly at edge sites and deliver the insights needed for edge AI use cases to become a reality.  It is created to deliver the promise of AI at the edge by using the latest Intel technologies and several AI acceleration cards.

While the SE450 is deployed in several remote locations, it is easily configured centrally by xClarity Orchestrator and the Cloud infrastructure is automatically installed and managed with Lenovo Open Cloud Automation (LOC-a). Remote access to the server via a completely out-of-band wireless access avoids any unnecessary trip to the edge locations.

Lenovo’s deep technical partnerships with industry leaders ensures that network operators, service providers, cloud service providers or enterprise infrastructure companies can choose among the highest performance and optimized solutions with confidence. With the latest ThinkEdge SE450 server verified as an IntelSelect Solution for vRAN, customers should be able to quickly and efficiently deploy various 5G vRAN and MEC solutions more securely and easily than ever before.

Customers will spend less time, effort, and expense evaluating hardware and software options with the the SE450 because Intel Select Solutions for vRAN helps simplify design choices by tightly specifying hardware and software ingredients to ensure interoperability and predictable performance.