An OCP server is built to the Open Compute Project designs, the ones Facebook published in 2011 for its own data centers. Many are made for Open Rack: 21 inches wide instead of 19, and powered from a busbar at the back instead of a power cord. So before you buy one used, check two things. Will it fit your racks, and will it power up in them?
What is an OCP server?
It is a server built to specifications from the Open Compute Project. Facebook launched the project on April 7, 2011 to share the hardware designs from its data center in Prineville, Oregon. The designs strip out parts a large fleet does not need, and they are open, so several manufacturers build to them.
How is Open Rack different from a standard rack?
| Standard rack (EIA-310) | Open Rack, first version | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 19 inches | 21 inches |
| Unit height | 1.75 inches (RU) | 1.89 inches (OU) |
| Power | A power supply and cord in each server | 12V DC busbars at the back, fed by a power shelf |
Later Open Rack versions changed the power design, so check the exact version the server was built for.
What should you check before you buy a used OCP server?
- Form factor: is it an Open Rack sled, or built for a 19-inch rack?
- Power: does it expect busbar power from a power shelf, or does it take a standard power supply?
- Management: which BMC and firmware it runs, and whether you can update them.
- Spares: where replacement parts for this exact model will come from.
- Testing: was this exact unit tested under load before it shipped? Ours go through a 48 to 72 hour burn-in.
Remanufactured, refurbished and used mean different things from seller to seller. Ask what was tested, what was replaced, and what the warranty covers. How refurbished differs from used.
Is an OCP 3.0 card the same thing?
No. OCP 3.0 is also a network card form factor from the same project, and it ships in mainstream servers: Dell and HPE both build OCP 3.0 slots into their servers. Our customers ask us for cards such as the Broadcom 57414 dual-port 25Gb and the Intel E810-XXVDA2. If you need one of those, you need the card, not an OCP server. Search parts.
What we do
We buy, sell and support servers, storage and network equipment, and we stock replacement parts for them. Send the model list with your rack type and power setup before you buy. Get a quote.
Short answers
What is an OCP server?
An OCP server is built to the open hardware designs of the Open Compute Project, which Facebook launched on April 7, 2011. Many OCP servers are made for Open Rack, which is 21 inches wide instead of 19 and, in its first version, powers servers from a 12V DC busbar. Datacenterservices.ai buys, sells and supports servers, including used and refurbished units.
Can you run an OCP server in a standard 19-inch rack?
Only if it was built for one. An Open Rack server is 21 inches wide and expects busbar power, so it will not fit or power up in a standard 19-inch rack without the matching rack and power shelf. Check the form factor and power input before you buy, and send Datacenterservices.ai the model list and rack setup first.
What is an OCP 3.0 NIC?
A network card built to the Open Compute Project's OCP 3.0 form factor. Dell and HPE build OCP 3.0 slots into their servers, so these cards show up in mainstream hardware, not only in OCP servers. Datacenterservices.ai customers ask for cards such as the Broadcom 57414 dual-port 25Gb and the Intel E810-XXVDA2.