Broadberry CyberServe SR1600 review

The server can also be booted into an EFI environment which provides a CLI for basic server configuration and firmware updates plus it also supports USB storage devices. We needed to use this for the RMM to set its network parameters and create an initial user and although it's a bit fiddly it didn't take us long to achieve.

The management story doesn't end there as the system is supplied with Intel's Server Software suite which includes its Deployment Assistant for unattended OS installs on multiple servers. The Active System Console 3.5 provides basic server monitoring with an interface full of chunky icons for selecting and monitoring the health of key components.

You also get a 90-day trial of Microsoft's System Center Essentials 2007 (SCE2007) which provides a smart interface where multiple servers and workstations running the appropriate agent can be gathered together and monitored. You can use SCE2007 to monitor critical components and send out alerts if anything untoward is spotted and it also provides software distribution tools as well.

Storage features are comparatively basic and management features aren't as good as those offered by Dell but the CyberServe RS1600 clearly has a keen eye on performance and value. Even with these new high-end processors on board it has surprisingly low power demands and offers some unusual expansion options.

Author: Dave Mitchell