SuperServer X11

Buy Used Supermicro X11 Servers – High-End Performance and NVMe-Ready Enterprise Platforms

The Supermicro SuperServer X11 series is a significant advancement of the X10 platform, offering enhancements in compute power, storage interface, remote management, and energy efficiency. Based on Intel Xeon Scalable Processors (1st and 2nd Gen – Skylake-SP / Cascade Lake-SP), these systems provide the ideal foundation for modern virtualization clusters, databases, software-defined storage (SDS), and compute-intensive enterprise applications.

Supermicro X11 servers are modular and come in various chassis configurations, differentiated by drive capacity and PCIe expandability:

CSE-819U: A highly compact 1U platform with up to 4x hot-swap bays (2.5" or 3.5" depending on the backplane) and redundant power supplies. Ideal for high-performance computing in limited space—such as edge servers, security appliances, or compact virtualization nodes.

CSE-813: 1U rackmount server with up to 4x hot-swap 3.5" or 2.5" drives. Suitable for edge computing, firewall roles, or energy-efficient server applications.

CSE-216: A 2U high-density system with up to 24x 2.5" hot-swap bays, optional NVMe backplane, and redundant power. Designed for dense rack deployments in data centers.

CSE-826: Proven 2U all-rounder with 12x 3.5" bays (optionally 2.5") and multiple PCIe slots for RAID, 10G networking, or GPU integration.

CSE-836: 3U rackmount chassis offering up to 16x 3.5" drive bays and ample space for GPUs or advanced storage controllers—ideal for SDS environments.

Key technical features of the X11 series:

Support for up to 2x Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs (Platinum, Gold, Silver)
Up to 2TB DDR4 ECC Registered RAM
IPMI 2.0 with remote BIOS access and HTML5 iKVM
Support for NVMe, SAS, and SATA drives (depending on backplane)
Redundant high-efficiency power supplies (80 PLUS Platinum certified)

Thanks to their flexibility and performance, X11 systems are suited for classic enterprise IT as well as advanced workloads in machine learning, big data, virtualization, or storage virtualization (ZFS, Ceph).

Frequently Asked Questions about Supermicro X11 Servers

Which CPUs are supported in Supermicro X11 servers?

Supermicro X11 servers primarily support Intel Xeon Scalable processors from the first and second generation (Skylake-SP and Cascade Lake-SP), and depending on the board, also Intel Xeon E-2100/2200 or Intel Core i-Series for entry-level systems.

What distinguishes the Supermicro X11 chassis models CSE-819U, CSE-813, CSE-216, CSE-826, and CSE-836?

The main differences lie in form factor, drive capacity, and expandability: CSE-819U (1U, compact and powerful), CSE-813 (1U, compact), CSE-216 (2U, high density), CSE-826 (2U, versatile), CSE-836 (3U, expanded storage capacity).

Are Supermicro X11 servers suitable for virtualization?

Yes, thanks to their Xeon Scalable platform, ECC RAM support, IPMI remote management, and PCIe expansion slots, X11 servers are excellent for virtualization using VMware, Proxmox, or Hyper-V.

Do X11 servers support NVMe drives?

Many X11 models come with NVMe-capable backplanes or allow NVMe integration via PCIe adapters. Depending on the system, 2, 4, or more NVMe bays may be directly supported.

Do Supermicro X11 systems include IPMI?

Yes, all Supermicro X11 servers support IPMI 2.0 with a dedicated LAN port for full remote management, BIOS updates, sensor monitoring, and KVM over LAN.