FAQ

FAQ

FAQ

What items does a GPU cluster inspection typically cover?

GPU detection, temperature, power draw, ECC errors, power supply status, fans, IB/RoCE networking, drive health, system logs and firmware versions.

What hardware and networking does a GPU compute cluster require?

Core cluster hardware: H100/A100 GPU servers, InfiniBand switches (400Gbps NDR for H100), storage nodes (NVMe SSDs forming a parallel file system) and management nodes. On the network side, GPU servers must be interconnected through InfiniBand to unleash multi-GPU parallel training — ordinary Ethernet latency is too high and becomes the bottleneck. ZhongLianDa provides end-to-end service from hardware selection and cluster build-out to scheduler deployment, proposing minimum and recommended configurations based on your model size.

If a GPU card fails, can it be replaced individually?

Yes. As long as chassis, power delivery and backplane are compatible, a same-model GPU can be swapped individually; re-run stress tests after the replacement.

What are AI servers mainly used for, and how do training and inference machines differ?

They serve large-model training, fine-tuning, vector retrieval, AI inference and compute simulation. Training machines: multi-GPU with high-speed interconnect — mainly H100/B300, large memory, strong compute. Inference machines: fewer GPUs, such as B10/A10, prioritizing low latency and high throughput at lower cost.

How should AI server memory capacity be sized relative to GPU count?

A common rule of thumb: 16–32 GB of host memory per GPU. For example, an 8-GPU server is typically paired with 256 GB or 512 GB of RAM.

How is AI server hardware expansion done? Does adding GPUs require cooling changes?

First confirm the motherboard, power supply and airflow support the addition. Once GPUs are added, evaluate cooling capacity at full configuration — some models need fan replacements or airflow adjustments.

For AI companies, should database servers and AI servers be run by separate ops teams?

You can unify or split operations — both work. We support both hardware classes simultaneously, reducing the number of vendors you need to coordinate.

How big is the performance gap between NVIDIA A100 and H100, and how do I choose?

In large-model training, NVIDIA H100 delivers a marked speedup over A100: the Transformer Engine can raise training speed by up to 3x and inference throughput by more than 2x. H100 uses the Hopper architecture, offers about 50% higher memory bandwidth, and supports the new FP8 precision mode. A100 wins on price, suiting limited budgets or non-huge models. ZhongLianDa stocks A100 and H100 systems and advises on selection by model size and budget, with rent-before-buy and test-before-purchase options.

How much power does an 8-GPU B300 server draw, and how should power distribution be planned?

At full load the whole system draws roughly 4.8–6 kW. When sizing PDUs, breakers and UPS capacity, reserve 20% headroom and design machine-room power distribution for peak consumption.

Are there long-term discounts for later expansion and parts purchases?

Existing maintenance customers enjoy long-term partnership pricing on later expansion and parts purchases.

How are travel costs for cross-region on-site visits settled?

Contracts can choose a fixed bundled rate or actual-expense reimbursement — clarified before signing.

How long is the warranty after hardware delivery?

New hardware generally 1–3 years; second-hand machines default to 3–12 months, extendable with maintenance.

Does maintenance include basic system-level troubleshooting?

Basic log review and fault localization are included; deep database tuning and application-layer issues are value-added services.

What if hardware repair fails?

A temporary replacement-parts plan is provided; if a unit cannot be repaired, the maintenance contract's equipment-replacement or compensation clauses apply.

Can you provide project proposals, configuration lists and quotes?

Yes — complete technical proposals, hardware configuration and detailed quotes are produced to your business requirements.

Which cities does maintenance cover in Guangdong / nationwide?

Fast on-site service across Guangdong province; nationwide remote plus on-site maintenance in all provinces and cities, with travel rules applied outside Guangdong.

Does the maintenance contract cover parts replacement? Are parts stocked?

Full-inclusive parts coverage can be contracted; core parts are held in our own stocked inventory to shorten repair time.

How is a combined AI cluster + Oracle maintenance contract priced?

The two equipment asset values are assessed separately, then bundled — with a package discount — and the maintenance scope of each equipment class is listed separately.

Can you maintain NVIDIA GPU clusters and Oracle database servers together?

Yes — we hold both AI-cluster and Oracle small-machine hardware maintenance capability, with one team as your single point of contact.

Can third-party maintenance provide 7×24 emergency response?

Yes — core production database projects can sign 7×24 emergency maintenance.

Does an Oracle server purchase include rack installation and commissioning?

Standard delivery generally includes basic racking and power-on commissioning; database deployment and RAC setup are billed separately.

Is database performance tuning included in maintenance?

Basic performance troubleshooting is generally included; deep SQL tuning and architecture optimization are separate value-added services.

How to check hardware fault logs on second-hand SPARC?

Use the SP/controller to review hardware alerts and the fmadm fault-management log to read historical hardware errors.

What qualifications are needed for government/enterprise Oracle server procurement?

Provider business license, authorization certificates, and comparable project references; tender projects additionally prepare materials per the bidding documents.

What is the process to switch from expired OEM maintenance to third-party?

Hardware inspection and assessment → maintenance plan and quote → contract signing. No server hardware changes needed — the maintenance provider switches directly.

Third-party vs OEM Oracle maintenance — pros and cons?

Third-party: lower price, flexible response, parts in stock; downside: no official software patch support. OEM: complete software plus hardware official support, but higher price and longer response cycles.

Can Exadata maintenance be handled by a third-party provider?

Yes — third parties provide hardware maintenance, while software-level patches and support can remain with Oracle's original software service.

Are SPARC drive, memory and power spare parts easy to source?

OEM parts are being phased out; third-party providers offer pull-out and inventory parts, and quality providers keep them in stock.

Is SPARC hardware maintenance the same as Oracle software maintenance?

No. Hardware maintenance covers server mainboards, memory, power supplies and similar; software maintenance covers the database, Solaris patches and technical support.

Does an Oracle server purchase include the Oracle database license?

Hardware does not include database licensing — database software licenses are purchased separately.

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