IBM X3850 M2 Product Manual

Also see for System x3850 M2: Brochure & specs User guide Reference Installation guide User guide

Contents

Combining high-performance architecture with high-performance Xeon processorsPlease see the Legal Information section for important notices and information. 7times the maximum throughput of a 133MHz PCI-X adapter3. (A x1 adapter offers throughputsimilar to a 66MHz PCI-X slot.)Because the SAS, ServeRAID-MR10k, dual Gigabit Ethernet, and systems managementcontrollers are integrated onto the system board, the seven adapter slots are all available, whichoffers you a wide degree of latitude in expansion options.(Even though the HP DL580G5 has eleven total slots, they offer lower throughput, providing nomore aggregate bandwidth than the seven slots of the eX4 servers.)Dual Gigabit Ethernet ControllerThe eX4 systems include one integrated dual-port Broadcom 5709C Gigabit Ethernetcontroller, with TOE (TCP Offload Engine) acceleration support (available 1Q/08), as well asload-balancing and failover capabilities between the two ports.TOE support helps improve overall system performance by offloading TCP/IP protocolprocessing from the system microprocessor to the onboard Ethernet TOE processor. iSCSIsupport works similarly for iSCSI workloads.The controller also supports highly secure remote power management using IPMI 2.0, plusWake on LAN® and PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) flash interface. Optional PCIadapters offering failover and load balancing between adapters are available for addedthroughput and increased system availability.Ultra-Efficient CoolingSix strategically located hot-swap/redundant fans, combined with efficient airflow paths,provide highly effective system cooling for the eX4 systems, known as Calibrated VectoredCooling. The fans are arranged to cool three separate zones, left, center, and right, with onepair of redundant fans per zone.The fans automatically adjust speeds in response to changing thermal requirements, dependingon the zone, redundancy, and internal temperatures. When the temperature inside the serverincreases, the fans speed up to maintain the proper ambient temperature. When thetemperature returns to a normal operating level, the fans return to their default speed. Why notsimply run the fans at 100% capacity all the time? For several good reasons: to reduce theambient noise, reduce the wear-and-tear on the fans and reduce the server power draw. Thereduction in ambient noise and power draw may be relatively minor for a single server, but if youhave a larger number of systems the aggregate savings in power and noise pressure can besignificant.In addition, the server uses hexagonal ventilation holes in the chassis. Hexagonal holes canbe grouped more densely than round holes, providing greater airflow through the system cover.This cooling scheme is important because newer, more powerful processors generate asignificant amount of heat, and heat must be controlled for the system to function properly.Hot-Swap/Redundant ComponentsSystem availability is maximized through the extensive use of hot-swap and redundantcomponents, including:• Hot-add/hot-swap redundant memory protection (with Chipkill, Memory ProteXion,and selectable memory mirroring capabilities)• Hot-swap redundant hard disk drives (with standard LSI 1078 controller and optionalServeRAID-MR10k providing multiple levels of RAID support)• Hot-swap PCIe adapter slots (with optional failover support)• Hot-swap redundant cooling fans (three redundant pairs)• Hot-swap redundant power supplies4Light Path DiagnosticsLight path diagnostics enables a technician to quickly identify and locate a failed or failingsystem component, such as a specific memory DIMM. (Monitored components includeprocessors, memory, power supplies, fans, HDDs, adapters, and voltage regulator modules(VRMs), plus system temperature.) This enables quick replacement of the component, whichhelps increase server uptime and lower operating costs.The front of the server has an LED indicator light to show possible component failures. If the2 Variable read rate. Actual playback speed varies and is often less than the maximum possible.3 Actual throughput will depend on the adapter vendor’s implementation.4 At 220V both power supplies are redundant; at 110V only the first power supply is redundant.