IBM System x3850 X5 71454SG User Manual
Product codes
71454SG
Ultrascalability combined with extreme availability
features and industry-leading performance
features and industry-leading performance
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.
1
Product Guide
October 2010
IBM
System x3850 X5 / x3950 X5
Architecture
Overview
Overview
CONTENTS
Architecture Overview
1
Key Highlights
2
Key Features
3
Key Options
12
x3850/x3950 X5 Images
13
x3850/x3950 X5 Specs
14
The Bottom Line
17
Server Comparison
18
For More Information
20
Legal Information
20
Outstanding performance, superior mainframe-like reliability, and
fault-tolerant memory characteristics
fault-tolerant memory characteristics
IBM
®
has been designing and implementing servers under the X-Architecture
®
name since
2001. eX5 technology represents the fifth generation of enterprise servers based on the same
design principle IBM began with in 1997: to offer systems that are expandable, offer “big iron”
reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) features, with extremely competitive
price/performance on an Intel
design principle IBM began with in 1997: to offer systems that are expandable, offer “big iron”
reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) features, with extremely competitive
price/performance on an Intel
®
Xeon
®
processor-based system.
The eX5 technology is primarily designed around three major workloads: database servers,
server consolidation using virtualization services, and Enterprise Resource Planning (application
and database) servers.
server consolidation using virtualization services, and Enterprise Resource Planning (application
and database) servers.
If you’re using industry-standard Xeon processor-based servers for running business critical
applications, the systems that run these applications need the type of technology designed into
IBM’s eX5 technology systems. eX5 technology represents a $100M+ investment in designing a
flagship offering that can harness the power of 4-socket-and-up 64-bit x86 (x64) Xeon
processors. The eX5 family includes two 4U 4-socket rack-optimized chassis (x3850 X5 and
x3950 X5
applications, the systems that run these applications need the type of technology designed into
IBM’s eX5 technology systems. eX5 technology represents a $100M+ investment in designing a
flagship offering that can harness the power of 4-socket-and-up 64-bit x86 (x64) Xeon
processors. The eX5 family includes two 4U 4-socket rack-optimized chassis (x3850 X5 and
x3950 X5
), which are offered in two different scaled configurations up to 8 sockets, with the
architectural capability to scale further. In addition, for those workloads that require the
maximum available memory, the x3850 X5 and x3950 X5 support a 1U MAX5 memory
expansion unit, which adds an additional 32 DIMM slots per chassis (up to 96 DIMMs / 1.5TB
total). If you also need more processor sockets, you can add a second x3850 X5 or x3950 X5 to
form one 8U 8-socket server with double the memory (up to 2TB), HDDs/SSDs, adapter slots,
and all the other system resources. IBM FlexNode partitioning allows you to logically divide an
8-socket
maximum available memory, the x3850 X5 and x3950 X5 support a 1U MAX5 memory
expansion unit, which adds an additional 32 DIMM slots per chassis (up to 96 DIMMs / 1.5TB
total). If you also need more processor sockets, you can add a second x3850 X5 or x3950 X5 to
form one 8U 8-socket server with double the memory (up to 2TB), HDDs/SSDs, adapter slots,
and all the other system resources. IBM FlexNode partitioning allows you to logically divide an
8-socket
server into two 4-socket servers remotely and automatedly, and then revert back to a
single 8-socket server, all without requiring a physical visit to the server.
Maybe you’d like to start out with a 4-socket server and possibly add sockets later, if your needs
change. Or perhaps you need more than a 4-socket server now, but don’t want to get locked
into a monolithic 8-socket or larger server—again, in case your requirements change. With IBM,
you can stop at 4 sockets, or expand memory or CPU sockets further if needed. And if you
require a variety of 4- and 8-socket servers in your data center, you only have to qualify one
server for all these workloads. This can save much time and effort and speed deployment. You
can also save money on software licensing by virtualizing a 4- or 8-processor server into many
VMs, rather than using multiple 2- processor servers. Huge amounts of memory also enable
more or larger VMs, and larger databases.
change. Or perhaps you need more than a 4-socket server now, but don’t want to get locked
into a monolithic 8-socket or larger server—again, in case your requirements change. With IBM,
you can stop at 4 sockets, or expand memory or CPU sockets further if needed. And if you
require a variety of 4- and 8-socket servers in your data center, you only have to qualify one
server for all these workloads. This can save much time and effort and speed deployment. You
can also save money on software licensing by virtualizing a 4- or 8-processor server into many
VMs, rather than using multiple 2- processor servers. Huge amounts of memory also enable
more or larger VMs, and larger databases.
IBM X-Architecture pioneered XpandOnDemand
™
(“pay as you grow”) scalability, which allows
chassis to be simply cabled together to form larger scale-up systems. This capability allows IBM
to sell a large SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) system at entry price points. With
XpandOnDemand, you can start small and later expand as your needs change, without requiring
you to buy more than you need up-front or throw away parts later as you expand.
to sell a large SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) system at entry price points. With
XpandOnDemand, you can start small and later expand as your needs change, without requiring
you to buy more than you need up-front or throw away parts later as you expand.
IBM’s eX5 technology-based systems are the ideal solution for scale-up database-serving
applications on Microsoft
applications on Microsoft
®
Windows
®
with Microsoft SQL Server
®
or IBM DB2
®
, as well as Linux
®
with Oracle or DB2. Database hosting demands ultimate server reliability features, and once
installed, they tend to grow and grow, requiring ever greater levels of availability. eX5 servers
provide exactly that degree to availability.
installed, they tend to grow and grow, requiring ever greater levels of availability. eX5 servers
provide exactly that degree to availability.
Another strong application area for the eX5-based systems is enterprise server consolidation
activities workloads, including SAP and Oracle. eX5 systems can offer considerable savings
over UNIX
activities workloads, including SAP and Oracle. eX5 systems can offer considerable savings
over UNIX
®
deployments, using our certified solution stacks on either Windows or Linux.. Larger
servers need more processor, memory and I/O resources, which make maximum use of any
applicable virtual machine software licensing fees and deliver superior system utilization levels.
The name of the game in consolidation activities is to deploy the fewest new servers possible
and help IT staff manage more images with the same or fewer overall people.
applicable virtual machine software licensing fees and deliver superior system utilization levels.
The name of the game in consolidation activities is to deploy the fewest new servers possible
and help IT staff manage more images with the same or fewer overall people.
These eX5 servers are designed to protect your data with high performance, high reliability, and
high availability. They support the latest eight-, six-, and four-core Intel
high availability. They support the latest eight-, six-, and four-core Intel
®
Xeon
™
processors, up
to 1066MHz memory access, and up to 24MB of L3 cache to help provide you with the
computing power you need to match your business needs and growth. In addition, the x3850 X5
and x3950 X5 use industry-standard DDR3 memory with Chipkill
computing power you need to match your business needs and growth. In addition, the x3850 X5
and x3950 X5 use industry-standard DDR3 memory with Chipkill
™
ECC (Error Checking and