High memory failure rate - IBM BladeCenter HS21 (Type 8853)

Troubleshooting

Problem

On BladeCenter HS21, Types 8853, the user may experience high number of apparent memory failures with 2 and 4 Gigabyte DIMMs resulting in banks of DIMMs being disabled. Errors may include POST 289 errors in Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) and Advanced Management Module (AMM)/Management Module (MM) Error Logs. The following errors are examples that could be seen in Event Log: POSTBIOS: 289 DIMM D03 is Affected. ERR BLADE_02. POSTBIOS: 289 DIMM D01 is Affected. ERR BLADE_02. POSTBIOS: 289 DIMM Pair0 Double-Bit Error. Blade memory fault Recovery Memory module bus fault Memory module bus fault

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H193245

Symptom

On BladeCenter HS21, Types 8853, the user may experience a high number of apparent memory failures with 2 and 4 Gigabyte DIMMs resulting in banks of DIMMs being disabled. Errors may include POST 289 errors in Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) and Advanced Management Module (AMM)/Management Module (MM) Error Logs. The following errors are examples that could be seen in Event Log:

	POSTBIOS: 289 DIMM D03 is Affected. ERR BLADE_02. POSTBIOS: 289 DIMM D01 is Affected. ERR BLADE_02. POSTBIOS: 289 DIMM Pair 0 Double-Bit Error. Blade memory fault Recovery Memory module bus fault Memory module bus fault

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

BladeCenter HS21, type 8853, any model

The system is configured with one or more of the following IBM Options:

4 GB (2 x 2 GB Kit) PC2-3200 CL3x4 ECC DDR2 SDRAM RDIMM (39M5812) contains two 2 GB DIMMs
8 GB (2 x 4 GB Kit) PC2-3200 CL3x4 ECC DDR2 SDRAM RDIMM (30R5145) contains two 4 GB DIMMs
Memory 2 GB, Option 25R8408
Memory 2 GB, Option 30R5149
Memory 2 GB, Option 33L3147
Memory 2 GB, Option 33L3260
Memory 2 GB, Option 33L3287
Memory 2 GB, Option 39M5803
Memory 2 GB, Option 39M5843
Memory 2 GB, Option 39M5849
Memory 2 GB, Option 41Y2711
Memory 2 GB, Option 73P2269
Memory 2 GB, Option 73P2866
Memory 2 GB, Option 73P3234
Memory 2 GB, Option 73P5121
Memory 4 GB, Option 30R5150
Memory 4 GB, Option 33L3262
Memory 4 GB, Option 39M5806
Memory 4 GB, Option 39M5815
Memory 4 GB, Option 39M5852
Memory 4 GB, Option 41Y2715
Memory 4 GB, Option 73P2867
Memory 4 GB, Option 73P3235
Memory 4 GB, Option 73P4792
Memory 4 GB, Option 73P5122

This tip is not software specific.

Solution

Update the BMC code to 1.11 or higher.

The file will be available from the IBM System x Support web site.

Additional information

The BMC level 1.11 code increases the blower speed in the chassis providing proper cooling for 2 or 4 Gigabyte DIMMs.

Overheating can cause Single and Double-Bit errors resulting in banks of DIMMs being disabled. The DIMMs should not be replaced when these errors are seen at lower BMC code levels.

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

BladeCenter:Operating system independent / None

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