X3850 X5: MAX5 Memory restrictions - IBM System x3850 X5 (type 7145)

Troubleshooting

Problem

[This abstract has been concatenated due to length constraints] Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) code should prevent the system from booting if invalid memory configurations are detected. This is a further clarification of the restrictions when installing memory in the IBM MAX5 for System x, Option 59Y6265, memory expansion unit. Restriction 1 Dual In-Line Memory Modules (DIMMs) of different data organization, e.g. x4 and x8, cannot be plugged into memory slots on the same 'Quad' bank.The quad banks are defined as Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM) slots: 1, 2, 7, and 8 3, 4, 5, and 6; 9, 10, 15, and 16; 11, 12, 13,& 14; 17, 18, 23, and 24; 19, 20 , 21, and 22; 25, 26, 31, and 32; 27, 28, 29,and 30. The following two (2) groups of Options have DIMMs of like organization: Group 1 (x8) - 44T1480, 44T1481, 44T1592, 44T1599, 46C7448, 46C7482, 49Y1405, and 49Y1407. Gro

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H197137

Symptom

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) code should prevent the system from booting if invalid memory configurations are detected. This is a further clarification of the restrictions when installing memory in the IBM MAX5 for System x, Option 59Y6265, memory expansion unit.

Restriction 1

Dual In-Line Memory Modules (DIMMs) of different data organization, e.g. x4 and x8, cannot be plugged into memory slots on the same 'Quad' bank. The quad banks are defined as Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM) slots:

	1, 2, 7, and 8 3, 4, 5, and 6; 9, 10, 15, and 16; 11, 12, 13,& 14; 17, 18, 23, and 24; 19, 20 , 21, and 22; 25, 26, 31, and 32; 27, 28, 29, and 30.

The following two (2) groups of Options have DIMMs of like organization:

	Group 1 (x8) - 44T1480, 44T1481, 44T1592, 44T1599, 46C7448, 46C7482, 49Y1405, and 49Y1407. Group 2 (x4) - 46C7483, 49Y1400, and 49Y1406.

Restriction 2

DIMMs of different Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) technology cannot be plugged into banks of eight (8) DIMMs. For example, DIMMs may be built with 1 gigabit (Gb), 2 Gb, or other technology DRAM chips. The banks are defined as DIMMs 1-8, 9-16, 17-24, and 25-32.

The following two (2) groups of Options have DIMMs of like technology;

	Group 1 (1 Gb) - 44T1480, 44T1481, and 46C7448. Group 2 (2 Gb) - 44T1592, 44T1599, 46C7482, 46C7483, 49Y1400, 49Y1405, 49Y1406, and 49Y1407.

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

System x3850 X5, type 7145, any model

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

IBM MAX5 for System x, Option 59Y6265

This tip is not software specific.

Workaround

If you get an error message stating an invalid memory configuration, then double check and ensure that you are using the rules above.

Additional information

Memory will not function properly if the above rules are not followed. UEFI code will detect invalid configurations and prevent the system from booting.

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

System x:Operating system independent / None

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