Overview - IBM System x3550 M4 Ref 3

Content

Planned availability date: 11 October 2013

Overview

These 1U-high, rack-optimized servers feature increased frequency, optimized performance, and improved systems management for business-critical applications and cloud deployments built on IBM X-Architecture.

Optimized for performance:

New, innovative, energy-smart design with powerful high-performance processors, a large capacity of high-performing DDR3 memory, and a no-compromise feature set ideal for business-critical applications and cloud deployments:

• Up to two 12-core powerful Intel Xeon E5-2600 v2 series processors
• Twenty-four DIMM (RDIMM/UDIMM/LRDIMM) slots that enable you to deploy up to 384 GB of DDR3 SDRAM Registered DIMM memory, or up to 768 GB of memory with LRDIMMs; and fast memory bandwidth with the ability to support 1866 MHz(1) RDIMMs
• Integrated slotless 6 Gbps hardware RAID-0, RAID-1, and RAID-10 or optional RAID-5, RAID-50 or RAID-6, or RAID-60 (model dependent) and up to 4 GB Flashback cache
• Support for up to eight hot-swap 2.5-inch SAS/SATA HDDs or SSDs or up to three hot-swap SAS/SATA 3.5-inch HDDs
• Highly functional chipset optimized for better application computing for general business workloads
• Integrated quad Gigabit Ethernet ports for high I/O capacity, and optional two embedded 10 GbE ports
• One PCIe 3.0 x16 slot plus one PCIe x8/x16 or optional PCI-x slot to help provide flexibility and greater performance with long-term investment protection
• Optional Broadcom 10GbaseT PCIe adapter which enables low-cost migration to 10Gb Ethernet for applications such as analytics, public and private cloud, and virtualization
• New energy-efficient design incorporating 750-watt dc power supplies, up to 12 cooling fans (six banks of counter-rotating dual fans), and energy-efficient planar components to help lower operational costs
• Compliant with 80 PLUS Platinum and ENERGY STAR (model dependent)

Manage with efficiency :

High-availability, manageability, and serviceability features help diagnose problems quickly, even from remote locations:

• IBM Systems Director Active Energy Manager for advanced datacenter power notification and management to help achieve lower heat output and reduced cooling needs
• Snoop filters to boost processor performance
• Integrated slotless SAS controller for up to eight 2.5-inch, hot-swap HDD bays
• Memory mirroring, configurable using Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) setup
• IMM2 systems management processor with optional Feature on Demand (FoD) remote presence
• Monitoring and control of operating status and key server components
• PFA on selected components that warns of problems before they occur
• Fast and easy servicing through innovative light path diagnostics, improved onboard diagnostics, and LED diagnostic panel

Excellent RAS and outstanding uptime for an improved business environment

• Redundant, hot-swap components designed to make it easy to replace failures without taking your system down
  • Hot-swap, redundant fans with calibrated vectored cooling to keep components cool, and simplified fan replacement
  • Hot-swap, redundant power supplies to help reduce downtime
  • Hot-swap, RAID protection disk to help secure your data and reduce downtime
• Predictive Failure Analysis, which provides advanced warning on processors, memory, disks, fans, power supplies, and VRMs
• Drop-down light path diagnostics panel, which gives information about a failing component without requiring opening of the chassis or interrupting system operation, and expedites hardware repairs to dramatically reduce service time
• IBM Director and web support
• Three-year, customer replaceable unit (CRU) and on-site labor(2), limited warranty(3); optional warranty service upgrades available

Key prerequisites

• Monitor, USB keyboard, and USB mouse

Note: PS/2-style keyboard and mouse are not supported.

At a glance

IBM System x3550 M4 servers deliver power, scalability, control, and serviceability for dynamic high-performance computing applications:

• Ultrathin, high-availability, and rack-optimized for 1U platform
• High-speed DDR-3 SDRAM Registered DIMMs standard; 24 DIMM slots that support up to 384 GB maximum memory with 16 GB optional DIMMs, or up to 768 GB of memory with LRDIMMs with support of 1866 MHz RDIMMs
• Support for up to eight hot-swap 2.5-inch SAS/SATA HDDs or SSDs or up to three hot-swap SAS/SATA 3.5-inch HDDs
• Up to two x16 PCIe 3.0 slots on two-processor servers
• 550-watt or 750-watt auto-ranging power supplies (optional redundant and hot-swap)
• Integrated systems management processor
• Integrated quad Gigabit Ethernet ports for high I/O capacity, plus two optional embedded 10 GbE ports
• One serial port (16550A-compatible)
• USB ports
  • 2.5-inch model has seven (two front, four back, and one internal)
  • 3.5-inch model has eight (three front, four back, and one internal)
• Two video ports (front and rear)

Warranty

• System - Three years
• Optional features - One year
• ServeRAID M5100 Battery - One year

Note: The ServeRAID M5100 Battery has a one year warranty period effective on its "Date of Installation". All other product warranty terms for the machine remain unchanged.

An IBM part or feature installed during the initial installation of an IBM machine is subject to a full warranty effective on the date of installation of the machine. An IBM part or feature which replaces a previously installed part or feature assumes the remainder of the warranty period for the replaced part or feature. An IBM part or feature added to a machine without replacing a previously installed part or feature is subject to a full warranty effective on its date of installation. Unless specified otherwise, the warranty period, type of warranty service, and service level of a part or feature is the same as the machine it is installed.

The following have been designated as consumables, supply items, or structural parts and therefore not covered by this warranty:

• Tape filler
• EMC blank filler
• EIA sET kit
• HDD 4 slot HS kit
• 3.5-inch top cover
• 3.5-inch mechanical chassis
• Safety cover
• 2.5-inch top cover
• 16DR M4 tape bezel
• Airflow baffle
• Gen-III slide kit
• Gen-III 1U CMA kit
• 2.5-inch mechanical chassis
• DVD blank filler
• Blank fan filler
• MISC part kit
• Battery holder
• PSU filler
• CMA Assembly Kit
• CMA, 2U/4U kit
• Remote battery tray
• Gen-III 2U CMA Kit
• Slide kit
• RAID Batteries

Physical Specifications

Approximate Shipping dimensions and weight:

• Single Pack Dimensions L 39.37 x W 23.11 x H 8.86 in
  
• Single Pack Weight max 52.9 lbs
  
• Quantity per Pallet 10
  
• Pallet Load Dimensions L 48 x W 40 x H 49 in
• Pallet Load Weight 562 lbs
• Estimated Safe Stacking 2 high
  

Air temperature: voltage

• Server on: 5 C to 40 C (41.0 F to 104 F); altitude: 0 to 915 m (3,000 ft) for 60W to 95W processors models.
• Server on: 10 C to 35 C (50.0 F to 95 F); altitude: 0 to 915 m (3,000 ft) for 115W to 135W processors models.
• Server off: 5 C to 45 C (41.0 F to 113 F)
• Shipment: -40 C to +60 C (-40 F to 140 F)

Humidity:

For 115W to 130W processors/135W processors models

• Server on: 20% to 80%, maximum dew point 21 C, maximum rate of change 5 C/hr
• Server off: 8% to 80%, maximum dew point 27 C

For 60W to 95W processors models

• Server on: 8% to 85%, maximum dew point 24 C, maximum rate of change 5 C/hr
• Server off: 8% to 80%, maximum dew point 27 C

Design to ASHRAE Class A3, ambient of 40 C, with relaxed support

• Support cloud-like workload with no performance degradation acceptable (Turbo-Off)
• Under no circumstance, can any combination of worst case workload and configuration result in system shutdown or design exposure at 40 C

Hardware Requirements

For attended installation of an operating system, this server requires a compatible:

• Keyboard
• Mouse
• HDD
• Display

Unattended or remote installation may be performed without requiring some or all of these components. Review your unattended software installation program information for specific hardware configuration requirements.

For service, the server requires a compatible:

• Keyboard
• Mouse
• HDD
• Display

When having the unit serviced, plan to have these components attached to your server either directly or indirectly through the use of a console switch.

Software Requirements

The following software products have been tested by IBM and software publishers in the latest available versions, and where appropriate, are or will soon be certified by the publisher to be compatible with the System x3550 M4 server.

Operating systems

• Microsoft
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Datacenter x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Enterprise x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Standard x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Web x64 Edition
  • Windows HPC Server 2008
• Linux
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 for AMD64/EM64T
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Server x64 Edition

Note: For information on additional support, certification, version information, or network operating systems, visi

http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/

IBM makes no representation or warranty regarding third-party products, including those designated as ServerProven.

Compatibility

The System x3550 M4 systems contain licensed system programs that include set configuration, set features, and test programs. System UEFI is loaded from a "flash" EEPROM into system memory. This UEFI provides instructions and interfaces designed to support the standard features of the x3550 M4 and to maintain compatibility with many current software programs.

For detailed information about IBM and non-IBM devices, adapters, software, and network operating systems supported with xSeries servers, visit

http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/

Contact your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner, or refer to the IBM Sales Manual for information on the compatibility of hardware and software for System x servers. The Sales Manual is updated periodically as new features and options are announced that support these servers.

Limitations

• The System x3550 M4 server contains a single, configurable serial port. It can be configured to be operating-system-controlled, service-processor-controlled, or shared between the two. You can set the configuration by UEFI configuration.  
  The default configuration from the factory is in the shared position. In the shared position, the service processor controls the port until the operating system is running, then the operating system takes control. The service processor can regain control of the port for user-configured dial-out situations or if the operating system is not available, but operating system control cannot be reestablished without resetting the server.
• System x3550 M4 servers can address a maximum of 768 GB of system memory. All supported system memory is addressable through direct memory access. The System x3550 M4 server supports 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, and optional 16 GB DDR-3 SDRAM Registered DIMMs or 32 GB LRDIMMs. Different types of DIMMs can not coexist in the same system. Refer to the Planning information section for supported memory options.
• To ensure proper air flow for cooling, the System x3550 M4 server requires a rack with a perforated door, such as the NetBAY42 SR or NetBAY25 SR. An alternative is to remove the front door of rack cabinets where the door panel is of solid construction.
• Microprocessor upgrades must be of the same type and clock speed. Mixing microprocessors of different speeds or cache size is not supported.
• Solid-state memory cells have an intrinsic, finite number of write cycles that each cell can incur. As a result, each solid-state device has a maximum amount of write cycles to which it can be subjected, documented as TBW (Total Bytes Written). IBM is not responsible for replacement of hardware that has reached the maximum guaranteed number of write cycles. This limit may be revealed as the device failing to respond to system-generated commands or becoming incapable of being written to. Additional information is available at http://www-03.ibm.com /systems/x/options/storage/solidstate/index.html

Note: Refer to the Software requirements section for operating system limitations.