IBM System x3500 M3 Product Manual

A rock-solid, performance server for your most demanding
applications
Product Guide
February 2011

Product Overview

CONTENTS
Product Overview 1
Selling Features 2
Key Features 4
Key Options 12
x3500 M3 Images 13
x3500 M3 Specifications 14
The Bottom Line 17
Server Comparison Table 19
For More Information 20
Legal Information 20
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.
The ultimate balance of performance, availability, security, and powerful
yet easy management
Suggested uses: Workgroups of medium-to-large corporations; remote offices; fast growing small
businesses.
In a distributed computing environment, servers are spread across many locations; therefore, as
limited resources challenge IT management, high availability is crucial. The dual-socket IBM
System x3500 M3, incorporating IBM X-Architecture
availability needed by small businesses and those with branch or remote locations. The x3500 M3
supports the latest 6-core and 4-core Intel
leading-edge 1333MHz memory access speed and 12MB of L3 cache, to help provide you with the
computing power you need to match your business needs and growth. In addition, the x3500 M3
uses industry-standard registered DDR-3 memory with Chipkill
Correcting) protection-for high performance, energy savings, and reliability. For even higher levels
of availability, the x3500 M3 also offers memory mirroring. A dual-port integrated high-speed
Gigabit Ethernet controller is standard (including TOE, RDMA, and iSCSI support), as are high-
performance PCIe adapter slots and a legacy PCI slot to support legacy expansion cards.
All models offer impressive scalability, including dual-processor support and up to 192GB of
memory. Base models support 8 high-performance 2.5-inch hot-swap Serial-Attach SCSI (SAS)
HDDs with a maximum internal storage capacity of up to 4.8TB, or 2.5-inch hot-swap Serial ATA II
(SATA II) HDDs with a maximum internal capacity of up to 4TB. Optional upgrade kits are available
to boost the storage to 16 or 24 2.5-inch hot-swap SAS/SATA HDDs for up to 9.6TB or 14.4TB
(SAS) or 8TB or 12TB (SATA) of internal storage capacity (respectively). Models with 16 or 24
drive bays standard are available via configure-to-order (CTO). For even more internal storage
capacity, models supporting 8 3.5-inch hot-swap or simple-swap SATA (16TB max.) or hot-swap
SAS (16TB max.) drives are available via CTO.
For additional performance and high availability, all x3500 M3 models include an IBM ServeRAID
controller standard, providing hardware RAID support. Controllers supplied standard include the
ServeRAID-M1015, ServeRAID-M5014, or ServeRAID-M5015 (server-dependent). The high-end
ServeRAID-M5025 is also available as an option.
The x3500 M3 ships as a tower unit, or a tower-to-rack option can be ordered to help save precious
data center floor space; CTO models can be ordered as a 5U rack-mounted server.
Standard in the x3500 M3 is an Integrated Management Module (IMM) that enables users to
manage and control the server easily-both locally and remotely. Unified Extensible Firmware
Interface (UEFI) is an evolutionary leap over legacy BIOS. This high level of manageability is
designed to keep costs down and the system up-even when network usage increases. The built-
in, externally viewable light path diagnostics panel enables quick servicing of the system if a
problem develops. These advanced features help maximize network availability by increasing
uptime, as do hot-swap/redundant HDDs, power and fans; Active Memory
temperature-controlled fans with Calibrated Vectored Cooling
support, including highly secure remote power control and Serial over LAN; as well as text-
console redirect over LAN.
With the inclusion of unique IBM service and support features such as light path diagnostics, IBM
Systems Director, IBM ServerGuide
locally managed data center environment as for a remotely managed or stand-alone environment,
while offering maximum availability.
For a balance of high-performance six-core, dual-socket processing, high availability and vast
internal storage, the x3500 M3 is the ideal system.
IBM System x3500 M3
™
features, delivers the superior power and
® ™
Xeon 5600 series processors, designed with up to a
™
ECC (Error Checking and
™
; industry-standard IPMI 2.0
™
and the IMM, the x3500 M3 is equally well designed for a
®
®
®
™
; integrated RAID;
1