Processor Installation Order; Processor Installation Tool - IBM System x3850 X5 Implementation Manual

Memory Installed
Memory installed on all memory
cards for installed processors and the
MAX5.

6.2.3 Processor installation order

The following list shows the processor installation requirements:
The server ships with a minimum of two processors, which are installed in sockets 1 and 4.
You can install additional processors in sockets 2 and 3 in either order.
You need to install a QPI wrap card in QPI slot 3 and 4 after processor 2 is installed.
You need to install a QPI wrap card in QPI slot 1and 2 after processor 3 is installed.
The server functions in a slightly reduced capacity if the QPI wrap cards are not installed
and the server is running as a stand-alone server. When processor 2 is installed and the
QPI wrap card is not installed across slots 3 and 4, processor 2 must make a memory
request through processor 3 or 4 to access the memory that is attached to processor 1.
This type of memory call through two processors doubles the memory latency to access
the memory that is attached to processor 1.

6.2.4 Processor installation tool

A processor installation tool ships with all processor options for this server. This tool assists
with both installing and removing processors. The processor pins are extremely fragile so it is
extremely easy to bend one or more of these pins while attempting to install or remove a
processor. The process is more difficult on this type of server due to the deep well in which
the processors are located between the power supply cage and the memory cage.
Bent processor pins can result in a number of possible problems:
A complete processor failure
Repeat failures of DIMMs at the same location within the two memory cards that are
supported by that processor
Repeat PCIe failures on the same slots that are associated with either processors 1 and 2
or processors 3 and 4
Redundant QPI link failures between two processors, between a processor and the I/O
hub, or between a processor and the MAX5
Figure 6-2 on page 225 shows the processor tool that is used to install a processor in this
system safely or remove a processor from this system.
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IBM eX5 Implementation Guide
Operational characteristic
QPI wrap cards must be removed from the server to
accept QPI cables that are used to link the MAX5
memory expansion unit to the server.
Performance improves as DIMMs are added to evenly
populate all ranks on each memory controller for local
memory.
Performance improves significantly when more active
memory calls use local memory on the system board
instead of the memory that is located in the MAX5.
In the rare instance of a memory card failure, VMware
operational requirements can be satisfied if all of the
memory is installed in the MAX5 or each processor has
the same amount of memory disabled. Memory access
is significantly slower if all of the memory is in the MAX5.