Integrated Virtualization - IBM System x3630 M3 Specification

A cost-optimized storage-rich alternative to traditional enterprise 2U dual-socket servers
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2 DIMMs per channel at 1333MHz is supported only with 1.5V RDIMMs or 1.35V-capable DIMMs running at 1.5V.
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rank DIMMs offer better interleaving and hence better performance than single-rank DIMMs. For
instance, a system populated with six 2GB dual-rank DIMMs outperforms a system populated
with six 2GB single-rank DIMMs by 7% for SPECjbb2005. Dual-rank DIMMs are also better than
quad-rank DIMMs because quad-rank DIMMs will cause the memory speed to be down-
clocked.
Another important guideline is to populate equivalent ranks per channel. For instance, mixing
one single-rank DIMM and one dual-rank DIMM in a channel should be avoided.
Notes: It is important to populate all three memory channels in each processor. The relative
memory bandwidth decreases as the number of channels populated decreases. This is because
the bandwidth of all the memory channels is utilized to support the capability of the processor.
So, as the channels are decreased, the burden to support the requisite bandwidth is increased on
the remaining channels, causing them to become a bottleneck. If 1.5V and 1.35V DIMMs are
mixed, all DIMMs will run at 1.5V.
In addition to Chipkill error correction, the x3630 M3 offers an additional level of IBM Active
Memory protection: memory mirroring.
Memory mirroring works much like disk mirroring. The total memory is divided into three
channels: a primary channel, a backup channel, and an unused channel. Data is written
concurrently to both the primary and backup channels. If a DIMM fails in one of the DIMMs in the
primary channel, it is instantly disabled and the mirrored memory in the backup channel becomes
active (primary) until the failing DIMM is replaced. One-third of total memory is available for use
at any one time with mirroring enabled. (Note: Due to the double writes to memory, performance
is affected.) Because the third channel is disabled with mirroring active, there is no point in
populating it with memory.
Mirroring is handled at the hardware level; no operating system support is required.
DDR3 memory is currently available in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB RDIMMs. DIMMs can
be installed individually (not in pairs). However, for performance reasons, in a 2-processor
system, it's best to install a DIMM per processor.
Maximum memory capacity and speed in 2-processor configurations include:
Memory DIMMs per
Frequency Channel
1
1333MHz
(6 DIMMs)
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2
1333MHz
(12 DIMMs)
2
1066MHz
(12 DIMMs)
2
800MHz
(12 DIMMs)
800MHz- 2
1333MHz (8 DIMMs)

Integrated Virtualization

All models of the x3630 M3 support a USB 2.0 Flash Key installed preloaded with VMware
vSphere Hypervisor (formerly ESXi). Rather than management through a Service Console
based on a Linux operating system, vSphere Hypervisor relies on aggregate management tools,
including VirtualCenter, the Remote Command Line interface and the introduction of CIM for
standards-based and agentless hardware monitoring.
vSphere Hypervisor includes all the performance, scalability and compatibility features of a
hypervisor installed on disk, including full VMFS support across FC SAN, iSCSI SAN, and NAS,
and 4-way VSMP. Because it runs from flash memory, it's extremely fast and ideal for diskless
configurations. It also offers enhanced security, because it runs without an operating system-
based console and is updated/patched much like firmware.
Max. Memory
5600 Series
Capacity
X5650, L5640,
96GB RDIMM E5645 and
above
X5650, L5640,
192GB RDIMM E5645 and
above
192GB RDIMM All
192GB RDIMM N/A
64GB RDIMM All
5500 Series
N/A
N/A
N/A
E5503, E5506,
E5507
All
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