IBM System x3755 M3 Product Manual

Superior performance/U in a 4-socket, 2U server

Product Guide

August 2010

Product Overview

CONTENTS
Product Overview 1
Selling Features 1
Key Features 3
Key Options 8
x3755 M3 Images 9
x3755 M3 Specifications 10
The Bottom Line 12
Server Comparison Chart 14
For More Information 15
Legal Information 15

Selling Features

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Maximum memory and disk capacity may require the replacement of standard components with the largest supported component
available. 256GB capacity using 8GB DIMMs requires a 4-processor system in order to use all 64 sockets. In a two-processor
configuration, only 16 total DIMM sockets are available; thus a two-processor system is limited to 128GB of RAM (16 x 8GB).
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GB equals 1,000,000,000 bytes when referring to hard disk drive capacity. Accessible capacity may be less.
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.
Outstanding price/performance for mid-size workloads
Suggested Uses: Businesses requiring a rack-optimized compute-dense server for business
intelligence, midsized databases or virtualization, ERP, HPC, and the like.
The challenge today is to squeeze as much performance out of your IT dollars as possible, while
saving cost on features not needed. The four-socket, IBM
™
IBM X-Architecture features, meets that challenge. It was designed to eliminate system
architecture bottlenecks through the use of separate, high-speed links between the processors,
main memory and I/O. It is well suited for application workloads that benefit from a 4-processor
system with outstanding price/performance, offering high compute density, large memory
capacity, and high I/O throughput, all in a small rack footprint. Up to 21 x3755 M3 servers can be
installed in a single 42U rack, offering the compute density of up to 84 processors (1008
processing cores) per rack.
The x3755 M3 supports the latest 12- and 8-core AMD Opteron 6000 series processors with
DirectConnect Architecture and HyperTransport technology, to offer impressive computing power
in a 2U rack-optimized design. This server offers, up to 48 processor cores, high memory
bandwidth, and high floating-point performance at an affordable price. The x3755 M3 offers
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up to 256GB of industry-standard 1333MHz DDR3 (PC3-10600) memory with Chipkill
(Error Checking and Correcting) protection-for high performance and reliability. For even higher
levels of availability, the x3755 M3 also offers online memory sparing. Two dual-port
integrated Gigabit Ethernet controllers are standard-offering TOE (TCP offload engine) and
RDMA support, load-balancing and failover capabilities, along with four high-performance PCIe
Gen 2 adapter slots.
All models offer support for two or four processors and a choice of high-performance hard disk
drives with an internal storage capacity of up to 16TB (eight 3.5-inch hot-swap SATA drives) or
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4.8TB (four 3.5-inch hot-swap SAS drives). The integrated ServeRAID
SCSI)/SATA (Serial-attach ATA) controller provides hardware-based RAID-0/1/10 or RAID-
0/1/10/5/50 support standard (model-specific). Additional RAID support is available via upgrade.
Standard in the x3755 M3 is an integrated Baseboard Management Controller (iBMC) that
enables the user to manage and control the server easily-both locally and remotely. This high
level of manageability is designed to keep costs down and the system up. A pop-out/drop-down
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
integrated RAID; temperature-controlled fans; IPMI 2.0 support, including highly secure
remote power control and Serial over LAN; as well as text-console redirect over LAN.
Another improvement in the new generation of X-Architecture is the replacement of legacy BIOS
with a new generation Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). UEFI provides a more
intuitive user interface and understandable event logs and better management.
With the inclusion of unique IBM service and support features such as IBM Active Memory
iBMC, UEFI, light path diagnostics, IBM Systems Director, IBM ServerGuide
x3755 M3 is designed for maximum uptime.
If you need highly manageable, quad-socket/multi-core price/performer in a rack-dense 2U
package, the x3755 M3 is the ideal system.
Price/Performance
The x3755 M3 offers numerous features to boost performance and reduce product and operating
costs:
• Up to four 12- or 8-core Opteron 6000 series processors with HyperTransport Technology,
IBM System x3755 M3
®
System x3755 M3, incorporating
™
ECC
™
SAS (Serial Attach
™
, the
™
, and others, the
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