Key Options - IBM System x3500 M3 Product Manual

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Key Options

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the event of a system lockup. ASR technology is a combination of hardware circuitry tied into the
server's system reset function and a device driver. As long as the server continues running, the
ASR watchdog timer will keep being reset, but if the operating system crashes or the hardware
freezes somehow the ASR software will be unable to reset the hardware timer. If the timer is not
reset within five minutes, it automatically triggers the ASR hardware, which immediately restarts the
server (and logs an ASR event with IBM Systems Director). These features are designed so that no
more than five minutes can pass before the server is restarted.
Wake on LAN permits the server to be remotely powered on if it has been shut off. Once powered
up, the server can be controlled across the network, using the Preboot Execution Environment
(PXE).
Like Wake on LAN, PXE is system firmware. It enables software such as the optional IBM Remote
Deployment Manager to take control of a system before the BIOS, operating system or
applications are loaded (using Wake on LAN/PXE) and lets an administrator perform many low-level
tasks remotely that would otherwise require a visit to each system. These tasks may include such
things as formatting a hard disk drive, updating system firmware, or deploying a Windows or Linux
operating system.
Text Console Redirection support allows the administrator to remotely view x3500 M3 text
messages over serial or LAN. This feature is standard on the x3500 M3.
Predictive Failure Analysis (PFA) is designed to allow the system to detect impending failure of
supported components (processor, memory, HDDs, fans, VRM, and power supplies) before actual
failure, and alert the administrator through IBM Systems Director. This gives you the ability to
replace the failing component before it fails, resulting in increased uptime.
IBM Systems Director software for advanced workgroup management is included with the x3500
M3. IBM Systems Director comes with a portfolio of tools, including Systems Director Active Energy
Manager, System and Support Manager, and other tools. System Availability (a no-charge
download) and Capacity Manager (sold separately) are available as add-ons for additional server
management and increased availability. IBM Systems Director provides a single uniform graphical
interface for all of these systems management functions.
IBM Systems Director enables you to customize thresholds and monitor system components (for
things like temperature, voltage regulation, etc.) to help maximize uptime.
IBM options for System x servers help you take your servers to a
higher level
You can rely on System x options to supply a complete solution for your business needs. Options
help you create an optimized server system to meet your data protection, storage and availability
needs. Every IBM option is designed and tested for peak performance and flexibility, helping to
maximize your return on investment. The combination of System x servers and options lets you
keep your fingers on the pulse of your e-business.
Processors — The Intel Xeon processor provides high clock rates, four cores, 64-bit extensions, a
large cache and advanced features for availability and manageability. Large cache size, combined
with fast 1333MHz, 1066MHz or 800MHz memory access and an integrated memory controller
reduce memory latency and facilitates the movement of data. (Note: System performance depends
not only on the number of processors in the server but also on the power and functionality of each
processor.) Adding a second processor may be a cost-effective way to achieve significant
performance improvements.
Memory — Memory is a significant factor in systems application performance. Adding more
memory to a System x server is one of the most effective ways to increase application performance.
For best performance in a server with a six-core processor, there should be three times as much
memory available as for a 2-core processor.
Backup Drives — Backup drives help you protect your data. IBM offers several choices of
capacities and technologies, including DDS-5, DDS-6, LTO-3, LTO-4, and LTO-5 tape backup, as
well as the RDX Removable Disk Cartridge drive (internal and external).
Hard Disk Drives — IBM hard disk drives help you improve the transaction and cost performance
of your System x servers. The choice of hard disk drives can be a critical aspect of maximizing the
I/O throughput of the system. SAS 2.5-inch hard disk drives are available for the x3500 M3 with
capacities up to 600GB apiece at 10,000 RPMs or up to 146.8GB apiece at 15,000 RPMs. Also,
2.5-inch SATA drives up to 500GB at 7,200 RPMs are available. For CTO models with 3.5-inch
bays, SAS drive capacities up to 600GB at 15K RPMs are available, as well as 7,200 RPM SAS or
SATA drives up to 2TB .
Power Supply — The optional second power supply for the x3500 M3 enables redundancy for hot-
swap power. In addition, its 90%-efficient design helps lower your energy bill for power and cooling.
ServeRAID Controllers — System x servers using ServeRAID technology allow companies to
build a reliable foundation for business-critical computing. IBM ServeRAID technology allows an
array consisting of multiple physical hard disk drives to be treated as one logical drive. ServeRAID
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