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What your blade server offers

Your blade server offers features, such as, the Integrated Management Module, storage disk drive support, IBM® Director, IBM Enterprise X-Architecture, microprocessor technology, integrated network support, I/O expansion, large system-memory capacity, light path diagnostics, PCI Express, and power throttling.

  • Integrated Management Module II (IMM2)

    The integrated management module II (IMM2) combines service processor functions, video controller, the remote presence, and blue-screen capture features in a single chip. The IMM2 provides advanced service-processor control, monitoring, and alerting function. If an environmental condition exceeds a threshold or if a system component fails, the IMM2 lights LEDs to help you diagnose the problem, records the error in the IMM2 event log, and alerts you to the problem.

    Optionally, the IMM2 also provides a virtual presence capability for remote systems management capabilities. The IMM2 provides remote systems management through industry-standard interfaces:
    • Common Information Model (CIM)
    • Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) version 2.0
    • Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) version 3.0
    • Web browser

  • Hard disk drive support

    The blade server supports up to two 2.5-inch hot-swap small form factor (SFF) Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), Serial ATA (SATA), or solid-state drives. You can implement RAID 0 or RAID 1 for the drives.

    Attention
    ServeRAID H1135 is required for SAS hard disk drives or solid-state drives.

  • IBM Systems Director

    IBM Systems Director is a platform-management foundation that streamlines the way you manage physical and virtual systems in a heterogeneous environment.

    By using industry standards, IBM Systems Director supports multiple operating systems and virtualization technologies for IBM and non-IBM x86 platforms. For more information, see IBM Systems Director.

  • IBM Enterprise X-Architecture

    IBM Enterprise X-Architecture technology combines proven, innovative IBM designs to make your x86-processor-based blade server powerful, scalable, and reliable. For more information, see http://www.ibm.com/systems/x/hardware/enterprise/xarchitecture.html

  • IBM ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD

    The ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD provides programs to help you set up the blade server and install a Windows operating system. The ServerGuide program detects installed optional hardware devices and provides the correct configuration programs and device drivers. For more information about the ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD, see Using the ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD.

  • Microprocessor technology

    The blade server supports up to two dual-core or quad-core IntelXeon microprocessors. For more information about supported microprocessors and their part numbers, see Parts listing.

  • Integrated network support

    The integrated Broadcom 5718 dual-port Gigabit Ethernet controller supports connections to a 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, or 1000 Mbps network through an Ethernet-compatible switch module in the chassis. The controller also supports Wake on LAN® technology.

    The blade server has connectors on the system board for optional expansion adapters for adding network communication capabilities to the blade server. Depending on the model, you can install up to two I/O expansion adapters for network support. This provides the flexibility to install expansion adapters that support a variety of network communication technologies.

  • I/O expansion

    The blade server has connectors on the system board for optional expansion cards for adding more network communication capabilities to the blade server.

  • Large system-memory capacity

    The blade server system board supports up to 192 GB of system memory. The memory controller provides support for up to twelve industry-standard registered ECC DDR3 on Very Low Profile (VLP) form factor DIMMs installed on the system board. For the most current list of supported DIMMs, see the ServerProven list at http://www.ibm.com/ systems/info/x86servers/ serverproven/compat/us/.

  • Light path diagnostics

    Light path diagnostics provides light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to help you diagnose problems. For more information, see Light path diagnostics.

  • Mobile access to IBM Service Information website

    The server provides a QR code on the system service label, which is on the cover of the server, that you can scan using a QR code reader and scanner with a mobile device to get quick access to the IBM Service Information website. The IBM Service Information website provides additional information for parts installation and replacement videos, and error codes for server support. For the QR code, see Introduction.

  • PCI Express

    PCI Express is a serial interface that is used for chip-to-chip interconnect and expansion adapter interconnect. With the blade expansion connector you can add optional I/O and storage devices.

  • Power throttling

    Each blade server is powered by two Enterprise Voltage Regulator-Down (EVRD) 12.0 voltage regulators. By enforcing a power policy known as power-domain oversubscription, the BladeCenter unit can share the power load between two power modules to ensure sufficient power for each device in the BladeCenter unit. This policy is enforced when the initial power is applied to the BladeCenter unit or when a blade server is inserted into the BladeCenter unit.

    The following settings for this policy are available:

    • Redundant without performance impact
    • Redundant with performance impact
    • Nonredundant

    You can configure and monitor the power environment by using the Advanced Management Module. For more information about configuring and using power throttling, see the Advanced-Management-Module documentation or http://www.ibm.com/supportportal/.