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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® Systems Director, IBM Enterprise X-Architecture, microprocessor technology, integrated network support, I/O expansion, large system-memory capacity, light path diagnostics LEDs, PCI Express, and power throttling.

  • Integrated management module (IMM)

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

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

    For more information, see Accessing the IMM.

  • Dynamic System Analysis (DSA)

    IBM Dynamic Systems Analysis (DSA) collects and analyses system information to aid in diagnosing server problems. DSA collects the following information about the server:
    • Drive health information
    • Event logs for ServeRAID controllers and service processors
    • Hardware inventory, including PCI and USB information
    • Installed applications and hot fixes
    • Kernel modules
    • Light path diagnostics status
    • Network interface and settings
    • Performance data and details about processes that are running
    • RAID and controller configuration
    • Service processor (integrated management module) status and configuration
    • System configuration
    • Vital product data and firmware information

    DSA creates a DSA log, which is a chronologically ordered merge of the system-event log (as the IPMI event log), the integrated management module (IMM) chassis-event log (as the ASM event log), and the operating-system event logs. You can send the DSA log as a file to IBM service or view the information as a text file or HTML file.

    For more information, refer to IBM Dynamic System Analysis.

  • Hard disk drive support

    The blade server supports up to two solid state drives (SSDs). You can implement RAID 0 or RAID 1 for the SSDs.

  • IBM ServerGuide Setup and InstallationCD

    The ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD, which you can download from the web, provides programs to help you set up the 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, see Using the ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD.

  • 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 thehttp://publib.boulder.ibm.com/ infocenter/director/v6r2x/index.jsp.

  • 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 thehttp://www.ibm.com/ systems/x/hardware/enterprise/xarchitecture.html.

  • Microprocessor technology

    The blade server supports up to two multi-core IntelXeon microprocessors. For more information about supported microprocessors and their part numbers, see Parts listing - BladeCenter HX5.

    Note
    The optional microprocessors that IBM supports are limited by the capacity and capability of the server. Any microprocessors that you install must have the same specifications as the microprocessors that came with the servers.
  • Integrated network support

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

  • 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 256 GB of system memory. The memory controller provides support for up to 16 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 thehttp://www.ibm.com/ servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/.
    Note
    If two BladeCenter HX5 blade servers are assembled into a scalable blade complex, up to 512 GB of system memory is available to the scalable blade complex.

  • Server expansion

    You can combine two blade servers together to form a scalable blade complex. Through the advanced management module web interface, you can then configure the scalable blade complex to function as a single hardware partition, which is single server with up to four multi-core microprocessors and up to 512 GB of system memory.

    Combining two blade servers into a scalable blade complex provides you with implementation flexibility through FlexNode partitioning. Through the advanced management module, you can implement the scalable blade complex as a single server or as two independent servers without changing the physical setup of the blade servers. For more information about scalable blade complexes and FlexNode partitioning, see Working with a scalable blade complex.

  • Light path diagnostics

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

    In addition, scalability indicators are available through the front bezel. These indicators enable you to tell whether BladeCenter HX5 blade servers are operating independently or as a single hardware partition.

  • 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 QR code information on page 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) 11.0 voltage regulators. By enforcing a power policy known as power-domain oversubscription, the BladeCenter chassis can share the power load between two power modules to ensure sufficient power for each device in the BladeCenter chassis. This policy is enforced when the initial power is applied to the BladeCenter chassis or when a blade server is inserted into the BladeCenter chassis.

    The following settings for this policy are available:
    • Power module redundancy
    • Power module redundancy with blade throttling allowed
    • Basic power management

    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 ../com.ibm.bladecenter.advmgtmod.doc/adv_man_mod_printable_doc.html.