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Installing a DIMM - BladeCenter HX5

The blade server has a total of 16 dual inline memory module (DIMM) connectors. The blade server supports very low profile (VLP) DDR3 DIMMs with error code correction (ECC) in 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB capacities.

For a current list of supported DIMMs for the blade server, see thehttp://www.ibm.com/ servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/.
Note
If you are installing a DIMM as a result of a DIMM failure, you might need to re-enable the DIMM. To determine whether you need to re-enable the DIMM:
  1. Verify that the amount of memory installed in the BladeCenter HX5 is the expected amount of memory. You can verify the amount of memory that is installed through the operating system, by watching the monitor as the blade server starts up, or through the advanced management module web interface.

    For more information about the advanced management module web interface, see the ../com.ibm.bladecenter.advmgtmod.doc/adv_man_mod_printable_doc.html.

  2. Run the Setup Utility to re-enable the DIMMs (see Using the Setup utility for more information).

Depending on your model and the memory mode that is set in the Setup utility, the blade server can support a minimum of 4 GB and a maximum of 256 GB of system memory on the system board in a blade server with one processor. If two processors are installed, the blade server can support a minimum of 8 GB and a maximum of 512 GB of system memory.

Memory must be installed in pairs of DIMMs per installed processor. DIMMs must be the same size, speed, and technology within installed pairs.

If a single processor is installed, it can access the first eight DIMM connectors. The following table lists the memory configurations and installation order for the BladeCenter HX5 when one processor is installed.

Table 1. System memory configuration for a single processor (one processor)
Installed memoryDIMM connector
12345678
2 DIMMsX  X    
4 DIMMsX  XX  X
6 DIMMsXXXXX  X
8 DIMMsXXXXXXXX

The following table lists the memory configurations and installation order for the BladeCenter HX5 when two processors are installed.

Table 2. System memory configuration for a two processors (two processors)
Installed memoryDIMM connector
12345678910111213141516
2 DIMMsX  X            
4 DIMMsX  X    X  X    
6 DIMMsX  XX  XX  X    
8 DIMMsX  XX  XX  XX  X
10 DIMMsXXXXX  XX  XX  X
12 DIMMsXXXXX  XXXXXX  X
14 DIMMsXXXXXXXXXXXXX  X
16 DIMMsXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Important
If you are installing memory in a scalable blade complex, install the DIMMs to have a balance of memory among processors. Additional memory can be installed in the topmost BladeCenter HX5 blade server of the scalable blade complex so that you do not need to disassemble the scalable blade complex. For example, if you are installing four DIMMs in a scalable blade complex that consists of two BladeCenter HX5 blade servers, you would install two DIMMs (in connectors 1 and 4) of each blade server.
The BladeCenter HX5 blade server supports memory mirroring. When enabled, the first DIMM quadrant is duplicated onto the second DIMM quadrant for each processor.
Note
  • To enable memory mirroring, the DIMMs installed for each processor must be identical.
  • Memory mirroring reduces the available memory by half. For example, if the server has 64 GB of installed memory, only 32 GB of addressable memory is available when memory mirroring is enabled.
If one processor is installed, memory mirroring is set up as follows:
Table 3. Memory mirroring with one processor
DIMM QuadrantMirrored Quadrant
DIMM 1, DIMM 2, DIMM 3, DIMM 4DIMM 5, DIMM 6, DIMM 7, DIMM 8
If two processors are installed, memory mirroring is set up as follows:
Table 4. Memory mirroring with two processors
DIMM QuadrantMirrored Quadrant
DIMM 1, DIMM 2, DIMM 3, DIMM 4DIMM 5, DIMM 6, DIMM 7, DIMM 8
DIMM 9, DIMM 10, DIMM 11, DIMM 12DIMM 13, DIMM 14, DIMM 15, DIMM 16
The BladeCenter HX5 blade server also supports memory sparing, in which the contents of the failing DIMM are transferred to the spare DIMM.
Note
  • To enable memory sparing, the DIMMs installed for each processor must be identical.
  • Memory sparing reserves memory capacity for failover in the event of a DIMM failure, and the reserved capacity is subtracted from the total available memory. Memory sparing provides less redundancy than memory mirroring does. If a predetermined threshold of correctable errors is reached, the contents of the failing DIMM are copied to the spare memory, and the failing DIMM or rank is disabled. To enable memory sparing through the Setup utility, select System Settings > Memory.
  • See Installing a DIMM - IBM MAX5 for more information about memory requirements for the IBM MAX5 expansion blade.
If one processor is installed, memory sparing is set up as follows:
Table 5. Memory sparing with one processor
DIMM PairSpare Pair
DIMM 2, DIMM 3DIMM 1, DIMM 4
DIMM 6, DIMM 7DIMM 5, DIMM 8

If two processors are installed, memory sparing is set up as follows:

To install a DIMM, complete the following steps:
Table 6. Memory sparing with two processors
DIMM PairSpare Pair
DIMM 2, DIMM 3DIMM 1, DIMM 4
DIMM 6, DIMM 7DIMM 5, DIMM 8
DIMM 10, DIMM 11DIMM 9, DIMM 12
DIMM 14, DIMM 15DIMM 13, DIMM 16
Note
If all DIMMs are of the same size, the memory reference code (MRC) sets sparing in the farthest DIMM pair. Otherwise, the largest DIMM pair is set aside as spare.

DIMM installation procedure

To install a DIMM, complete the following steps:

  1. Before you begin, read Safety and Installation guidelines.
  2. Read the documentation that comes with the DIMMs.
  3. If the blade server or scalable blade complex is installed in a BladeCenter chassis, remove it. See Removing the blade server from the BladeCenter chassis for instructions.
  4. Carefully lay the blade server on a flat, static-protective surface.
  5. If you are installing the DIMM into a blade server that is the bottom blade server in a scalable blade complex, disassemble the blade complex (see Disassembling a scalable blade complex for instructions).
  6. If an IBM MAX5 expansion blade is installed, remove it (see Removing an IBM MAX5 expansion blade for instructions).
  7. Open the blade server cover (see Removing the blade server cover for instructions).
  8. Locate the DIMM connectors (see Blade server connectors - BladeCenter HX5). Determine the DIMM connector into which you will be installing memory.
  9. If another memory module is already installed in the DIMM connector, remove it (see Removing a DIMM - BladeCenter HX5).
  10. Touch the static-protective package that contains the DIMM to any unpainted metal surface on the BladeCenter unit or any unpainted metal surface on any other grounded rack component in the rack in which you are installing the DIMM for at least 2 seconds; then, remove the DIMM from its package.
  11. To install the DIMMs, repeat the following steps for each DIMM that you install.
    Graphic illustrating the installation of DIMMs in the blade server
    1. Make sure that both retaining clips on the DIMM connector into which you are installing the DIMM are in the open position.
    2. Turn the DIMM so that the DIMM keys align correctly with the DIMM connector on the system board.
      Attention
      To avoid breaking the retaining clips or damaging the DIMM connector, handle the clips gently.
    3. Press the DIMM into the DIMM connector. The retaining clips lock the DIMM into the connector.
    4. Make sure that the small tabs on the retaining clips are in the notches on the DIMM. If there is a gap between the DIMM and the retaining clips, the DIMM has not been correctly installed. Press the DIMM firmly into the connector, and then press the retaining clips toward the DIMM until the tabs are fully seated. When the DIMM is correctly installed, the retaining clips are parallel to the sides of the DIMM.
  12. Install the IBM MAX5 expansion blade if you removed one (see Installing an IBM MAX5 expansion blade for instructions).
  13. Install the optional expansion unit, if you removed one from the blade server (see Installing an expansion unit for instructions).
  14. Install the cover onto the blade server (see Installing the blade server cover for instructions).
  15. Install the blade server or scalable blade complex into the BladeCenter chassis (see Installing a blade server in a BladeCenter chassis for instructions).