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What your server offers

The server uses the following features and technologies.

  • Active Energy Manager

    The IBM Active Energy Manager solution is an IBM Systems Director extension that measures and reports server power consumption as it occurs. This enables you to monitor power consumption in correlation to specific software application programs and hardware configurations. You can obtain the measurement values through the systems-management interface and view them, using IBM Systems Director. For more information, including the required levels of IBM Systems Director and Active Energy Manager, see the IBM Systems Director Information Center at the IBM Systems Director information center, or see the IBM Systems Director website.

  • Dynamic System Analysis (DSA)

    The server comes with the Lenovo Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) Preboot diagnostic program stored in the integrated USB memory on the server. DSA collects and analyzes system information to aid in diagnosing server problems, as well as offering a rich set of diagnostic tests of the major components of the server. 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 II (IMM2) event log (as the ASM event log), and the operating-system event logs. You can send the DSA log as a file to Lenovo Support or view the information as a text file or HTML file.

    Two editions of Dynamic System Analysis are available: DSA Portable and DSA Preboot. For more information about both editions, see DSA editions.

  • Features on Demand software Ethernet support

    The server provides Features on Demand software Ethernet support. You can purchase a Features on Demand software upgrade activation key for Fiber Channel over Ethernet and iSCSI storage protocols that is provided through the integrated Ethernet controller. For more information, see Enabling Features on Demand RAID software.

  • Features on Demand software RAID support

    The server provides Features on Demand software RAID support for RAID levels 5, 6, 50, and 60 upgrade. Features on Demand software RAID upgrade is integrated into the Integrated Management Module II (IMM2). For more information, see Enabling Features on Demand RAID software.

  • LenovoServerGuide Setup and Installation CD

    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 about the ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD, 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 Lenovo and non-Lenovo x86 platforms. For more information, see the Lenovo Systems Director Information Center at the IBM Systems Director website and Systems Director.

  • Lenovo XClarity Administrator

    Lenovo XClarity Administrator is a centralized resource-management solution that enables administrators to deploy infrastructure faster and with less effort. The solution seamlessly integrates into System x, ThinkServer, and NeXtScale servers, as well as the Flex System converged infrastructure platform.

    Lenovo XClarity Administrator provides the following features:

    • Intuitive graphical user interface

    • Automated discovery and inventory

    • Firmware updates and compliance

    • Configuration patterns

    • Bare metal deployment

    • Security management

    • Upward integration

    • Representational state transfer (REST) application programming interfaces and Windows PowerShell

    • Simple network management protocol (SNMP), system log, and e-mail forwarding

    For more information, see Using Lenovo XClarity Administrator.

  • Integrated Management Module II (IMM2)

    The Integrated Management Module II (IMM2) combines service processor functions, video controller, and 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 server management capabilities. The IMM2 provides remote server management through the following 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 additional information, see Using the Integrated Management Module II (IMM2) and the Integrated Management Module II User's Guide at the the Lenovo Support Portal.

  • Integrated network support

    The server comes with an integrated dual-port Intel Gigabit Ethernet controller, which supports connection to a 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, or 1000 Mbps network. For more information, see Configuring the Ethernet controller.

  • Integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

    This integrated security chip performs cryptographic functions and stores private and public secure keys. It provides the hardware support for the Trusted Computing Group (TCG) specification. You can download the software to support the TCG specification, when the software is available. See the IBM x86 enterprise servers website for details about the TPM implementation. You can enable TPM support through the Setup utility under the System Security menu choice (seeUsing the Setup utility).

  • Large data-storage capacity and hot-swap capability

    The server can support a maximum of sixteen 2.5-inch drives, thirty-two 32 1.8-inch drives, or a combination of both 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch drives when you use the supported SAS/SATA backplane configurations. The server supports 2.5-inch hot-swap Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) hard disk drives or hot-swap Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drives, 2.5-inch hot-swap solid state drives (SSD), or 1.8-inch hot-swap solid state drives.

    With the hot-swap feature, you can add, remove, or replace hard disk drives without turning off the server.

  • Large system-memory capacity

    The memory bus supports up to 384 GB of system memory when registered DIMMs are installed. The server supports up to 64 GB if unbuffered DIMMs are installed. The memory controller supports error correcting code (ECC) for up to 24 industry-standard PC3-8500 (DDR3-1066), PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333), or PC3-12800 (DDR3-1600), DDR3 (third-generation double-data-rate), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) dual inline memory modules (DIMMs).

  • Light path diagnostics

    Light path diagnostics provides LEDs to help you diagnose problems. For more information about light path diagnostics and the LEDs, see Light path diagnostics LEDs.

  • Memory mirroring

    Memory mirroring provides a redundant copy of all code and data that are addressable in the configured memory map. Through the microprocessor memory controller chip set, memory mirroring replicates and stores data across DIMMs on two or four memory channels simultaneously. If a failure occurs, the memory controller switches from the DIMMs on the primary channel to the DIMMs on the backup channel. To enable memory mirroring through the Setup utility, select System Settings > Memory > Memory Mode > Mirroring. For information about installing DIMMs for memory mirroring, see Memory module installation for more information.

  • Memory sparing

    The server supports memory sparing. 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 → Memory Mode → Sparing. For information about installing DIMMs for memory sparing, see Memory module installation.

  • Mobile access to Lenovo 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 Lenovo Service Information website. The Lenovo 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 The Lenovo System x3500 M4 Type 7383 server.

  • Multi-core processors

    The server supports up to two Intel Xeon™ E5-2600 series multi-core microprocessors. The server comes with only one microprocessor installed.

  • PCI adapter capabilities

    The server has six PCI interface slots. Slot 1 can support PCI Express or PCI-X adapters through an optional PCI-X interposer card. See Installing an adapter for detailed information.

  • Redundant connection

    The addition of the optional Ethernet daughter card provides failover capability to a redundant Ethernet connection with the applicable application installed. If a problem occurs with the primary Ethernet connection and the optional Ethernet daughter card is installed on the server, all Ethernet traffic that is associated with the primary connection is automatically switched to the optional redundant Ethernet daughter card connection. If the applicable device drivers are installed, this switching occurs without data loss and without user intervention.

  • Redundant cooling and optional power capabilities

    The server supports a maximum of two 750-watt or 900-watt hot-swap power supplies and six simple-swap fans, which provide redundancy and hot-swap capability for a typical configuration. The redundant cooling by the fans in the server enables continued operation if one of the fans fails. The server comes with one 750-watt or 900-watt hot-swap power supply and two fans.

    You must install fan 2 when you install the second microprocessor in the server. You can order the optional fan 4, 5, and 6 for cooling redundancy. You can order the second optional power supply for power redundancy.

    Note
    1. You cannot mix 750-watt and 900-watt power supplies in the server.
    2. The server is not running in power redundant mode with two 225W GPUs installed, two 900-watt power supplies are required.

  • Remote presence and blue-screen capture features

    The remote presence and blue-screen capture features are integrated functions of the Integrated Management Module II (IMM2). The remote presence feature provides the following functions:
    • Remotely viewing video with graphics resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 at 75 Hz, regardless of the system state
    • Remotely accessing the server, using the keyboard and mouse from a remote client
    • Mapping the CD or DVD drive, diskette drive, and USB flash drive on a remote client, and mapping ISO and diskette image files as virtual drives that are available for use by the server
    • Uploading a diskette image to the IMM2 memory and mapping it to the server as a virtual drive

    The blue-screen capture feature captures the video display contents before the IMM2 restarts the server when the IMM2 detects an operating-system hang condition. A system administrator can use the blue-screen capture feature to assist in determining the cause of the hang condition.

    See Using the remote presence and blue-screen capture features for additional information.

  • ServeRAID support

    The ServeRAID adapter provides hardware redundant array of independent disks (RAID) support to create configurations. The standard RAID adapter provides RAID levels 0, 1, and 10. An optional RAID adapter is available for purchase.

  • Systems-management capabilities

    The server comes with an Integrated Management Module II (IMM2). When the IMM2 is used with the systems-management software that comes with the server, you can manage the functions of the server locally and remotely. The IMM2 also provides system monitoring, event recording, and network alert capability. The systems-management connector on the rear of the server is dedicated to the IMM2. The dedicated systems-management connector provides additional security by physically separating the management network traffic from the production network. You can use the Setup utility to configure the server to use a dedicated systems-management network or a shared network.

  • UEFI-compliant server firmware

    The UEFI firmware offers several features, including Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) version 2.1 compliance, Active Energy Management (AEM) technology, enhanced reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) capabilities, and basic input/output system (BIOS) compatibility support. UEFI replaces the BIOS and defines a standard interface between the operating system, platform firmware, and external devices. The server is capable of booting UEFI-compliant operating systems, BIOS-based operating systems, and BIOS-based adapters as well as UEFI-compliant adapters. For more information about UEFI-compliant firmware, go to Introducing UEFI-Compliant Firmware on Lenovo System x and BladeCenter Servers.
    Note
    The server does not support DOS.

  • VMware ESXi embedded hypervisor

    An optional USB flash device with VMware ESXi embedded hypervisor software is available for purchase. Hypervisor is virtualization software that enables multiple operating systems to run on a host system at the same time. Install the USB flash device in the USB embedded hypervisor flash device connectors on the system board (see System-board internal connectors). See Using the embedded hypervisor for additional information.