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Memory problems

Use this information to solve memory problems.

Table 1. Symptoms and user actions for memory problems.

Table with one spanned column at the top and two other columns with headers that provides information about symptoms and user actions to solve memory problems

  • Follow the suggested actions in the order in which they are listed in the Action column until the problem is solved.
  • See Parts listing, System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Type 6241 to determine which components are customer replaceable units (CRU) and which components are field replaceable units (FRU).
  • If an action step is preceded by (Trained service technician only), that step must be performed only by a Trained service technician.
SymptomAction
The amount of system memory that is displayed is less than the amount of installed physical memory.
Note
If you change memory, you must update the memory configuration in the Setup utility (see Using the Setup utility for more information). For more information about installing DIMMs and DIMM population sequence, see Installing a memory module, Independent memory mode, Lockstep memory mode, Memory mirroring, and Memory rank sparing.
  1. If the server was recently installed, moved, or serviced, make sure that all DIMMs are seated correctly.
  2. If a new DIMM has been installed recently, verify that you have not received any configuration events in the event log. Otherwise, check the IMM event log. If any DIMM configuration events are listed, resolve the DIMM event problems first.
  3. Make sure that:
    • No error LEDs are lit on the operator information panel or on the compute book.
    • Memory mirroring does not account for the discrepancy (see Memory mirroring).
    • The memory modules are seated correctly (see Removing a memory module and Replacing a memory module).
    • You have installed the correct type of memory (see Installing a memory module).
    • If you changed the memory, you updated the memory configuration in the Setup utility (see Using the Setup utility).
    • All banks of memory are enabled. The server might have automatically disabled a memory bank when it detected a problem, or a memory bank might have been manually disabled.
  4. Check the POST event log:
    • If a DIMM was disabled by a systems-management interrupt (SMI), replace the DIMM.
    • If a DIMM was disabled by the user or by POST, run the Setup utility and enable the DIMM.
  5. Run memory diagnostics (see Dynamic System Analysis program). If an error is detected, follow the steps to correct the error.
  6. Restart the server.