Hot-Swap/Redundant Components

Astable, long-life, dual-socket, dual- and quad-core SMP server, offering high-performance, massive capacity and outstanding availability

Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) 64-bit extensions allow the Xeon processor to use large memory addressing when running with a 64-bit operating system. This in turn lets individual software processes directly access more than 4GB of RAM, which was the limit of 32-bit addressing. This can result in much higher performance for certain kinds of programs, such as database management and CAD. Additional registers and instructions (SSE3) can further boost performance for applications written to use them. Contact your software provider to determine their software support for EM64T.

The 1066MHz FSB (which connects memory to the processor) boasts a peak rate of up to 8.53GBps, or up to one-thirdhigher throughput at the same processor clock speed than an 800MHz FSB (6.4GBps) used in older systems. The 1333MHz FSB offers a peak rate of up to 10.67GBps, or up to two-thirdshigher throughput at the same processor clock speed than an 800MHz FSB. This may result in much higher data transfer rates.

Intelligent Power Capability powers individual processor elements on and off as needed, to reduce power draw.

Execute Disable Bit functionality can help prevent certain classes of malicious buffer overflow attacks when combined with a supporting operating system.

DDR II ECC Fully Buffered Memory with Chipkill Protection

The x3500 supports up to 48GB of memory in 12 DIMM sockets. It uses PC2-5300fully-buffereddouble data rate II (DDR II) memory (operating at 667MHz) for faster access, and provides advanced Chipkill memory protection, for up to 16X better error correction than standard ECC memory.

The fully buffered memory in the x3500 provides up to triple the memory bandwidth (up to 21.3GBps in four channels of PC2-5300 fully-buffered DIMMs vs. a maximum of 6.4GBps in two channels of unbuffered PC2-3200 memory) and up to triple the system memory capacity (12 DIMMs x 4GB) of the predecessor x236 server (8 DIMMs x 2GB). By performing reads and writes simultaneously, it eliminates the previous memory read-to-write blocking latency. In addition, it also offers innovative data reliability and security features to help improve data integrity, including enhanced CRC protection, data retry on error detect and buffer registers for improved fault isolation.

For increased availability, the x3500 offers two additional (but mutually exclusive) levels of IBM Active

Memory protection: online memory mirroring, and online hot-spare memory.

Memory mirroring works much like disk mirroring. The total memory is divided into two channels. Data is written concurrently to both channels. If a DIMM fails in one of the DIMMs in the primary channel, it is instantly disabled and the mirrored (backup) memory in the other channel becomes active (primary) until the failing DIMM is replaced. Mirroring can be accomplished with multiples of four DIMMs (one pair per memory channel).

When online hot-spare memory is enabled, using single and/or dual-rank DIMMs one rank is set aside per channel as online spares in case one of the other ranks in that channel fails. The spare rank must have capacity at least that of the largest active rank. (In other words, if a combination of 2GB and 4GB DIMMs are used in a branch, one rank on each 4GB DIMM will be used for sparing.) In an x3500 with 48GB installed, up to 40GB (using 12 dual-rank 4GB DIMMs) of memory is available when the hot-spare feature is active.

Either of these features requires operating system support.

When multiples of four DIMMs (4/8/12) are installed, the x3500 operates in four-way interleaved mode, for higher performance. When only two DIMMs are used, the system defaults to two-way interleaved mode.

DIMMs must be installed in pairs. Memory is available in kits consisting of two 512MB, 1GB, 2GB or 4GB

DIMMs.

Hot-Swap/Redundant Components

System availability is maximized through the extensive use of hot-swap and redundant components, including:

•Redundant memory protection (with online hot-spare memory or memory mirroring enabled)

•Hot-swap, redundant hard disk drives (with RAID-1/10/1E/5/6 protection)

•Hot-swap, redundant power supplies (optional)

•Hot-swap, redundant cooling fans (optional)

High-Performance Adapter Slots

The x3500 provides two x8 (“by 8”) 4GBps PCI-E (PCI Express) full-length/full-height adapter slots

(Slots 2 and 3). Each is capable of supporting x1/x4/x8 adapters at full speed. Slot 1 is a half-length/full- height x4 (2GBps) PCI-Eslot; Slots 4 and 5 are full-length/full-height(1GBps) 133MHz PCI-Xslots, and Slot 6 is a half-length/full-height 33MHz legacy PCI slot.

PCI-Expressis a high-performance, low-latency, next-generation serial I/O bus that is rapidly replacing

Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.

X3500 specifications

The IBM X3500 is a versatile and powerful server designed to meet the demands of modern businesses. As part of IBM's System x line, it combines cutting-edge technologies with a reliable architecture, making it suitable for a variety of applications ranging from virtualization to data-intensive tasks.

One of the key features of the IBM X3500 is its scalability. The server supports multiple processors, allowing for enhanced performance as workloads increase. Typically equipped with Intel Xeon processors, the X3500 can handle demanding applications while providing efficient power consumption. This flexibility ensures that businesses can adapt their server capabilities based on evolving needs without requiring a complete hardware overhaul.

Memory capacity is another strong suit of the IBM X3500. It allows for an extensive amount of RAM, facilitating high-performance computing and efficient multitasking. With support for DDR3 memory, organizations can take advantage of faster data transfer rates, leading to improved application responsiveness. This is particularly beneficial in virtualized environments where multiple virtual machines run concurrently on a single physical server.

The X3500 also features advanced storage options. Designed with multiple drive bays, it can accommodate a mix of HDDs and SSDs, catering to both high-capacity and high-speed storage requirements. IBM’s Advanced RAID technology further enhances data protection and performance, ensuring that critical business data is secure and readily accessible.

In terms of energy efficiency, the X3500 incorporates IBM's innovative energy management technologies. These features help reduce total cost of ownership while achieving significant improvements in power consumption. This is crucial for businesses looking to optimize their operational costs, particularly in large data centers where energy expenses can be substantial.

The server is designed with robust management capabilities as well. IBM's Integrated Management Module (IMM) allows for comprehensive system monitoring and management, providing IT administrators with tools to manage hardware health, performance, and security effectively. This enables proactive maintenance and minimizes downtime.

Finally, the IBM X3500 is built with industry-standard components, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of software and applications. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses looking for a reliable server solution that can easily integrate into existing IT environments.

In conclusion, the IBM X3500 is a powerful and adaptable server that blends performance, scalability, energy efficiency, and advanced management capabilities, making it a valuable asset for organizations looking to enhance their IT infrastructure.