Workhorse 2-socket single- or dual-core Intel Xeon blade server
xSeries rack and tower servers. The features of the Management Module can be accessed either locally or remotely across a network. One module comes standard. A second Management Module can be added for hot-swap/redundancyand failover. The modules include a light path diagnostics panel containing LEDs that identify which internal components are in need of service.
•Four module bays for Blower Modules — All four hot-swap/redundant blower modules come standard with the chassis. These modules replace the need for each blade to contain its own fans. The blowers are more energy efficient than dozens or hundreds of smaller fans would be, and they offer many fewer points of potential failure.
•Four module bays for Power Modules — BladeCenter T ships with two 1300W high- efficiency hot-swap/redundant DC or AC (model-specific) power modules (upgradeable to four), capable of handling the power needs of the entire chassis.
•Redundant Midplane connections — By giving each blade two physical connections to the midplane that connects all blades and modules together internally, a failure of one connector alone cannot bring down the server.
•A Tray containing a CD-ROM drive, KVM ports, two USB 1.1 ports, and a light path diagnostic panel — The media tray is shared by all the blades in the server. This eliminates unnecessary parts (and reduces the number of parts than can fail). A floppy drive is optional.
•Long-life availability — The BladeCenter T chassis will be produced for at least 3 years from date of General Availability. This allows telecom Network Equipment Manufacturers (NEPs) and, Service Providers (SPs) to standardize on a configuration for longer than traditional enterprise platforms. Product availability for periods longer than 3 years will be handled on an individual basis.
•It is extremely important to include all infrastructure costs when comparing a BladeCenter T solution to a competitor’s offering, not just the cost of the chassis and the blades. The high density and level of integration of the BladeCenter T chassis can greatly reduce the cost of the overall solution. For example, because up to five chassis will fit in a rack, this means that up to 40 blade servers can be installed. Also, because up to four Ethernet, Fibre Channel or other supported switches can be installed per chassis, up to 20 switches can be installed per rack without having to reserve any “U” space for switches. (And the integrated switches may be less expensive than external, self-powered switches.) Plus, the number of power distribution units (PDUs) needed per rack may be lessened, because there are fewer discrete devices to have to plug in. In addition, because all the blades are connected to all the switches inside the chassis, there is no need for external Ethernet or other communication cables to connect the blades and switches. (Only the few cables needed to connect the switches to the external world are required.) This not only can save the cost of numerous cables per rack, but also the clutter and bother of routing that many cables. An added bonus is potentially much freer airflow behind the rack, due to fewer cables.
Light Path Diagnostics
Light path diagnostics enables a technician to quickly identify and locate a failed or failing system component, such as a specific blower module or memory DIMM. This enables quick replacement of the component, which helps increase server uptime and lower servicing costs.
The front of each blade server—and the chassis itself—has an LED indicator light to show possible component failures. This lets the servicer identify the failing component without the need to or remove the blade server from the chassis. The light path diagnostics panel tells the servicer which component of the affected server requires attention.
In addition, many components have their own identifying LEDs. For example, each of the memory modules has an LED next to the socket, as do both processors. This allows the servicer to easily identify exactly which component needs servicing. By following the “light path,” the component can be replaced quickly, and without guesswork. (Note: In the event of a failed DIMM, the system will restart and mark the DIMM as bad while offline, thus allowing the system to continue running, with reduced memory capacity, until serviced.)
Advanced Systems Management Capabilities
Each BladeCenter chassis offers a high level of systems management capabilities that are well- suited to remote locations as well as to stand-alone environments. Features include the Management Module (MM) or Advanced Management Module (aMM), Baseboard Management Controller (BMC), Automatic Server Restart, PowerExecutive™, Wake on LAN® support, PXE 2.0 support, text and graphics console redirect, Real Time Diagnostics, Predictive Failure Analysis, IBM Director and Remote Deployment Manager.
The MM/aMM, in combination with the HS20 blade server BMC, provides industry-standardIntelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) 1.5-compliant systems management. It
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