Chapter 3 Maintaining the Server

Installing or Replacing Server Components

Installing Multiple PCIe Cards and Resolving Limited Resources

When a large number of PCIe add-on cards are installed in the server, the system may run out of the following resources required for PCIe devices:

•Option ROM memory space

•16-bit I/O space

The topics in this section provide guidelines for resolving the issues related to these limited resources.

•Resolving Insufficient Memory Space to Execute Option ROMs, page 3-36

•Resolving Insufficient 16-Bit I/O Space, page 3-37

Resolving Insufficient Memory Space to Execute Option ROMs

The system has very limited memory to execute PCIe legacy option ROMs, so when a large number of PCIe add-on cards are installed in the server, the system BIOS might not able to execute all of the option ROMs. The system BIOS loads and executes the option ROMs in the order that the PCIe cards are enumerated (Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3, etc.).

If the system BIOS does not have sufficient memory space to load any PCIe option ROM, it skips loading that option ROM, reports a system event log (SEL) event to the CIMC controller and reports the following error in the Error Manager page of the BIOS Setup utility:

ERROR CODE

SEVERITY

INSTANCE

DESCRIPTION

 

146

Major

N/A

PCI out

of resources error.

 

 

 

Major severity

requires user

 

 

 

intervention but does not

 

 

 

prevent

system

boot.

To resolve this issue, disable the Option ROMs that are not needed for system booting. The BIOS Setup Utility provides the setup options to enable or disable the Option ROMs at the PCIe slot level for the PCIe expansion slots and at the port level for the onboard NICs. These options can be found in the BIOS Setup Utility Advanced → PCI Configuration page.

•Guidelines for RAID controller booting:

If the server is configured to boot primarily from RAID storage, make sure that the option ROMs for the slots where your RAID controllers installed are enabled in the BIOS, depending on your RAID controller configuration.

If the RAID controller does not appear in the system boot order even with the option ROMs for those slots are enabled, the RAID controller option ROM might not have sufficient memory space to execute. In that case, disable other option ROMs that are not needed for the system configuration to free up some memory space for the RAID controller option ROM.

See also Factory-Default Option ROM Settings, page C-4.

•Guidelines for onboard NIC PXE booting:

If the system is configured to primarily perform PXE boot from onboard NICs, make sure that the option ROMs for the onboard NICs to be booted from are enabled in the BIOS Setup Utility. Disable other option ROMs that are not needed to create sufficient memory space for the onboard NICs.

 

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Cisco Systems UCUCSEZC220M3S, UCSSP6C220E, UCSRAID9266CV manual Resolving Insufficient Memory Space to Execute Option ROMs
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UCSRAID9266CV, C220, 9266CV-8i, UCSSP6C220E, UCUCSEZC220M3S specifications

Cisco Systems offers a range of powerful solutions for data center and enterprise infrastructures, among which are the UCSSP6C220E and UCUCSEZC220M3S, as well as the UCS C220 servers and the 9266CV-8i RAID controller. These products are designed to deliver high performance, scalability, and reliability, making them ideal for mission-critical applications across various industries.

The UCSSP6C220E is an essential component for the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) environment. It is designed for exceptional performance in virtualization and cloud computing environments. Key features include support for Intel Xeon Scalable processors, allowing for improved processing power and efficiency. Additionally, the server supports numerous memory configurations, with support for up to 3TB of RAM using 24 DIMM slots. With its innovative design, the UCSSP6C220E provides efficient cooling and power management, ensuring optimal performance under heavy workloads.

The UCUCSEZC220M3S model further enhances the capabilities of Cisco UCS with its flexible storage options and advanced management features. It supports multiple networking technologies, enabling seamless integration into existing IT infrastructures. The server's scalability is a significant benefit, accommodating a wide variety of workloads from virtualization to high-performance computing.

The UCS C220 series is a versatile platform known for its balance of performance, storage, and density. It is ideal for running more applications while minimizing data center space. The C220 server can support both SAS and SATA drives, enabling businesses to choose the right storage solution for their specific needs.

The 9266CV-8i RAID controller is a robust solution designed to enhance data protection and performance. It supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60, providing multiple options for balancing performance and redundancy. With 1GB of integrated cache memory, it helps accelerate data access, while its eight internal ports ensure high connectivity and flexibility for storage expansions.

Coupled with the UCSRAID9266CV, this controller simplifies storage management with advanced features such as online capacity expansion and dynamic RAID migration. Together, these technologies help organizations optimize their data centers while ensuring high availability and reliability, making Cisco Systems’ offerings a cornerstone for enterprise IT infrastructures.
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