What your server offers
The server uses the following features and technologies:

v Active PCI-X (hot-plug) adapter capabilities

The server has six hot-plug slots for peripheral component interconnect (PCI-X)
adapters. With operating-system support, you can replace a failing hot-plug
PCI-X adapter without turning off the server. If the operating system and adapter
support the hot-add feature, you can also add a PCI adapter in one of these slots
without turning off the server.

v Baseboard management controller

The baseboard management controller provides environmental monitoring for the
server. If environmental conditions exceed thresholds or if system components
fail, the baseboard management controller lights LEDs to help you diagnose the
problem and records the errors in the error log. The baseboard management
controller is also known as the service processor.
The baseboard management controller also provides remote server management
capabilities through the OSA SMBridge management utility program.

v IBM Director

IBM Director is a workgroup-hardware-management tool that you can use to
centrally manage IBM System x and xSeries servers. For more information, see
the IBM Director documentation on the IBM Director CD.

v IBM Enterprise X-Architecture technology

IBM X-Architecture technology combines proven, innovative IBM designs to make
your x86-based server powerful, scalable, and reliable. For more information, see
http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/xseries/xarchitecture/enterprise/index.html.
Active Memory
The Active Memory feature improves the reliability of memory through memory
mirroring, memory scrubbing, and the Memory ProteXion feature.
Large system-memory capacity
The server supports up to 64 GB of system memory. The memory controller
supports error correcting code (ECC) for up to 16 industry-standard
PC2-3200, 333 megahertz (MHz), 1.8 V, 240-pin, registered, double-data-rate
(DDR) II, synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) dual inline
memory modules (DIMMs).
Memory ProteXion
The Memory ProteXion feature provides the equivalent of a hot-spare drive in

a RAID array. It is based in the memory controller, and it enables the server to

sense when a chip on a DIMM has failed and to route the data around the

failed chip.

v
IBM ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD
The ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD that comes with the server (standard
on some models only) provides programs to help you set up the server and
install a 32-bit Windows operating system. The ServerGuide program detects
installed hardware options 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” on page

63.

Chapter 1. The System x3950 and System x3950 E server 5