IBM 8840 manual Reliability, availability, and serviceability

vLight path diagnostics

Light path diagnostics provides LEDs to help you diagnose problems. For more information, see the section about light path diagnostics in the Installation Guide.

vRedundant connection

The addition of an optional network interface card (NIC) provides a failover capability to a redundant Ethernet connection. If a problem occurs with the primary Ethernet connection, all Ethernet traffic associated with this primary connection is automatically switched to the redundant NIC. If the applicable device drivers are installed, this switching occurs without data loss and without user intervention.

vRedundant cooling and power capabilities

The server supports up to 12 hot-swap fans, which provide redundant cooling. The server supports up to two 650-watt power supplies, which provide redundancy and hot-swap capability for a typical configuration.

vServeRAID™ support

The server supports ServeRAID adapters to create redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configurations.

vSymmetric multiprocessing (SMP)

Your server supports up to two Intel Xeon microprocessors. If the server comes with only one microprocessor, you can install an additional microprocessor to enhance performance and provide SMP capability.

vSystems-management capabilities

The server supports an optional IBM Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine. This option, when used with the integrated baseboard management controller that comes with the server, enables you to manage the functions of the server locally and remotely. The Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine also provides system monitoring, event recording, and dial-out alert capability.

Reliability, availability, and serviceability

Three important computer design features are reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS). The RAS features help to ensure the integrity of the data that is stored in the server, the availability of the server when you need it, and the ease with which you can diagnose and correct problems.

The server has the following RAS features:

vAutomatic error retry and recovery

vAutomatic restart after a power failure

vBackup basic input/output system (BIOS) switching under the control of the service processor

vBaseboard management controller (service processor)

vBuilt-in monitoring for fan, power, temperature, voltage, and power-supply redundancy

vCable-presence detection on most connectors

vChipkill™ memory protection

vError codes and messages

vError correcting code (ECC) L2 cache and system memory

vHot-swap cooling fans with speed-sensing capability

vHot-swap hard disk drives

vInformation and light path diagnostics LED panels

vMenu-driven setup, system configuration, and redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configuration programs

Chapter 1. Introducing the IBM xSeries 346 Type 8840 5