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

Processors — The Intel Xeon processor provides high clock rates, dual-cores, 64-bit extensions, a large cache and advanced features for availability and manageability. Large cache size, combined with a fast 1066MHz or 1333MHz front-side, reduces memory latency and facilitates the movement of data through the processor and I/O devices. (Note: System performance depends not only on the number of processors in the server but also on the power and functionality of each processor.) Adding a second processor may be a cost-effective way to achieve significant performance improvements.

Memory — Memory is a significant factor in systems application performance. Adding more memory to a System x server is one of the most effective ways to increase application performance. For best performance in a server with a dual-core processor, there should be twice as much memory available as for a single-core processor. The x3500 takes memory upgrades in pairs and provides either two-way or four-way interleaving (depending on the number of DIMMs installed).

Hard Disk Drives — IBM hard disk drives help you improve the transaction and cost performance of your System x servers. The choice of hard disk drives can be a critical aspect of maximizing the I/O throughput of the system. SAS hard disk drives are available for the x3500 with capacities up to 300GB (3.5-inch) at 10,000 RPMs and up to 146.8GB at 15,000 RPMs. SATA II hard disk drives are available with capacities up to 750GB (3.5-inch) at 7,200 RPMs.

Backup Drives — Backup drives help you protect your data. IBM offers several choices of capacities and technologies, including DDS-5, DDS-6, LTO-2, LTO-3, and VXA-3.

Power Supply — The optional second power supply for the x3500 enables redundancy for hot-swap power (and adds three additional fans for increased cooling capacity and redundancy).

Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine — The x3500 includes a plethora of systems management features built-in; however, sometimes additional management capability is needed. In those situations, the Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine not only offers powerful new features, it does so without taking up a valuable PCI-X or PCI-E adapter slot, using a dedicated slot on the motherboard instead.

ServeRAID Controllers — System x servers using embedded ServeRAID-8k technology allow companies to build a reliable foundation for business-critical computing. IBM ServeRAID technology allows an array consisting of multiple physical hard disk drives to be treated as one logical drive. ServeRAID technology also allows data to be stored redundantly, across multiple hard disk drives— enhancing both the integrity and the availability of the data. SAS and SATA ServeRAID controllers offer enhanced performance due to onboard processors and cache. Because IBM ServeRAID controllers can help significantly improve data transfer rates, this technology is extremely effective when implementing demanding, transaction-oriented applications. By employing the advanced fault tolerance of IBM ServeRAID technology, companies can effectively implement networked business systems that require large amounts of storage space for data and applications that must be available for their businesses to continue operating.

The integrated ServeRAID-8k SAS/SATA controller offers enhanced performance via 256MB of battery- backed cache memory, and supports six RAID levels: 0 (striping), 1 (mirroring), 10 (mirroring and striping), 1E (enhanced mirroring, supporting odd numbers of drives), 5 (striping with parity), and 6 (striping with double parity).

The optional PCI-E ServeRAID-8s SAS/SATA controller offers enhanced performance for both internal and external drives. It provides 256MB of cache (with optional battery backup), and supports the same 6 RAID levels as the ServeRAID-8k controller.

External Storage — The IBM TotalStorage DS3000, DS4000, DS6000, and DS8000 series, as well as the System Storage DS4000, N3000, N5000, and N7000 series, comprise a powerful and broad shared storage family with integrated management software designed to meet midrange and enterprise needs.

For lower-end needs, IBM offers the TotalStorage DS300 and DS400 storage enclosures.

Additionally, external SAN, NAS and direct-attach storage is available using one of several IBM System

Storage and TotalStorage host bus adapters.

The iSCSI HBA Adapter for IXA Connectivity is a PCI adapter for selected System x and xSeries servers that provides a direct 1GBps link to an IBM System i5 or iSeries server. This connection enables you to centralize their Microsoft Windows and System i5 or iSeries storage and consolidate the operations and backup of their System x, xSeries, System i5 and iSeries systems into a single infrastructure. It enables the tightest possible integration between Windows and System i5/iSeries data and applications, and allows as many as 32 servers to attach to one System i5 or iSeries system to share the iSeries server’s systems management, DVD, tape and disk storage via the iSeries dynamic virtual storage architecture. This can take the place of a SAN if you have an established System i5 or iSeries infrastructure.

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IBM X3500 specifications
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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.
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