IBM x Series 200 manual Reliability, availability, and serviceability

•Large system memory

The memory bus in the server supports up to 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of system memory. The memory controller provides error code correction (ECC) support for up to three industry-standard PC133, 3.3 V, 168-pin, 133 megahertz (MHz), unregistered, synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) dual in- line memory modules (DIMMs).

•Systems-management capabilities

See the documentation provided with the systems-management software for more information.

•Integrated network environment support

The server comes with an Ethernet controller on the system board. This Ethernet controller has an interface for connecting to 10-Mbps or 100-Mbps networks. The server automatically selects between 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX environments. The controller provides full-duplex (FDX) capability, which allows simultaneous transmission and reception of data on the Ethernet local area network (LAN).

•IBM ServerGuide™ CDs

The ServerGuide CDs included with IBM servers provide programs to help set up the server and install the network operating system (NOS). The ServerGuide program detects the hardware options installed, and provides the correct configuration program and device drivers. In addition, the ServerGuide CDs include a variety of application programs for the server.

Note: The latest level of BIOS for the server is also available through the World Wide Web. Refer to “Recovering BIOS” on page 14 for the appropriate World Wide Web addresses.

Reliability, availability, and serviceability

Three of the most important considerations in server design are reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS). The RAS features help to ensure the integrity of the data that is stored on the server, the availability of the server when needed, and the ease with which you can diagnose and repair problems.

The following is an abbreviated list of the RAS features that the server supports.

Many of these features are explained in the following chapters of this book.

•Reliability features

—Boot block recovery

—Cooling fans with speed-sensing capability

—Customer-upgradable basic input/output system (BIOS)

—ECC front-side buses (FSBs)

—ECC L2 cache

—ECC memory

—Parity checking on the small computer system interface (SCSI) and peripheral component interconnect (PCI) buses

—Advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI)

—Power-on self-test (POST)

—Synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) with serial presence detect (SPD)

•Availability features

—Advanced desktop management interface (DMI) features

—Alarm on LAN™ capability

–Chassis intrusion

–Operating system (OS) hangs

General information 5