Hardware Requirements

To avoid integration difficulties and possible board damage, your system must meet the requirements outlined below. For a list of qualified components, see the links under "Additional Information and Software."

Processor

One or two Dual-Core Intel®Xeon® processor 5000 sequence. For a complete list of supported processors, see the links under "Additional Information and Software."

Memory

The server board provides eight DIMM sockets across two channels, Channel A and Channel B. Channel A consists of DIMM sockets A1, A2, A3, and A4. Channel B consists of DIMM sockets B1, B2, B3, and B4. The entry SATA SKU provides four DIMM sockets where DIMM sockets A3, A4, B3, and B4 are depopulated.

A minimum of one 512 MB DIMM is required in DIMM socket A1. DIMMs must be installed starting with the lowest number slot in a given channel.

In non-mirrored mode, all DIMMs with the same slot number within a given branch must match (size, technology, manufacturer). It is not required to match DIMMs between different slot numbers.

DIMMs must meet the following requirements:

Use only Fully Buffered DIMMs (FBD) with DDR2 DRAM technology.

Use only FBD DDR2-533 and FBD DDR2-667 stacked DIMM modules.

In determining your memory requirements, the need for memory sparing or memory mirroring must be considered. For a complete list of supported memory DIMMs, see the links under "Additional Information and Software."

Memory Sparing and Mirroring

Note: Memory sparing and mirroring features are currently disabled and will be made available after production launch.

The chipset includes hardware that supports memory mirroring and memory on-line sparing. Both memory mirroring and memory on-line sparing provide a way to prevent data loss in case a DIMM fails.

With memory mirroring the system maintains two copies of all data in the memory subsystem. If a DIMM fails, the data is not lost because the second copy of the data is available from the mirrored DIMM in the opposite channel. The system will not fail due to memory error unless both the primary and the mirrored copy of the data become corrupt at the same time.

Intel® Server Board S5000VSA User’s Guide

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Intel S5000VSA manual Hardware Requirements, Processor, Memory Sparing and Mirroring

S5000VSA specifications

The Intel S5000VSA is a server motherboard that has been tailored to meet the needs of businesses requiring a reliable and scalable infrastructure. Designed for Intel's 5000 series of chipsets, this motherboard is notable for its standards in performance, flexibility, and management capabilities.

One of the standout features of the Intel S5000VSA is its support for dual Intel Xeon processors. The flexibility to utilize various Xeon chips allows organizations to select the optimal processing power for their specific workloads, whether that be database management, virtualization, or heavy computation tasks. This capability is essential for providing the high levels of performance and responsiveness businesses demand in their server environments.

The motherboard supports up to 32GB of memory using DDR2 technology, with eight DIMM slots available for expansion. This memory capacity allows for significant multitasking and resource management, essential in data-heavy server applications. The board supports both ECC (Error-Correcting Code) and non-ECC memory, offering organizations options depending on their fault tolerance needs.

In terms of connectivity, the S5000VSA comes equipped with multiple PCI Express slots, providing ample options for expandability with various I/O cards or additional network interfaces. This is particularly important as businesses grow and require additional capabilities or higher performance networking solutions.

The Intel S5000VSA is also noted for its advanced management features. Integrated Remote Management capabilities enable IT administrators to monitor and manage the system from afar, enhancing both uptime and ease of maintenance. Support for Intel’s Active Management Technology (AMT) allows for greater control over the server and improves security by enabling remote management regardless of the operating system state.

Another important aspect of the S5000VSA is its built-in RAID controller that supports several RAID levels. This feature enhances data reliability and performance, allowing users to configure their storage systems according to their needs, whether they prioritize speed or redundancy.

In summary, the Intel S5000VSA is a robust server motherboard designed with scalability, performance, and management in mind. It supports dual Xeon processors, offers extensive memory options, and provides essential features such as RAID support and remote management. This makes it a suitable choice for data centers and enterprises looking for a competitive edge through advanced technology.