Lenovo System x3850 X6 Rack Server

Description

The Lenovo System x3850 X6 supports up to four processors in a 4u rack space. This is the sixth generation of Enterprise X-Architecture technology and it features several improvements in performance and reliability. It's also compatible with multiple generations of processor and memory technology to support your business needs for years to come. The basic configuration includes four Compute books, each with two dual-motor fans on the front that hold processors and memory modules, plus a storage book that holds all of the storage devices.

Performance

The x3850 supports up to four Intel Xeon E7-4800 v2, v3, and v4 processors or up to four E7-8800 v2, v3, or v4 processors. Using top of the line Intel E7-4800/8800 v4 processors with 24 cores each, that’s 96 cores of processing power. All compute books need to be identical with the same processor installed. E7-4800 processors are only supported in a four-socket x3850 X6 server and cannot be installed in a x3950 X6 server. Lockstep and Independent modes are supported for increased Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS). Independent mode is for greater performance allowing memory channels operate independently, and the SMI2 link operates at twice the DDR3 speed. In Lockstep mode, two channels operate synchronously, and the SMI2 link operates at the DDR3 speed.

Storage

Administrators have options for storage with a multitude of configurations available. The x3850 X6 supports 1.8-inch SSDs and 2.5-inch SSDs and HDDs in a single storage book installed on the system. A maximum of two PCIe NVMe SSDs for super-fast performance can also be installed. Tiered data storage is also supported, with faster SSDs supporting hot, frequently used files, and slower HDD storage devices used to store cold data. Backplanes connect to either one or two RAID controllers or HBAs depending on the number and type of backplane installed. Internal tape drives are not supported.

Memory

Depending on what processor is installed, the supported memory includes TruDDR4 and DDR3 memory modules. TruDDR4 memory is vetted by Lenovo for reliability and offers additional features when compared to standard DDR4 modules. Supported transfer speeds include 1066MHz, 1333MHz, 1600MHz, and 1866MHz, but once again this depends on the supported processors installed. All memory modules are loaded into the four memory books and support for TruDDR4 or DDR3 memory modules is dependent on the Compute books installed. It should be noted, that while TruDDR4 memory modules are rated at 2400MHz when installed in the x3850 X6, the maximum speed is 1866MHz. Using DDR3 memory modules, the speed is restricted to 1600MHz. Each memory book holds a single processor with four memory channels per processor, and supports a maximum of 24 memory modules. 12 DIMMs are mounted on each side of the Compute book, which features two hot-swap dual-motor fans on the front. With all four compute books loaded with TruDDR4 memory, that's up to 6.0TB of memory.

Expansion

The Server supports up to 11 PCIe slots, including a dedicated Mezzanine LOM slot. In the Storage book, as mentioned above, there are two PCIe slots. The primary I/O book, standard on all models and accessible from the back of the system, supports three PCIe slots and a dedicated Mezzanine LOM2 slot for network adapters. The system will also support two optional I/O books, also located in the back of the system. The optional books support three full-height slots each and are enabled for hot-swap. Note that for an I/O book to be hot-swappable, both the OS and all adapters that are installed in the book must also support hot-swap.

Management

System's management is handled by the integrated management module II (IMM2), which features an alerting function, monitoring, and advanced service-processor control. Remote server management through the IMM is accomplished through industry-standard methods including Intelligent Platform management Interface, Simple Network Management, Common Information Model, and a standard web browser. Administrators can also connect to the server remotely using a zero client with a mouse and keyboard, and enables uploading a disk image to the IMM.

Summary

The system supports all of the standard server operating systems and virtualization software. The system employs a lid-less design with all of the serviceable components located on the front and back of the system in a modular configuration. The simple modular design translates to more reliable performance and ease of maintenance. The x3850 is suitable for the most demanding mission critical tasks and will provide superior performance for years to come.