IBM BladeCenter HX5

© Copyright IBM Corp. 2011. All rights reserved. 15
Chapter 2. IBM eX5 technology
This chapter describes the technology that IBM brings to the IBM eX5 portfolio of servers.
The chapter describes the fifth generation of IBM Enterprise X-Architecture (EXA) chip sets,
called
eX5. This chip set is the enabling technology for IBM to expand the memory subsystem
independently of the remainder of the x86 system. Next, we describe the latest Intel Xeon
6500 and 7500 family of processors and give the features that are currently available. We
then describe the current memory features, MAX5 memory expansion line, IBM exclusive
system scaling and partitioning capabilities, and eXFlash. eXFlash can dramatically increase
system disk I/O by using internal solid-state storage instead of traditional disk-based storage.
We also describe integrated virtualization and implementation guidelines for installing a new
server.
This chapter contains the following topics:
򐂰 2.1, “eX5 chip set” on page 16
򐂰 2.2, “Intel Xeon 6500 and 7500 family processors” on page 16
򐂰 2.3, “Memory” on page 22
򐂰 2.4, “MAX5” on page 31
򐂰 2.5, “Scalability” on page 33
򐂰 2.6, “Partitioning” on page 34
򐂰 2.7, “UEFI system settings” on page 36
򐂰 2.8, “IBM eXFlash” on page 47
򐂰 2.9, “Integrated virtualization” on page 50
򐂰 2.10, “Changes in technology demand changes in implementation” on page 51
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