Memory mirrored channel
Memory mirrored channel mode replicates and stores data on two pairs of DIMMs
within two channels simultaneously.
If a failure occurs, the memory controller switches from the primary pair of
memory DIMMs to the backup pair of DIMMs. To enable memory mirrored
channel through the Setup utility, select System Settings > Memory. For more
information, see “Using the Setup utility” on page 106. When you use the memory
mirrored channel feature, consider the following information:
v When you use memory mirrored channel, you must install a pair of DIMMs at a
time. The two DIMMs in each pair must be identical in size, type, and rank
(single, dual, or quad), and organization, but not in speed. The channels run at
the speed of the slowest DIMM in any of the channels.
v The maximum available memory is reduced to half of the installed memory
when memory mirrored channel is enabled. For example, if you install 64 GB of
memory using RDIMMs, only 32 GB of addressable memory is available when
you use memory mirrored channel.
v For UDIMMs, DIMM connectors 3, 6, 7, and 10 for microprocessor 1 and DIMM
connectors 15, 18, 19, and 22 for microprocessor 2 are not used in memory
mirrored channel mode.
The following diagram lists the DIMM connectors on each memory channel.
The following table shows the installation sequence for memory mirrored channel
mode:
Table 7. Memory mirrored channel mode DIMM population sequence
Number of DIMMs
Number of installed
microprocessor DIMM connector
First pair of DIMMs 1 1, 4
Second pair of DIMMs 1 9, 12
Third pair of DIMMs 1 2, 5
Fourth pair of DIMMs 1 8, 11
Fifth pair of DIMMs 1 3, 6
Sixth pair of DIMMs 1 7, 10
Seventh pair of DIMMs 2 13, 16
Eighth pair of DIMMs 2 21, 24
Ninth pair of DIMMs 2 14, 17
Tenth pair of DIMMs 2 20, 23
Eleventh pair of DIMMs 2 15, 18
Twelfth pair of DIMMs 2 19, 22
Figure 36. Connectors on each memory channel
Chapter 2. Installing optional devices 53