IBM System x3550 M4 Product Guide

IBM System x3550 M4 3
The server offers PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 I/O expansion capabilities that improve the theoretical
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maximum bandwidth by almost 100% (8 GTps per link using 128b/130b encoding) compared to the
previous generation of PCI Express 2.0 (5 GTps per link using 8b/10b encoding).
With Intel Integrated I/O Technology, the PCI Express 3.0 controller is integrated into the Intel Xeon
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processor E5 family. This helps to dramatically reduce I/O latency and increase overall system
performance.
Support for NVIDIA Quadro graphics processing units (GPUs) to maximize computing power.
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Availability and serviceability
The x3550 M4 provides many features to simplify serviceability and increase system uptime:
The server offers memory mirroring and memory rank sparing for redundancy in the event of a
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non-correctable memory failure.
Tool-less cover removal provides easy access to upgrades and serviceable parts, such as CPU,
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memory, and adapter cards.
The server offers hot-swap drives supporting RAID redundancy for data protection and greater
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system uptime.
The server has two redundant hot-swap power supplies and six dual-motor hot-swap redundant fans
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(two fan zones with N+1 fan design) to provide availability for business-critical applications.
The power source-independent light path diagnostics panel and individual light path LEDs quickly
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lead the technician to failed (or failing) components. This simplifies servicing, speeds up problem
resolution, and helps improve system availability.
Predictive Failure Analysis (PFA) detects when system components (processors, VRMs, memory,
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hard disk drives, fans, and power supplies) operate outside of standard thresholds and generates
proactive alerts in advance of possible failure, therefore increasing uptime.
Solid-state drivers (SSDs) offer significantly better reliability than traditional mechanical HDDs for
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greater uptime.
Built-in Integrated Management Module II (IMM2) continuously monitors system parameters, triggers
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alerts, and performs recovery actions in case of failure, to minimize downtime.
Built-in diagnostics using Dynamic Systems Analysis (DSA) Preboot speeds up troubleshooting tasks
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to reduce service time.
Three-year customer replaceable unit and onsite limited warranty, next business day 9x5. Optional
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service upgrades available.
Manageability and security
Powerful systems management features simplify local and remote management of the x3550 M4:
The server includes an Integrated Management Module II (IMM2) to monitor server availability and
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perform remote management.
An integrated industry-standard Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) enables improved
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setup, configuration, and updates, and simplifies error handling.
An integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 support enables advanced cryptographic
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functionality such as digital signatures and remote attestation.
There is industry-standard AES NI support for faster, stronger encryption.
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IBM Systems Director offers comprehensive systems management tools that help to increase uptime,
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reduce costs and improve productivity through advanced server management capabilities.
Intel Execute Disable Bit functionality can help prevent certain classes of malicious buffer overflow
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IBM System x3550 M4 Specifications

General

Processor	Intel Xeon E5-2600 series
Chipset	Intel C600 series
Memory	Up to 768 GB
Storage	Up to 8 x 2.5" hot-swap drives
Form Factor	1U rack
Power Supply	750 W AC
Network Interface	4 x 1 GbE
RAID Support	RAID 0, 1, 10
Expansion Slots	3 x PCIe 3.0 slots
Operating System Support	Windows Server, RHEL, SUSE, VMware
Management	Integrated Management Module II (IMM2)