IBM System x3850 X5 Implementation Guide

Chapter 6. IBM System x3850 X5 and x3950 X5 275
To order a recovery CD, contact your local support center at the following website:
http://www.ibm.com/planetwide/region.html
6.10.3 Installing the ESX 4.1 or ESXi 4.1 Installable onto x3850 X5
Before installing any VMware OS, always refer to the latest OS support information that is
contained on the IBM ServerProven site. You can obtain IBM ServerProven information at the
following website:
http://ibm.com/systems/info/x86servers/serverproven/compat/us/nos/vmwaree.html
VMware supported versions based on x3850 X5 hardware configuration
IBM ServerProven provides general OS support information for the x3850 X5. Table 6-11 lists
the versions of VMware ESX that are supported on the various x3850 X5 hardware
configurations.
Table 6-11 WMware OS versions supported based on x3850 X5 hardware configuration
Nonuniform memory access (NUMA)
When installing any supported version of the ESX Server OS onto the x3850 X5, the memory
must be balanced across all processors in the system. This rule applies to 1-node, 2-node
configurations, and x3850 X5 with MAX5 attached. Failure to follow this rule will prevent the
OS from installing correctly. See 2.3.4, “Nonuniform memory architecture (NUMA)” on
page 26 for details.
Installing the ESX/ESXi 4.1 Installable edition onto x3850 X5 with MAX5
To correctly configure and install ESX/ESXi 4.1 Installable editions of ESX/ESXi Server, follow
these instructions:
1. Connect the MAX5, as described in 6.4, “Attaching the MAX5 memory expansion unit” on
page 230.
2. Configure memory scaling. Systems running VMware ESX/ESXi Server must use
Non-Pooled mode in the MAX5 Memory Scaling option. See “1-node with MAX5” on
page 261 for instructions to configure the MAX5 Memory Scaling option.
3. Configure your RAID arrays.
4. Use the following procedures to install ESX/ESXi 4.1 Installable on an x3850 X5 with
MAX5:
– “Installing the ESX 4.1 OS” on page 276
– “Installing the ESXi 4.1 OS” on page 278
VMware OS One-node Two-node x3850 X5 with MAX5
VMware ESX Server 4.0 Update 1
Ye s N o N o
VMware ESXi Server 4.0 Update 1
Ye s N o N o
VMware ESX Server 4.1
Ye s Ye s Ye s
VMware ESXi Server 4.1
Ye s Ye s Ye s
Tip: If your System has 1 Terabyte (TB) or greater of memory, see the following web page:
http://ibm.com/support/entry/portal/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-5084935

IBM System x3850 X5 Specifications

General

Brand	IBM
Model	System x3850 X5
Category	Server
Language	English