IBM Asia Pacific Hardware Announcement AG10-0236 IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation
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http://www-304.ibm.com/jct01004c/systems/support/
Contact your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner, or refer to the IBM Sales
Manual for information on the compatibility of hardware and software for System x
servers. The Sales Manual is updated periodically as new features and options are
announced that support these servers.
Limitations
• Mixing different-speed HDDs (10,000 rpm with 15,000 rpm) will impact storage
performance.
• Mixing SAS and SATA HDDs will impact storage performance.
• To ensure proper air flow for cooling, the System x3250 M3 server requires a
rack with a perforated door.
• Processor upgrades are not supported.
• Use the version of ServerGuide shipped with the system, or a later version, to
load software and drivers. Earlier versions of ServerGuide may not be compatible
with the server.
• You can install only a low-profile adapter in expansion slot 1 due to mechanical
interference.
Refer to the Software requirements section for operating system limitations.
Planning information
Customer responsibilities
Designated as customer setup. Customer setup instructions are shipped with the
system.
Bay configuration
The System x3250 M3 server contains three or five drive bays. One bay contains the
standard optical drive.
• Two 3.5-inch, slim-high bays located side-by-side on the lower front section of
the server support installation of various SATA or SAS HDDs.
• Four 2.5-inch bays located in the lower front section support SAS HDDs.
Cabling
• The System x3250 M3 server contains a SATA cable to support the SATA optical
drive.
• System x3250 M3 simple-swap SATA models contain a two-drop cable to support
two HDDs.
• System x3250 M3 hot-swap models contain a mini-SAS cable and a power
interposer cable to support two or four hot-swap HDDs.
Rack installations
System x3250 M3 1U, rack-drawer models can be installed in a 48-cm (19-inch)
rack cabinet such as the IBM 42U Standard Rack or IBM 25U Standard Rack.
If you use a non-IBM rack, the cabinet must meet the EIA-310-D standards with
a depth of at least 71 cm (28 in). Also, adequate space (approximately two inches
for the front bezel and one inch for air flow) must be maintained from the slide
assembly to the front door of the rack cabinet to allow sufficient space for the door
to close and provide adequate air flow.
Power considerations