106 IBM System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Planning and Implementation Guide
There are key considerations for this upgrade:
Processor support: Intel Xeon E7-4800 v2 processors cannot be used in an x3950 X6.
If your x3850 X6 has Compute Books with E7-4800 v2 processors, then these must be
replaced with Compute Books with E7-8800 v2 processors if you plan to upgrade to an
x3950 X6. The memory in the Compute Books can be reused in the x3950 X6, however.
All processors must be identical: All processors used in the x3950 X6 must be identical,
for example, all E7-8850 v2 processors. A minimum of four processors are required.
The upgrade does result in some parts no longer being used (“parts on the floor”):
– Existing 4U chassis and 4-socket midplane
– Compute Books that are based on E7-4800 v2 processors
Original x3850 X6 server may need to be ordered configure-to-order (CTO) or Special Bid:
To minimize “parts on the floor” (parts that cannot be used in the upgraded system), the
original x3850 X6 should be configured with Compute Books containing E7-8800 v2
processors. Since many standard models of the x3850 X6 (see Table 3-2 on page 54)
contain E7-4800 v2 processors, you may need to use CTO (using a configurator such as
x-config) or order the server using Special Bid to create a server configuration with
E7-8800 v2 processors.
Serial number swap: The RPQ upgrade process also involves transferring the x3850 X6
serial number to the x3950 X6 chassis. This transfer makes the upgrade simpler from an
asset or depreciation management point of view. This transfer also means that the old 4U
chassis will be retired as it will no longer have a valid serial number.
Power supplies: Ideally all power supplies are the 1400W variant. Regardless of the
selection, the power supplies coexistence rules as described in 3.22, “Power subsystem”
on page 101 must be followed.
Additional power: Depending on your workload and configuration, you may need to
provision for additional PDU outlets, cables and power capacity for your x3950 X6 server.
Use the IBM Power Configurator to determine your total power draw to assist you in
provisioning adequate power. You can download the IBM Power Configurator from the
following link:
http://ibm.com/systems/bladecenter/resources/powerconfig.html
Additional rack space: An additional 4U of rack space is required when upgrading the
x3850 X6 to the x3950 X6, for a total of 8U of rack space.
Down time: In order to upgrade the x3850 X6 server to an x3950 X6 server, you will need
to allow for down time. The server will need to be completely powered off and have some
of its components removed for re-installation into the new x3950 X6 server.
For further information about the RPQ upgrade, contact IBM Techline at the following link:
techline@us.ibm.com
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