An affordable dual-socket, dual- and quad-core SMP server
with high performance and data protection for small and
medium businesses
Product Guide
October 2008
Product Overview
CONTENTS
Product Overview 1
Selling Features 1
Key Features 3
Key Options 8
x3400 Images 10
x3400 Specifications 11
The Bottom Line 13
Server Comparison Table 14
For More Information 15
L egal Information 15
IBM System x3400
Outstanding performance, capacity and availability
[Suggested uses: Small/medium businesses, large multilocation enterprises and bank branch offices
seeking scalability, top performance and new availability features at an entry-level price.]
The dual-socket IBM
value to workgroups by combining scalable performance and availability features at an outstanding price.
The x3400 supports the latest quad- and dual-core Intel
leading-edge 1333MHz front-side bus (FSB), 64-bit extensions (EM64T) and 6MB (dual-core) or 12MB
(quad-core) of L2 cache and Hyper-Threading Technology, to help provide you with the computing
power you need to match your business needs and growth. In addition, the x3400 uses industry-standard
fully buffered 667MHz memory with Chipkill
performance and reliability. For even higher levels of availability, the x3400 also offers a choice of optional
online hot-spare memory or memory mirroring. An integrated high-speed Gigabit Ethernet controller is
standard, as are high-performance adapter slots (PCIe x8 and x4 and PCIx/133).
All models offer impressive scalability, including dual-processor support, up to 32GB of memory and up to
four simple-swap Serial ATA II (SATA II) hard disk drives with a total capacity of up to 3.0TB
four high-performance hot-swap Serial-Attach SCSI (SAS) drives with an internal storage capacity of
1.2TB. Specific models support an upgrade kit that increases hot-swap support to eight SATA or SAS
drives (6.0TB or 2.4TB, respectively). For additional performance and high availability, the x3400 includes
the hardware-based ServeRAID-8k-l controller standard, providing RAID-0/1/10 support. Additional RAID
support is available via the optional IBM ServeRAID
The x3400 ships as a tower unit; an optional rack conversion kit turns the x3400 into a 5U rack-mounted
server to save precious data center floor space.
Standard in the x3400 is a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) that enables users to manage
and control the server easily. This high level of manageability is designed to keep costs down and the
system up—even when network usage increases. Other advanced features that help maximize network
availability by increasing uptime, include simple-swap or hot-swap/redundant HDDs, hot-
swap/redundant power and fans; Activ e Memory
Calibrated Vectored Cooling
power control and Serial over LAN; as well as text-console redirect over LAN.
With the inclusion of unique IBM service and support features such as IBM Director, IBM ServerGuide
and support for the optional IBM Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine, the x3400 is equally well
designed for a locally managed data center environment as for a remotely managed or stand-alone
environment, while offering maximum availability.
For a balance of high-performance dual-core, dual-socket processing, high availability and vast internal
SAS storage at a budget price, the x3400 is the ideal system.
®
System x3400, incorporating IBM X-Architecture™ features, provides outstanding
®
Xeon™ processors, designed with up to a
™
ECC (Error Checking and Correcting) protection—for high
1
, or up to
™
family of SAS/SATA and Ultra320 SCSI controllers.
™
™
; industry-standard IPMI 2.0 support, including highly secure remote
; integrated RAID; temperature-controlled fans with
™
Selling Features Price/Performance
The x3400 offers numerous features to boost performance and reduce product and operating costs:
• Up to two multi-core Xeon processors with high-end 1066MHz or 1333MHz front side bus and either
• Low-voltage processors draw less power and produce less waste heat than high-voltage processors,
• Ultra-fast fully buffered 667MHz PC2-5300 DDR II ECC memory with Chipkill protection provides
1
GB equals 1,000,000,000 bytes and TB equals 1,000,000,000,000 bytes when referring to hard disk drive capacity. Accessible
capacity may be less.
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.
12MB or 6MB (processor-specific) of integrated Level 2 cache per processor offer superior
performance capable of tackling the toughest jobs. 64-bit extensions provide the flexibility to run 32bit and 64-bit applications concurrently.
thus helping to reduce data center energy costs. On a per-core basis, the 80W quad-core processors
consume only 20W per core, vs. 32.5W per core for the 65W dual-core processors.
speed and high availability.
1
An affordable dual-socket, dual- and quad-core SMP server
with high performance and data protection for small and
medium businesses
• Three high-speed PCIe and two PCIx adapter slots offer investment protection by supporting high-
performance adapters, such as 10Gb Ethernet, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand cards, none of which will
run in older 33MHz and 66MHz conventional PCI slots.
• Integrated ServeRAID-8k-l provides hardware RAID-0/1/10 support at no extra charge and without
consuming a valuable adapter slot. RAID-0 offers improved disk performance via data striping; RAID-1
offers disk mirroring for high availability, and RAID-10 combines the benefits of speed and availability.
The x3400 is upgradeable to full RAID-0/1/1E/5/6 support, using the optional ServeRAID-8k card. It
also offers higher performance, due to the 256MB battery-backed onboard cache.
• Support for up to four 3.5-inch hot-swap SAS hard disk drives standard offer high-performance with
high availability. Some models also offer an optional upgrade to eight hot-swap SAS or SATA drives.
The SAS controller provides full-duplex (2 x 300MBps) data transfers for SAS drives. For lower cost
and high capacity, other models support up to four simple-swap Serial ATA drives. The SATA II
drives offer performance nearly equal to that of Ultra320 SCSI (300MBps half-duplex vs. 320MBps
half-duplex, respectively).
• The integrated Gigabit Ethernet controller with IPMI 2.0 support provides high-speed network
communications.
• A high degree of device integration, including SAS/SATA, RAID, Gigabit Ethernet, systems
management and video controllers, lowers costs and frees up valuable adapter slots.
Flexibility
The x3400 has the ability to grow with your application requirements, thanks to:
• Support for a choice of quad-core processors with 2.0 to 2.66GHz clock rates, 1333MHz FSB, and
80W power draw or dual-core processors with 1.86GHz clock rate, 1066MHz FSB, and 80W power
draw.
• Up to 32GB of high-speed fully-buffered DDR2 system memory.
• Three available high-performance PCIe adapter slots, two PCIx slots, and one legacy PCI slot in all
models.
• The standard ServeRAID-8k-l controller can be upgraded to the slotless ServeRAID-8k controller. It
offers 256MB of battery-backed cache and six RAID levels.
• The five USB 2.0 ports (four external, one internal) are up to 40X faster
This provides speedy access to external HDDs (non-arrayed), optical drives, internal and external tape
drives, and other USB devices. Two ports are on the front of the unit and two are on the back, for easy
access.
• Up to four internal 3.5-inch simple-swap SATA or hot-swap SAS or SATA HDDs and a half- or full-
high tape drive standard. Selected models offer an optional expansion kit that supports four additional
hot-swap SAS or SATA drives, for a total of eight. This translates into as much as 6TB of internal
SATA or 2.4TB of internal SAS storage (model-specific). This provides tremendous internal storage
capability, along with full data backup.
• Alternatively, iSCSI or Fibre Channel-attached storage can be attached using IBM System Storage
or IBM TotalStorage
™
servers.
2
than older USB 1.1 ports.
™
Manageability
Powerful systems management features simplify local and remote management of the x3400:
• The x3400 includes a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) to monitor server availability,
perform Predictive Failure Analysis, etc., and trigger IBM Director alerts.
• Integrated IPMI 2.0 support alerts IBM Director to anomalous environmental factors, such as voltage
and thermal conditions. It also supports highly secure remote power control using data encryption.
• Text Console Redirection support allows the administrator to remotely view x3400 text messages
over Serial or LAN.
• IBM Director 5.1x is provided for proactive systems management. It comes with a portfolio of tools,
including Management Processor Assistant, RAID Manager, Update Assistant, Software Distribution
and a Real Time Diagnostics tool. In addition, IBM Director offers extended systems management tools
for additional server management and increased availability.
• An optional Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine provides additional systems management
capabilities, including Web-based out-of-band control; virtual floppy and optical drive support; Windows
“blue screen” error capture; LDAP and SSL support; and remote redirection of PCI video, text,
keyboard and mouse. It also adds PFA support for fans. And it does all this without consuming a
valuable adapter slot.
2
Data transfer rates may be less than the maximum possible.
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.
2
An affordable dual-socket, dual- and quad-core SMP server
with high performance and data protection for small and
medium businesses
Availability and Serviceability
The x3400 provides many features to simplify serviceability and increase system uptime:
• x3400 servers use Chipkill-enabled fully buffered memory DIMMs. Chipkill memory is up to 16X
better than standard ECC memory at correcting memory errors. This can help reduce downtime
caused by memory errors. Fully buffered DIMMs provide additional availability features, including
CRC (cyclic redundancy check) monitoring.
• The x3400 offers selectable online hot-spare memory and memor y mirroring for redundancy in the
event of a non-correctable memory failure.
• Toolless cover removal provides easy access to upgrades and serviceable parts. Similarly, the
Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine, simple-swap or hot-sw ap/red undant H DDs, hotswap/redundant fans and power supplies (model-specific), as well as online hot-spare and
mirrored memory can be installed and replaced without tools, meaning greater system uptime while
these components are being serviced.
• Integrated RAID-1/10 or optional RAID-1E, 5 or 6 arrays allow the server to keep operating in the
event of a drive failure
• IPMI 2.0 supports highly secure remote system power control using data encryption. This allows an
administrator to restart a server without having to visit it in person, saving travel time and getting the
server back up and running quickly and securely. It also adds new features to those provided by IPMI
1.5, including VLAN support, Serial over LAN, enhanced authentication and encryption algorithms
(RMCP+, SHA-1, AES) and a firmware firewall.
• Temperature-controlled fans adjust to compensate for changing thermal characteristics. At the lower
speeds they draw less power and suffer less wear. Equally important in a crowded data center,
temperature-controlled fans produce less ambient noise in the data center than if they were constantly
running at full speed.
• The one-year (parts and labor) limited onsite warranty
Types (7373 and 7375).
• The three-year (parts and labor) limited onsite warranty
and 7376) affords you peace of mind and greater investment protection than a one-year warranty does.
3
comes standard on selected Machine
4
offered on selected Machine Types (7374
Key Features High-Performance Xeon Processors
The x3400 supports up to two high-performance Intel X
second processor as business needs require. The x3400 offers a choice of processor clock rates, FSB
speeds and power draw:
• 80W quad-core Xeon processor models
(respectively), with 64-bit extensions, reduced power draw, a 1333MHz FSB, and 12MB of shared L2
processor cache
• on processor models E5205 at 1.86GHz, with 64-bit extensions, reduced power
80W dual-core Xe
draw, a 1066MHz FSB, and 6MB of shared L2 processor cache
Du ; quad-core processors, similarly,
al-core Xeon processors contain two complete processor cores
contain four cores. Processors contain one shared 6MB or 12MB L2 cache. The shared cache is
dynamically allocated between the cores as needed. The multiple cores appear to software as multi
physical processors. The dual-core processors offer considerably higher performance than a same-spee
Xeon processor with a single core. Likewise, quad-core processors offer considerably higher performance
than a same-speed Xeon processor with dual cores.
Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) 64-bit exte
memory addressing when running with a 64-bit operating system. This in turn lets individual software
processes directly access more than 4GB of RAM, which was the limit of 32-bit addressing. This ca
in much higher performance for certain kinds of programs, such as database management and CAD.
Additional registers and instructions (SSE3) can further boost performance for applications written to use
them. Contact your software provider to determine their software support for EM64T.
The 1066MHz FSB (which connects memory to the processor) boasts a peak rate of 8.53GBp
one-third higher throughput at the same processor clock speed than an 800MHz FSB (6.4GBps) used in
older systems. The 1333MHz FSB offers a peak rate of 10.67GBps, or up to two-thirds higher throughput
3
For terms and conditions or copies of the IBM Statement of Limited Warranty, call 800-772-2227 in the U.S. In Canada call 800-
426-2255. Telephone support may be subject to additional charges. For warranties including onsite labor, a technician is sent after
IBM attempts to resolve the problem remotely. International warranty service is available in any country in which this product is
sold.
4
For terms and conditions or copies of the IBM Statement of Limited Warranty, call 800-772-2227 in the U.S. In Canada call 800-
426-2255. Telephone support may be subject to additional charges. For warranties including onsite labor, a technician is sent after
IBM attempts to resolve the problem remotely. International warranty service is available in any country in which this product is
sold.
E5405, E5410, E5420, or E5430 at 2.0, 2.33, 2.5, or 2.66GHz
eon processors, allowing you to upgrade to a
nsions allow the Xeon processor to use large
ple
d
n result
s, or up to
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.
3
An affordable dual-socket, dual- and quad-core SMP server
with high performance and data protection for small and
medium businesses
rates.
Intelligent Power Capability powers individual processor elements on and off as needed, to reduce
power draw.
Execute Disab
when combined with a supporting operating system.
le Bit functionality can help prevent certain classes of malicious buffer overflow attacks
DDR II E
The x3400 supports up to 32GB of memory in 8 DIMM sockets. It uses PC2-5300 fully-b
data rate II (DDR II) memory (operating at 667MHz) for faster access, and provides advanced Chipkill
memory protection, for up to 16X better error correction than standard ECC memory.
The fully buffered memory in the x3400 provides up to triple the memory bandwidth (up
four channels of PC2-5300 fully-buffered DIMMs vs. a maximum of 6.4GBps in two channels of unbuffere
PC2-3200 memory) and up to double the system memory capacity (8 DIMMs x 4GB) of the pred
x236 server (8 DIMMs x 2GB). By performing reads and writes simultaneously, it eliminates the previous
memory read-to-write blocking latency. In addition, it also offers innovative data reliability and security
features to help improve data integrity, including enhanced CRC protection, data retry on error detect and
buffer registers for improved fault isolation.
For increased availability, the x3400 offers two additiona
Memory protection: online memory mirroring, and online hot-spare memory.
Memory mirroring works much like disk mirroring. The total memory is divided into
written concurrently to both channels. If a DIMM fails in one of the DIMMs in the primary channel, it is
instantly disabled and the mirrored (backup) memory in the other channel becomes active (primary) un
the failing DIMM is replaced. Mirroring can be accomplished with multiples of four DIMMs (one pair per
memory channel).
When online hot-spa
channel as online spares in case one of the other ranks in that channel fails. The spare rank must have
capacity at least that of the largest active rank. (In other words, if a combination of 2GB and 4GB DIMM
are used in a branch, one rank on each 4GB DIMM will be used for sparing.) In an x3400 with 32GB
installed, up to 24GB (using 8 dual-rank 4GB DIMMs) of memory is available when the hot-spare featur
is active.
Either of these features requir
When multiples of four DIMMs (4 or 8) are installed, the x340
for higher performance. When only two DIMMs are used, the system defaults to two-way interl eaved
mode.
DIMMs
DIMMs.
CC Fully Buffered Memory with Chipkill Protection
uffered double
to 21.3GBps in
ecessor
l (but mutually exclusive) levels of IBM Active
two channels. Data is
til
re memory is enabled, using single and/or dual-rank DIMMs one rank is set aside per
s
e
es operating system support.
0 operates in four-way interleaved mode,
must be installed in pairs. Memory is available in kits consisting of two 512MB, 1GB, 2GB or 4GB
d
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.
Hot-Sw
System availability is maximized through the extensiv
including:
• Redund
• Hot-swap, redundant hard disk drives (with RAID-1/10 protection standard, and RAID-1E/5/6
• t power supplies (optional, model-specific)
• Hot-swap, redundant cooling fans (optional, model-specific)
Large HDD
The x3400 offers a choice of disk storage, su
drives or four hot-swap high-performance Serial-Attach SCSI (SAS) drives standard. Using the opti
Hot-Swap SAS/SATA 4-Pac HDD Option upgrade kit on selected models, up to eight 3.5-inch hot-swap
SAS or SATA drives can be installed:
SAS
• 10,000 RPMs — 146.8 or 300GB (2.4TB maximum, using 4-Pac upgrade kit)
• 15,000 RPMs — 73.4 or 146.8GB (1.17TB, using 4-Pac upgrade kit)
SATA
• 7,200 RPMs — 160, 250, 500GB or 750GB (3.0TB)—simple-swap
• 7,200 RPMs — 160, 250, 500GB or 750GB (6.0TB, using 4-Pac upg
Notes: Hot-swap and simple-swap SATA drives offer exactly the same reliability as fixed SAT
Only the system availability improves using the swappable drives. (Less downtime is incurred removing
ap/Redundant Components
e use of hot-swap and redundant components,
ant memory protection (with online hot-spare memory or memory mirroring enabled)
protection optional)
Hot-swap, redundan
Storage Capacity
pporting up to four 3.5-inch simple-swap Serial ATA (SATA)
onal
rade kit)—hot-swap
A drives.
4
An affordable dual-socket, dual- and quad-core SMP server
with high performance and data protection for small and
medium businesses
and installing the drives.) Hot-swap SAS drives use the Converged Tray for interchangeability with other
IBM System x
If you need more storage space, terabyte capacities are possible with external direct-attach, NAS and
SAN solutions.
Drive Ba
All x3400 models c
three 5.25-inch bays and four 3.5-inch HDD bays. Some models support up to four hot-swap SAS or
SATA drives; other models support up to four simple-swap SATA drives. The optional upgrade kit adds a
drive cage containing four more hot-swap bays. This enables the installation of up to eight slimline (1.0")
SAS or SATA drives.
An internal full-high tape driv
internal half-high tape drive can be installed using one of the 5.25-inch drive bays. The tape drive must
have a USB 2.0 interface.
A 16X
No diskette drive is supplied with any model; an external USB floppy drive may be used, if needed.
Hot-swap and simple-swap drives may be inserted or removed through the front of the server. Hot-s
drives do not require powering off the system. Simple-swap SATA drives do require powering off the
system first; however, no tools or jumpers are required for installation and removal, allowing for faster,
simpler servicing than fixed drives.
For still more storage, a direct-attach
optional controller.
Disk/Tape Controllers
Some x3400 models include an int
controller. Other x3400 models include a SATA controller, integrated in the Intel chipset.
The integrated SAS controller supports up to four internal SAS or SATA LVD (low-voltage
hot-swap drives standard , and provides data transfer speeds of up to 300MB per second
direction (full-duplex) across the SAS bus, for an aggregate speed of 600MBps, nearly double that
Ultra320 SCSI’s 320MBps (half-duplex) bandwidth. The serial design of the SAS bus allows maximum
performance to be maintained as additional drives are added. This controller also supports up to eight
Serial ATA II (SATA II) drives at SATA II throughput (300MBps, half-duplex). The Hot-Swap SAS/SAT
4-Pac HDD Option allows the installation of up to four additional (eight total) hot-swap SAS or SATA
drives.
The integ
SAS or SATA drives. The ServeRAID-8k option adds three additional RAID levels, RAID-1E, 5 and 6,
along with 256MB of cache memory for higher performance, and battery backup, without consuming a
valuable adapter slot.
The integrated SATA II cont
swap LVD SATA drives. It provides firmware-based RAID-0/1 support standard. The system can be
upgraded to hardware-based RAID-0/1/10/1E/5/6 for higher performance, using the same IBM
ServeRAID-8k SAS/SATA controller as the hot-swap server models.
Other supported RAID controllers include:
• ServeRAID-8s — SAS/SATA, 8-lanes, 256MB
internal, 4 external; four-port cable for external SAS/SATA RAID storage)
In a SI tape drive.
ddition, the Ultra320 SCSI Controller 2 supports the use of an internal SC
™
systems.
ys
ontain 7 drive bays standard. Hot-swap models are upgradeable to 11. All models offer
e can be installed using both available 5.25-inch drive bays; alternatively, an
5
speed half high DVD
-ROM drive with a PATA interface ships standard in the other 5.25-inch bay.
, NAS or SAN external expansion option can be added, using an
egrated eight-port Adaptec AIC9580W Serial-Attach SCSI (SAS)
differential)
6
in each
rated ServeRAID-8k-l controller in the hot-swap models offers hardware RAID-0/1/10 support for
roller (simple-swap SATA models only) supports up to four internal simple-
cache (optional battery-backup), x8 PCIe (4 lanes
wap
of
A
Internal Backup
The x3400 supports seve
• DDS-5 (half-high)
• DDS-6 (half-high)
• LTO-2 Ultrium (hal
• LTO-3 Ultrium (full-high)
• VXA-3 (half-high)
High-Performance Adapter Slots
5
Variable read rate. Actual playback speed varies and is often less than the maximum possible.
6
Data transfer rates depend on many factors and are often less than the maximum possible.
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.
The x3400 provides two x8 (“by 8”) 4GBps PCIe (
(Slots 2 and 3). Each is capable of supporting x1/x4/x8 adapters at full speed. Slot 1 is a half-length/f
ral internal tape backup options. Supported technologies include:
f-high)
PCI Express) full-length/full-height adapter slots
ull-
5
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