IBM x3250 M3 Operation Manual

IBM Asia Pacific Hardware Announcement

AG10-0236, dated October 7, 2010

IBM System x3250 M3 server can help run your
business while helping lower your overall IT cost and
complexity

Table of contents

2 Overview 7 Product number
2 Key prerequisites 8 Publications
3 Planned availability date 9 Technical information
3 Description 18 Pricing
5 Product positioning 19 AP distribution

At a glance

The System x3250 M3 server includes:

• Ultrathin, rack-optimized, 1U-high form factor

• The latest Intel® Xeon® and Core i3 processors

• Standard system DDR-3 ECC memory including 1 GB, 2 GB, and 4 GB UDIMMs
and 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, and 8 GB RDIMMs (support for UDIMM or RDIMM is
processor dependent)

• Latest 2 GB memory technology

• Integrated Serial-ATA (SATA) and Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) controllers,
depending on model

• Two PCI-Express x8 slots

• Two PCI-e x8 Gen2 or optional one PCI-e x8 and one PCI-X (PCI-x for CTO/
special bid; one dedicated PCI-e x4 slot for RAID controller)

• Two 3.5-inch HDDs or four 2.5-inch HDDs

• Hardware-based RAID striping (RAID-0) and mirroring (RAID-1) standard without
consuming an I/O expansion slot, standard for hot-swap models, optional for
simple swap models (optional hardware RAID-5, depending on model)

• 351-watt, voltage-sensing power supply; high-efficiency power supply (CTO only)

• Integrated, dual Gigabit Ethernet controllers; SATA controller

• Seven USB ports (two front, four rear, one internal), two Ethernet ports, one
serial port, and one video port

• Integrated Matrox graphics controller with 16 MB video memory

• Optional Hardware Key for remote presence

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Overview

The IBM® System x3250 M3 is a single-socket server that offers new levels of
performance and flexibility to help you respond quickly to changing business
demands. Cost-effective and compact, it is well suited to small to mid-sized
businesses as well as large enterprises, whether for general-purpose workloads or
specialized applications.

With the System x3250 M3, you can:

• Maximize return on IT investments with low entry price, small form factor, and

• Manage risk with enhanced reliability features and full remote management

• Manage complexity of IT with greater flexibility to meet a wide range of stateless

The right choice for your diverse needs

The System x3250 M3 is designed for infrastructure applications like firewall,
security, disaster recovery, name server, authentication, credit card processing,
email, domain controller, and more. It leverages the latest dual-core and quad-core
processor technology, making it ideal for:

• Large enterprise specialized applications

• SMB infrastructure workloads

• Branch office general-purpose applications

• OEM appliance solutions

low power consumption

infrastructure needs

Go green and save energy

The System x3250 M3 is an excellent appliance box and occupies the same area as
many Ethernet switches, enabling more efficient use of existing data center space.
Quiet fans minimize noise in your office environment.

Dependable design

The System x3250 M3 offers built-in reliability features such as hot-swap HDDs,
Integrated Management Module (IMM), and optional Hardware Key to enable full
remote manageability from a single console.

Warranty: One- or three-year, Customer Replaceable Unit (CRU) and on-site labor1,
limited warranty2; optional warranty service upgrades available.

1

You may be asked certain diagnostic questions before a technician is sent.

2

For information on the IBM Statement of Limited Warranty, contact your IBM

representative or reseller. Copies are available upon request.

3

IBM makes no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding non-IBM products and
services that are ServerProven®, including but not limited to the implied warranties
of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. These products are offered
and warranted solely by third parties.

Key prerequisites

• Monitor

• Keyboard

• Mouse

• Rack

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Planned availability date

November 12, 2010

Description

Solid-performing server subsystems

This uniprocessor, entry rack server delivers a solid range of performance by
combining the latest Intel Pentium® and Core i3 processors with high-speed DDR3
ECC memory.

The System x3250 M3 server uses the Intel chipset to optimize throughput from
processors to memory and to the PCI-E bus.

Additional features include:

• System board that supports 1 GB, 2 GB, and 4 GB UDIMMs (16 GB maximum)

and 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, and 8 GB RDIMMs (32 GB maximum) DDR-3 ECC 1333
MHz memory

• HDD bays supporting:

– Simple-swap 3.5-inch SATA (with simple-swap tray)

– Hot-swap 3.5-inch SAS 10,000 or 15,000 rpm or SATA 7,200 rpm

– Hot-swap 2.5-inch SAS 10,000 rpm

• Dual full-duplex, Gigabit Ethernet PCI controllers that speed network

communications to LAN clients

Function and expansion capacity

The System x3250 M3 server with a 1U, 22-inch rack-optimized package supports
installation of adapters, memory, and HDD options. Functions such as SVGA video,
SATA controller, and two Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps) Ethernet controllers are
integrated on the system board.

Features include:

• Rack-optimized design for 19-inch wide, industry-standard rack cabinets

• Two PCI-e x8 Gen2, one PCI-e x8 and one optional PCI-X (one dedicated PCI-e

x4 slot for RAID controller)

Note: You can install only a low-profile adapter in expansion slot 1 and a 3/4
length adapter in expansion slot 2.

• 351-watt, worldwide, voltage-sensing power supply with auto restart that

supports maximum configurations and minimizes operator intervention after a
temporary power outage

• Up to five speed-controlled fans plus another one in the power supply that cool:

– Power supply

– Drive bays

– Microprocessor and memory

– I/O

• 1 GB of DDR-3 ECC 1333 MHz memory standard

• Six DIMM sockets that support:

– Up to 32 GB RDIMM or 16 GB UDIMM system memory (support for UDIMM or

RDIMM is processor dependent)

– Mixing memory sizes (no mixing of UDIMM and RDIMM)

• One accessible 5.25-inch, ultra slim enhanced optical drive

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• Two internal 3.5-inch bays for HDDs

• SATA model with controller that supports standard simple-swap 160 GB, 250 GB,

500 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB HDDs

• Integrated Matrox G200 video built-in IMM with 16 MB of video memory

• Hardware Key for remote presence

Systems management and control

System x3250 M3 servers comply with the 2000 ATX Implementation Guidelines for
optimal control and manageability of your network.

Supported features include:

• Integrated Management Module with IPMI 2.0

• Wake on LAN® supported on integrated Ethernet controllers

• Automatic server restart to help reduce downtime by restarting the server in the

event of system hang

• Flash EEPROM write protection

• SMBus isolation that isolates one bus section and required system components

during system power-down from other buses and components to prevent current
leakage into devices without power

The System x3250 M3 server also features IBM Director -- a powerful, highly
integrated systems management software solution built on industry standards and
designed for ease of use. Now you can take control of your IT environment and
manage physically dispersed IT assets more efficiently. It can help reduce costs
through potentially:

• Reduced downtime

• Increased productivity of IT personnel and end users

• Reduced service and support costs

IT administrators can view the hardware configuration of remote systems in detail
and monitor the usage and performance of critical components, such as processors,
HDDs, and memory.

IBM Director includes a portfolio of server tools that integrates into the IBM Director
interface and works with systems management monitoring functions contained in
System x® servers, such as PFA enablement for HDDs.

The IT administrator can achieve comprehensive, virtual on-site control of System x
servers through the ability to remotely:

• Inventory and display detailed system and component information

• Reset or power cycle the server

• Monitor and set thresholds on server health, including:

– Voltage

– Temperature

• Set proactive alerts for critical server events, including:

– Fans

– Power supplies

• Define automated actions, such as:

– Send email to an administrator

– Execute a command or program

– Pop up an error message to the IBM Director console

• Monitor and graph the usage of server resources, such as:

– Memory

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– Processor

– HDDs

• Identify potential performance bottlenecks and react to prevent downtime

• Monitor, manage, and configure RAID subsystems, often without taking them

offline

IBM Director integrates into leading workgroup and enterprise systems management
environments through upward integration modules. The advanced management
capabilities built into System x servers can be accessed from:

• Tivoli® Enterprise and Tivoli NetView®

• Computer Associates Unicenter TNG Framework

• Microsoft® SMS

• Intel LANDesk Management Suite

World-class support tools and programs

The System x3250 M3 server includes a number of tools and programs that make
ownership a positive experience. From the start, IBM can help you purchase a
server, get it running, and keep it running over the long haul. IBM can help your
company maintain ownership of technology leadership servers.

• One-year (machine type 4251) or three-year (machine type 4252) Customer

Replaceable Unit (CRU) and on-site limited warranty and next-business-day
(NBD) service (same-business-day service optionally available) protects your
investment if a problem occurs.

•

The ServerProven3 program lets you configure your server confidently with
various devices and operating systems. This Web-based program provides
compatibility information from actual testing of the System x3250 M3 server with
various adapters and devices.

•

The ServerGuideTM CD library includes online publications, utilities, and drivers
that assist you in loading of popular network operating systems.

Standard System x3250 M3 configurations

HDD
Model Processor Memory interface HDD Other

4251-A2x Pentium G6950 2.8 GHz 1 GB OB/SS/SATA 3.5-in Open bay
3 MB cache
4251-B2x Core i3-540 3.06 GHz 1 GB OB/SS/SATA 3.5-in Open bay
4 MB cache
4252-A2x Pentium G6950 2.8 GHz 1 GB OB/SS/SATA 3.5-in Open bay
3 MB cache
4252-B2x Core i3-540 3.06 GHz 1 GB OB/SS/SATA 3.5-in Open bay
4 MB cache

Note: All models contain an open bay for optical drive and 351-watt power supply
(high-efficiency power supply is available through the sales configuration tool).

Accessibility by people with disabilities

A U.S. Section 508 Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) containing
details on accessibility compliance can be requested at

http://www.ibm.com/able/product_accessibility/index.html

Product positioning

The all-new System x3250 M3 server is positioned as the entry 1U single-socket
server of the System x rack-optimized product line -- a solution designed to help

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reduce clients' operating costs and improve operational efficiency and business
performance.

As part of the IBM family of proven solutions that balance innovation, experience,
and energy for our clients' business prosperity, the System x3250 M3 server has
been enhanced to more effectively help clients address and resolve issues around
business continuity, IT security and optimization, and infrastructure management
and growth.

Economically designed to help clients stretch their IT dollar further by cutting costs
and going green with a leadership combination of energy-efficiency, noise reduction,
and space optimization, the System x3250 M3 server does more with less, offering:

• A budget-friendly entry price, small form factor, and reduced power consumption

• Reliability features and optional full remote management capabilities

• Flexibility to meet a wide range of general or dedicated infrastructure needs

At the same time, the System x3250 M3 offers clients simplicity and value
integration in an easy-to-manage solution, with up-to-date industry-standard
technologies that deliver the speed, agility, and flexibility essential to conducting
today's online business, at no risk now or in the company's future.

Available with high-performance, 64-bit processors, the System x3250 M3 server
can optimize investment decisions around managing and reducing business
complexity, increasing competitiveness, and improving the speed and efficiency of:

• General-purpose and specialized applications

• Infrastructure workloads

• Appliance solutions

Target markets include small, medium, and large businesses, including Internet and
Application Service Providers (OEMs) with constrained data center environments,
that are concerned about:

• Lowering total cost of ownership through the power, space, and cooling

characteristics

• Efficiently running infrastructure applications like firewall, security, disaster

recovery, name server, authentication, credit card processing, email, domain
controller, and more

• Leveraging their consolidated IT expertise by extending senior staff's

technical knowledge to remote systems via long-distance and remote systems
management

Delivering performance and protection at the lowest price point, as well as remote
monitoring and alerting capabilities that provide strong systems management, the
System x3250 M3 solution offers:

• Latest Intel Pentium and Core i3 processors (up to 3.06 GHz/8 MB/1333 MHz) for

excellent 64-bit operation.

• With EM64T 64-bit extensions, the ability to run Intel-compatible software in

either 32-bit or 64-bit extension mode. These new extensions provide increased
productivity, performance, and reliability for applications that can take advantage
of 64-bit extensions by enabling them to address more memory and up to 1333
MHz FSB, which speeds up information access within the system.

• Simple-swap HDDs that offer easy serviceability without removing the system

from the rack.

• Integrated hardware RAID-0 or RAID-1 without using a slot.

• Rack-optimized, 1U form factor with the ability to support four 2.5-inch SAS

HDDs.

• Optional upgrade to the Hardware Key for remote presence, often even when the

server is powered down.

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