6241HFA Lenovo System x3950X6

Abstract

The Lenovo System x3950 X6 server, machine type 6241, is an eight-socket 8U rack-mounted server that represents the sixth generation of the Enterprise X-Architecture. Now with Intel Xeon E7 v4 processors, the x3950 X6 delivers fast application performance, is based on an agile system design, and is a resilient platform that is needed for mission-critical databases, enterprise applications, and virtualized environments.

This product guide provides essential pre-sales information to understand the x3950 X6 server, its key features and specifications, components and options, and configuration guidelines. This guide is intended for technical specialists, sales specialists, sales engineers, IT architects, and other IT professionals who want to learn more about the x3950 X6 and consider its use in IT solutions.

Introduction

The Lenovo System x3950 X6 server, machine type 6241, is an eight-socket 8U rack-mounted server that represents the sixth generation of the Enterprise X-Architecture. Now with Intel Xeon E7 v4 processors, the x3950 X6 delivers fast application performance, is based on an agile system design, and is a resilient platform that is needed for mission-critical databases, enterprise applications, and virtualized environments.

The x3950 X6 packs numerous fault-tolerant and high-availability features into a high-density, 8U rack-optimized lid-less package that helps reduce the space that is needed to support massive network computing operations and simplify servicing. The x3950 X6 supports up to eight Intel Xeon E7 processors and up to 24 TB of memory.

Suggested use: mission-critical scalable databases, business analytics, virtualization, enterprise applications, and cloud applications.

Figure 1. Lenovo System x3950 X6

Did you know?

The x3950 X6 server employs a lid-less design where all serviceable components are front- and rear-accessible. In addition, each major subsystem is implemented as modular “book” design, such as the Compute Books and I/O Books. This configuration means that components are easy to upgrade and service, which translates to greater uptime of applications to your users. The x3950 X6 offers enterprise scalability and advanced RAS features to support the most demanding mission-critical applications that require 24×7 operations.

Key features

The increasing demand for cloud-computing and analytics workloads by enterprises to meet social, mobile, and Big Data requirements drives innovation to find new ways to build informational systems. Clients are looking for cost-optimized fit-for-purpose IT solutions that manage large amounts of data, easily scale performance, and provide enterprise class reliability.

Built on decades of innovation, Lenovo introduces its sixth generation of Enterprise X-Architecture technology, X6 servers. Lenovo X6 servers are fast, agile, and resilient:

• Fast application performance means immediate access to actionable information.
• Agile system design helps to reduce acquisition costs and provide the ability to upgrade processor and memory technology at each refresh within the same chassis.
• Resilient platforms maximize application uptime and promote easy integration in virtual environments.

X6 servers continue to lead the way as the shift toward mission-critical scalable databases, business analytics, virtualization, enterprise applications, and cloud-computing applications accelerates.

Fast application performance

The server offers numerous features to boost performance:

• Based on the Intel Xeon E7 family of processors:
  • Models based on E7-8800 v4 processors
  • Supports up to eight E7 v4 processors with a total of 192 cores and 384 threads to maximize the concurrent running of multi-threaded applications.
  • Improves productivity by offering superior system performance with processors up to 24 cores, core frequencies up to 3.2 GHz core speeds, L3 cache of up to 60 MB, and three QPI interconnect links at up to 9.6 GTps.

• Supports DDR4 memory at speeds up to 1866 MHz, or DDR3 memory at speeds up to 1600 MHz
• Supports up to 192 DIMM sockets, with 24 DIMMs per processor.
• Intelligent and adaptive system performance with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 allows processor cores to run at maximum speeds during peak workloads by temporarily going beyond processor thermal design power (TDP).
• Intel Hyper-Threading Technology boosts performance for multi-threaded applications by enabling simultaneous multi-threading within each processor core, up to two threads per core.
• Intel Virtualization Technology integrates hardware-level virtualization hooks that allow operating system vendors to better use the hardware for virtualization workloads.
• Intel Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) improves floating-point performance for compute-intensive technical and scientific applications.
• Supports a 12 Gbps SAS RAID portfolio.
• The usage of solid-state drives (SSDs) instead of, or along with, traditional spinning drives (HDDs) can improve I/O performance. An SSD can support up to 100 times more I/O operations per second (IOPS) than a typical HDD.
• Optional support for high-performance PCIe-attached NVMe Flash Storage solid-state drives (SSDs) can significantly improve I/O performance.
• PCI Express 3.0 I/O adapter slots that improve the theoretical maximum bandwidth by almost 100% (8 GTps per link using 128b/130b encoding) compared to the previous generation of PCI Express 2.0 (5 GTps per link using 8b/10b encoding).
• With Intel Integrated I/O Technology, the PCI Express 3.0 controller is integrated into the Intel Xeon processor. This integration helps reduce I/O latency and increase overall system performance.
• Support for up to four graphics processing units (GPUs) and co-processors to maximize computing power.
• Energy-efficient electronic components help lower operational costs, including highly efficient 900 W AC and 1400 W AC power supplies with 80 PLUS Platinum certification.
• Energy Star 2.0 compliant

Agile system design

The server provides many scalability and flexibility features:

• Innovative module “book” design for each of the three subsystems: Compute Books, Storage Book, and I/O Books. Front and rear access means that you can easily scale the system by adding components without removing the entire server from the rack.
• The modular book design also allows clients to create the configuration that fits their application and environment needs, which reduces acquisition costs while giving them the flexibility to grow and modify their configuration later.
• The book design also means that subsystem upgrades are simpler, quicker to perform, and have a lower impact on the rest of the server.
• Using 128 GB 3DS RDIMMs, the server supports up to 24 TB of memory.
• Up to 32x 1.8-inch SSD bays, or up to 16x 2.5-inch bays, provide a flexible and scalable all-in-one platform to meet your increasing demands.
• Offers up to 22 PCIe slots plus two dedicated Mezzanine LOM (ML2) adapter slots. Most slots are PCIe 3.0 to maximize I/O scalability.
• PCIe slots are implemented in I/O Books to maximize modularity. Choose from Half-length I/O Books or Full-length I/O Books, depending on the adapters that you need to deploy.
• Most components are common between the four-socket x3850 X6 and eight-socket x3950 X6, making for a simple upgrade path with minimal parts on the floor.

Resilient platform

The server provides many features to simplify serviceability and increase system uptime:

• Upward Integration Modules for standard hypervisors enable the creation and management of policies to maintain high availability of virtual machines and concurrent updating of the system firmware, with no impact on application performance or availability.
• Advanced Processor Recovery allows the system to automatically switch access and control of networking, management, and storage in the event of a processor 1 failure, providing higher availability and productivity.
• Advanced Page Retire proactively protects applications from corrupted pages in memory, which is crucial for scaling memory to terabytes.
• Redundant bit steering, memory mirroring, and memory rank sparing for redundancy in the event of a non-correctable memory failure.
• Intel Execute Disable Bit functionality can help prevent certain classes of malicious buffer overflow attacks when combined with a supported operating system.
• Intel Trusted Execution Technology provides enhanced security through hardware-based resistance to malicious software attacks, allowing an application to run in its own isolated space, which is protected from all other software running on a system.
• Redundant Intel Platform Controller Hub (PCH) connections to the processors allow the platform to maintain access to networking, storage, and server management during a processor failure.
• Hot-swap drives support RAID redundancy for data protection and greater system uptime.
• Hot-swap I/O Books enabling you to install or replace adapters while the server is still running.
• Tool-less lid-less design provides front and rear access for easy upgrades and serviceability. There is no need to pull the server out of the rack to access internal components.
• Hot-swap power supplies and hot-swap dual-motor redundant fans provide availability for mission-critical applications.
• An LCD diagnostics panel that is combined with individual light path diagnostic LEDs quickly lead the technician to failed (or failing) components, which simplifies servicing, speeds up problem resolution, and helps improve system availability.
• Proactive Platform Alerts (including PFA and SMART alerts): Processors, voltage regulators, memory, internal storage (SAS/SATA HDDs and SSDs, NVMe SSDs, flash storage adapters), fans, power supplies, RAID controllers, and server ambient and sub-component temperatures. Alerts can be surfaced through the system IMM to managers such as Lenovo XClarity Administrator, VMware vCenter, and Microsoft System Center. These proactive alerts let you take appropriate actions in advance of possible failure, thereby increasing server uptime and application availability.
• Built-in Integrated Management Module Version II (IMM2) continuously monitors system parameters, triggers alerts, and performs recovering actions in case of failures to minimize downtime.
• Includes two special Mezzanine LOM (ML2) adapter slots with support for adapters with either two 10 Gb ports or four 1 Gb ports. Supports direct connectivity to the IMM2 service processor for out-of-band systems management.
• Integrated industry-standard Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) enables improved setup, configuration, and updates, and simplifies error handling.
• Integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) supporting TPM 2.0 and TPM 1.2 enables advanced cryptographic functionality, such as digital signatures and remote attestation.
• Industry-standard Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) NI support for faster and stronger encryption.
• Lenovo XClarity Administrator provides proactive systems management. It offers comprehensive systems management tools that help increase uptime, reduce costs, and improve productivity through advanced server management capabilities.
• Solid-state drives (SSDs) offer better reliability than traditional mechanical HDDs for greater uptime.
• Built-in diagnostic tests, using Dynamic Systems Analysis (DSA) Preboot, speed up troubleshooting tasks to reduce service time.
• Three-year customer-replaceable unit and onsite limited warranty, 9×5 next business day. Optional service upgrades are available.

Locations of key components and connectors

The following figure shows the front of the x3950 X6 server.

Figure 2. Front view of the Lenovo System x3950 X6

The following figure shows the rear of the x3950 X6 server.

Figure 3. Rear view of the Lenovo System x3950 X6

Standard specifications

The following table lists the standard specifications.

The server is shipped with the following items:

• Rail kit
• Cable management brackets
• 2.8 m (9.18 ft) C13-C14 power cord (one for each power supply)
• Documentation flyer and safety/warranty/installation information

Standard models

This following table lists the standard models.

Withdrawn: All models are now withdrawn from marketing.

† x in the Machine Type Model (MTM) represents a region-specific letter (for example, the EMEA MTM is 6241-BAG, and the US MTM is 6241-BAU). Ask a Lenovo representative for specifics.
* Not available in North America
** Processor detail: Processor quantity and model, cores, core speed, L3 cache, and TDP.
‡ All models include one Intel I350-T4 ML2 Quad Port GbE Adapter (I350-AM4 based).
§ Models with 12 slots have two Primary I/O Books (each with four slots) and two Storage Books (each with two slots) standard.

For more information about the standard features of the server, see the Standard specification section.

SAP HANA Workload Optimized models

The Lenovo System x3950 X6 Workload Optimized Solutions for SAP HANA provide optimal solutions for SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse, data mart, and SAP Business Suite, Powered by SAP HANA applications. Preconfigured workload optimized server models for SAP HANA applications are configured with up to 2 TB of memory and are upgradeable to support larger single node and scale-out cluster implementations.

The following table lists the Workload Optimized Solution models for SAP HANA.

Withdrawn: All models are now withdrawn from marketing.

Note: For CTO configurations of SAP HANA models, select base model 6241-AC4

* See the list of specific components below

Each of these HANA models include the following components (see the proceeding table for specifics):

• One or two ServeRAID M5210 controller (46C9110) with 2GB cache upgrade with flash backup (47C8664) plus Performance Accelerator (47C8710) and SSD Caching Enabler (47C8712)
• Six or 12x 1.2TB 10K 6Gbps SAS 2.5″ G3HS HDD (00AJ146)
• Two or four Intel S3710 400GB Enterprise Performance SATA G3HS 2.5″ SSDs (00YC325)
• Two Intel I350-T4 ML2 Quad Port GbE Adapter for System x (00D1998)
• Two Mellanox ConnectX-3 10 GbE Adapters (00D9690) plus four SFP+ SR Transceivers (46C3447)
• Models with 18 standard slots: Two X6 Half-length I/O Books (44X4049)
• Lenovo solution for SAP HANA media