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Lenovo System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Quick Start Guide
The supported operating systems for both x3850 X6 server and x3950 X6 server include:
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
Microsoft Windows Server 2012
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5+
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP1+
VMware vSphere (ESXi) 5.1 U1+
VMware vSphere (ESXi) 5.5
Architecture
To ensure proper function of the X6 server, the system should be configured correctly at the
time of purchase. The block diagram of the system in Figure 3 shows that proper memory and
I/O placement is critical for optimal performance. With the move to the Intel Ivy Bridge
processors in the X6 platform, the I/O is now directly attached to the processors. Additionally,
memory population rules have become more complex because each channel now has three
DIMMs and different memory modes.
There are a few general preferred practices in regards to configuring the system. Memory
should be installed in quantities of eight DIMMs per CPU for optimal performance and to
avoid any potential issues with memory installation order interfering with the memory mode
chosen. For best I/O performance, install the correct amount of adapters so that as many
processors as possible have a direct connection to I/O.
Figure 3 x3850 X6 system architecture
SMI
links
MB 2
MB 1
X6 DDR3
Compute Book
QPI links
Intel
Xeon
CPU 1
MB 2
MB 1
MB 2
MB 1
MB 2
MB 1
MB 2
MB 1
DMI
links
Slot 7: PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16)
Slot 9: PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16)
MB 2
MB 1
MB 2
MB 1
MB 2
MB 1
8x USB
Serial
Management
Video
IMM2
PCIe x1
Slot 10: Mezz LOM (x8)
Slot 12: PCIe 3.0 x16 (x8)
Intel
Xeon
CPU 2
Slot 8: PCIe 3.0 x16 (x8)
Slot 11: PCIe 3.0 x16 (x8)
Intel
Xeon
CPU 4
Intel
Xeon
CPU 3
Slot 1: PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16)
Slot 2: PCIe 3.0 x8 (x8)
Slot 3: PCIe 3.0 x8 (x8)
Slot 4: PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16)
Slot 5: PCIe 2.0 x8 (x8)
Slot 6: PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16)
Storage Book
Primary I/O Book
PCIe 3.0 lanes
Full Length I/O Book
Half Length I/O Book
PCIe 3.0 lanes
Intel
I/O Hub
PCIe
switch