Dell PowerEdge 2950 Technical manual

Dell™ PowerEdge™
2950 Systems
Information Update

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use
of your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data
if instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage,
personal injury, or death.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2006–2009 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc.
is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and PowerEdge are trademarks of Dell Inc.;
Intel and Xeon are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, and Windows
Server and are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries; Red Hat and Red Hat Enterprise Linux are registered trademarks of
Red Hat, Inc.; SUSE is a registered trademark of Novell Inc.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming
the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and
trade names other than its own.
October 2009 P/N DD259 Rev. A07

Contents 3
Contents
Non-Optimal Memory Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PowerEdge 2950 III – New System Features . . . . . . . 5
New Performance Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
New High-Efficiency Power Supply
and Power Monitoring Features . . . . . . . . . . . 5
New I/O and Storage Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
New Security Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Optional Internal USB Memory Key . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Installing the Optional Internal
USB Memory Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Support for 8-GB Memory Modules –
PowerEdge 2950 III Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Processor Upgrades – Power 2950 II
and PowerEdge 2950 III Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
System Board Replacement –
Safeguarding Encrypted Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
System Message Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
LCD Status Messages Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

4Contents
System Setup Program Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Memory Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
CPU Information Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Integrated Devices Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
System Security Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Serial Communication Screen . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Operating System Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Enumeration of NICs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
RHEL – Incorrect Processor Information . . . . . . 23
System Support for Microsoft Windows 2000 . . . 24
System Diagnostics Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Information Update 5
Non-Optimal Memory Configurations
The POST may halt when a non-optimal memory configuration is detected
and the following message is displayed:
Non-Optimal Memory Configuration
Press F1 to continue or F2 for Setup
NOTE: Mixing DIMMs of different speeds renders the memory configuration
non-optimal. The system clocks down the performance to the slowest speed
in the DIMM set for the channel.
PowerEdge 2950 III – New System Features
New Performance Features
• Two dual-core or quad-core Intel
®
Xeon
®
5400 Series and 5300 Series
processors.
• 8-GB memory module support.
New High-Efficiency Power Supply and Power Monitoring Features
• Higher system efficiency on power conversion across workloads.
• Baseboard Management Control (BMC) power monitoring monitors
current, voltage, and power utilization in the system.

6Information Update
New I/O and Storage Features
• Optional Intel quad-port Gigabit Ethernet NIC, capable of supporting
10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, and 1000-Mbps data rates, and iSCSI remote boot.
• Support for 10-Gb Ethernet cards.
• One internal USB 2.0-compliant connector supporting an optional
bootable USB flash drive or USB memory key.
• Support for optional SAS 6i/R and PERC 6/i adapters.
New Security Features
• Trusted Program Module (TPM) support for improved security.
• Optional support for iSCSI boot.
Optional Internal USB Memory Key
The system provides an internal USB connector located on the sideplane
board for use with a USB flash memory key. The USB memory key can be
used as a boot device, security key, or mass storage device. To use the internal
USB connector, the Internal USB Port option must be enabled in the
Integrated Devices screen of the System Setup program. See "Integrated
Devices Screen" on page 20.
To boot from the USB memory key, you must configure the USB memory
key with a boot image and then specify the USB memory key in the boot
sequence in the System Setup program. See “
Using the System Setup
Program” in the
Hardware Owner’s Manual . For information on creating
a bootable file on the USB memory key, see the user documentation that
accompanied the USB memory key.
NOTE: USB keys that contain multiple LUNs (Logical Unit Numbers) must
be formatted using the format utility provided by the key manufacturer.
CAUTION: To avoid interference with components inside the system, the USB key
must conform to the following maximum dimensions: 11mm thick (0.43") x 23.2mm
width (0.91") x 67mm length (2.64").

Information Update 7
Installing the Optional Internal USB Memory Key
WARNING: Only trained service technicians are authorized to remove the system
cover and access any of the components inside the system. See your Product
Information Guide for complete information about safety precautions, working
inside the computer, and protecting against electrostatic discharge.
1 Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect
the system from its electrical outlet.
2 Open the system. See “Opening the System” in the Hardware Owner’s
Manual
.
3 Locate the USB connector on the sideplane board, and insert the USB
memory key into the USB connector. See Figure 1-1.
4 Close the system. See “Closing the System” in the Hardware Owner’s
Manual
.
5 Reconnect the system to power and restart the system.
6 Enter the System Setup program and verify that the USB key has been
detected by the system. See “Using the System Setup Program” in the
Hardware Owner’s Manual .

8Information Update
Figure 1-1. Installing an Internal USB Key
7 Close the system. See “Closing the System” in the Hardware Owner’s
Manual
.
8 Reconnect the system to power and restart the system.
9 Enter the System Setup program and verify that the USB key has been
detected by the system. See “Using the System Setup Program” in the
Hardware Owner’s Manual .
1 sideplane board 2 internal USB connector
3 USB memory key
2
3
1

Information Update 9
Support for 8-GB Memory Modules –
PowerEdge 2950 III Systems
PowerEdge 2950 III systems have added support for the following approved
8-GB memory configurations:
•64 GB — 8 x 8-GB quad-rank memory modules
•48 GB — 4 x 8-GB quad-rank and 4 x 4-GB dual-rank memory modules
If 64 GB of memory is installed, the system only recognizes and displays
63.75 GB during POST.
NOTE: Prior to upgrading your system, verify that the latest system BIOS version is on
your system. Loading the latest BIOS version ensures that your system is fully supported.
NOTE: Some operating systems cannot support more than 4 GB of physical memory.
For more information on memory support requirements and restrictions, refer to the operating
system documentation that was shipped with your system.
Processor Upgrades – Power 2950 II
and PowerEdge 2950 III Systems
• If the front of your system chassis is labeled with a “II”, your system is
upgradeable to the 5100 series of dual-core Intel Xeon processors and
the 5300 series of quad-core Xeon processors.
• If the front of your system chassis is labeled with a “III”, your system is
upgradeable to the 5100 and 5200 series of dual-core Intel Xeon processors
and 5300 and 5400 series of quad-core Intel Xeon processors.
See support.dell.com for information on the latest processor upgrade options
for your system.
System Board Replacement –
Safeguarding Encrypted Data
On PowerEdge 2950 III systems using Windows Server®2008, you can use
encryption programs, such as the BitLocker utility, to secure the contents
of the hard drive.

10 Information Update
If you are using the TPM with an encryption application, you are prompted
to create a recovery key during system setup. Be sure to store this recovery key.
If you replace the system board, you must supply the recovery key when you
restart your system before you can access the encrypted files on your hard
drive(s).
System Message Update
Table 1-1 lists new system messages for the PowerEdge 2950 III system and
the probable cause and corrective action when the message appears. System
messages appear on the screen to notify you of a possible problem with the
system.
WARNING: Only trained service technicians are authorized to remove the system
cover and access any of the components inside the system. See your Product
Information Guide for complete information about safety precautions, working
inside the computer, and protecting against electrostatic discharge.
Table 1-1. System Messages
Message Causes Corrective Actions
Alert! Node
Interleaving
disabled! Memory
configuration does
not support Node
Interleaving.
The memory configuration
does not support node
interleaving, or the
configuration has changed
(for example, a failed
DIMM) so that node
interleaving cannot be
supported. The system
runs but with reduced
functionality.
Ensure that the memory
modules are installed in a
configuration that supports
node interleaving. Check
other system messages
for additional information
for possible causes.
For memory configuration
information, see
“General Memory Module
Installation Guidelines”
in the Hardware Owner’s
Manual. If the problem
persists, see “Trouble-
shooting System Memory”
in the Hardware Owner’s
Manual.