IBM X3850 X6 Installation and maintenance instructions

System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6
Types 3837 and 3839
Installation and Service Guide


System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6
Types 3837 and 3839
Installation and Service Guide


Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the general information in
“Notices” on page 1693 and the IBM Safety Information, and IBM Environmental Notices and User's
Guide on the IBM Documentation CD, and the IBM Warranty Information document that comes with
the server.
First Edition (February 2014)
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2014.
US Government Users Restricted Rights – Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract
with IBM Corp.

Contents
Safety ...............vii
Guidelines for trained service technicians ....xv
Inspecting for unsafe conditions .......xv
Guidelines for servicing electrical equipment . . . xvi
Chapter 1. The IBM System x3850 X6
and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839
server ...............1
The IBM Documentation CD .........5
Hardware and software requirements .....5
Using the Documentation Browser ......5
Related documentation ...........6
Notices and statements in this document .....7
Server features and specifications .......7
What your server offers ..........13
Reliability, availability, and serviceability ....18
Server scalability ............20
FlexNode support ............20
IBM Systems Director ...........21
Server components ............22
Front view of the server .........24
Storage book ............24
Front operator panel .........27
LCD system information display panel . . . 28
DDR3 compute book .........30
Rear view of the server .........31
Standard I/O book ..........32
Half-length I/O book .........35
Full-length I/O book .........36
Power supplies ...........38
Jumpers, switches, and buttons on standard I/O
book board .............39
Server power features ..........41
Turning on the server .........41
Turning off the server .........41
IBM x3950 X6 4-socket to 8-socket upgrade kit. . . 42
Chapter 2. Installing optional devices 43
Instructions for IBM Business Partners .....44
How to send DSA data to IBM ........44
Installation guidelines ...........45
System reliability guidelines ........46
Handling static-sensitive devices ......46
Installing a memory module.........47
Flash DIMMs.............51
Memory mirroring ...........53
Memory rank sparing ..........54
Independent memory mode ........55
Memory mirroring in independent memory
mode ..............56
Memory rank sparing in independent mode 58
Lockstep memory mode .........59
Memory mirroring in lockstep mode ....60
Memory rank sparing in lockstep mode . . . 62
DIMM installation instructions .......62
Installing a DDR3 compute book .......66
Installing drives .............70
Drive IDs ..............71
Supported SAS/SATA drive backplane
configurations ............72
Backplane configuration for 4 drives ....73
Backplane configurations for 8 drives....74
Backplane configuration for 12 drives . . . 75
Backplane configuration for 16 drives . . . 76
Installing 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch hot-swap drives 77
Installing the half-length and full-length I/O books 80
Installing the half-length I/O book .....80
Installing the full-length I/O book......82
Installing an adapter ...........84
Supported host bus adapters .......86
Supported RAID adapters ........87
Supported RAID cache cards .......88
Supported ML2 (Ethernet) adapters .....89
Supported Features on Demand software . . . 92
Adapter installation instructions ......92
Installing the optional ServeRAID M5120
SAS/SATA Controller ..........94
Installing the ServeRAID M5210 SAS/SATA
Controller ..............96
Installing the N2215 SAS/SATA Host Bus
Adapter for IBM System x ........97
Installing an adapter in the full-length I/O book 99
Installing a RAID cache card ........101
Installing a RAID adapter flash power module in
the storage book ............101
Installing a RAID adapter flash power module in
the standard I/O book ..........102
Installing power supplies .........104
Installing a 750-watt -48 volt to -60 volt dc
power supply ............106
Installing a 1400-watt or 900-watt hot-swap
power supply ............110
Installing a USB embedded hypervisor flash device 114
Installing the drive backplanes .......115
Installing the 8x1.8-inch hot-swap drive
backplane assembly ..........115
Installing the 4x2.5-inch hot-swap drive
backplane .............116
Completing the installation .........119
Updating the server configuration .....119
Chapter 3. Configuration information
and instructions ..........121
Updating the firmware ..........121
Configuring the server ..........122
Using the ServerGuide Setup and Installation
DVD...............124
ServerGuide features .........124
Setup and configuration overview ....125
Typical operating-system installation . . . 125
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2014 iii

Installing your operating system without
using ServerGuide..........126
Using the Setup utility .........126
Starting the Setup utility .......126
Setup utility menu choices .......127
Passwords ............131
Using the Boot Manager.........133
Starting the backup server firmware.....134
The UpdateXpress System Pack Installer . . . 135
Configuring a multinode system ......135
Using the integrated management module. . . 137
Using the remote presence and blue-screen
capture features ..........139
Obtaining the IMM host name......139
Obtaining the IP address for the IMM . . . 140
Logging on to the IMM web interface . . . 141
Logging on to the IMM CLI interface using
telnet ..............142
Logging on to the IMM CLI interface using
SSH..............142
Setting power supply power policy and system
power configurations..........143
Using the embedded hypervisor software . . . 145
Configuring the Ethernet controller .....146
Enabling Features on Demand Ethernet software 146
Enabling Features on Demand RAID software 146
Configuring RAID arrays ........147
IBM Advanced Settings Utility program . . . 147
Updating IBM Systems Director ......148
Updating the Universal Unique Identifier and
DMI/SMBIOS data ..........149
Locally: Keyboard Controller Style (KCS) . . 149
Locally: LAN over USB ........150
Remotely over a LAN ........151
Chapter 4. Troubleshooting .....153
Start here...............153
Diagnosing a problem .........153
Undocumented problems ........155
Service bulletins ............156
Checkout procedure ...........156
About the checkout procedure.......156
Performing the checkout procedure .....157
Diagnostic tools ............158
Light path diagnostics .........160
Storage book LEDs .........161
Compute book LEDs .........162
DIMMs and microprocessor LEDs ....163
Fan LEDs.............163
Half-length I/O book LEDs ......164
Full-length I/O book LEDs .......164
Standard I/O book LEDs .......165
Power-supply LEDs .........165
Light path diagnostics LEDs description . . 167
Event logs .............168
Viewing event logs through the Setup utility 169
Viewing event logs without restarting the
server ..............170
Clearing the error logs ........172
POST ...............172
IBM Dynamic System Analysis ......173
DSA editions ...........174
Running the DSA Preboot diagnostic
programs.............175
Diagnostic text messages .......175
Viewing the test log results and transferring
the DSA collection..........176
Automated service request (call home) .....176
Service Advisor feature .........176
IBM Electronic Service Agent .......177
IMM first failure data capture (FFDC) feature 177
Capturing the FFDC log data using the IMM
web interface ...........177
Capturing the FFDC log data using IMM CLI
commands ............177
Capturing the FFDC log using IPMI
commands ............178
Error messages .............178
Troubleshooting by symptom ........178
Connectivity problems .........179
General problems ...........180
Hard disk drive problems ........181
Hypervisor problems ..........184
Intermittent problems .........184
Keyboard, mouse, or pointing-device problems 185
Memory problems...........186
Microprocessor problems ........187
Monitor and video problems .......187
Netwok connectivity problems ......188
Observation problems .........188
Optional-device problems ........190
Power problems ...........191
Serial-device problems .........192
ServerGuide problems .........193
Server startup problems .........194
Software problems...........196
Universal Serial Bus (USB) port problems . . . 197
Video problems............197
Solving power problems..........197
Solving Ethernet controller problems .....198
Solving undetermined problems .......199
Problem determination tips.........200
Recovering from a UEFI update failure or UEFI
image corruption ............201
Automated boot recovery (ABR) .......203
Nx boot failure .............203
Chapter 5. Parts listing, System x3850
X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839 205
Replaceable server components .......205
Consumable parts ...........214
Power cords ..............214
Chapter 6. Removing and replacing
components ............217
Returning a device or component ......217
Removing and replacing server components . . . 218
Removing and replacing consumable parts . . 218
Removing and replacing Tier 1 CRUs ....218
Removing the DDR3 compute book cover 218
Replacing the DDR3 compute book cover 220
iv System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839: Installation and Service Guide

Removing the standard I/O book ....221
Replacing the standard I/O book.....222
Removing the standard I/O book air baffle 223
Replacing the standard I/O book air baffle 225
Removing the half-length I/O book ....226
Replacing the half-length I/O book ....227
Removing the full-length I/O book ....228
Replacing the full-length I/O book ....229
Removing an adapter.........230
Replacing an adapter .........230
Removing 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch hot-swap
drives ..............231
Replacing 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch hot-swap
drives ..............232
Removing the 4x2.5-inch hot-swap drive
backplanes ............235
Replacing the 4x2.5-inch hot-swap drive
backplanes ............236
Removing the 8x1.8-inch hot-swap drive
backplane assembly .........237
Replacing the 8x1.8-inch hot-swap drive
backplane assembly .........238
Removing a memory module ......239
Replacing a memory module ......240
Removing the ServeRAID M5120 SAS/SATA
Controller for System x ........242
Replacing the ServeRAID M5120 SAS/SATA
Controller for System x ........242
Removing the N2215 SAS/SATA Host Bus
Adapter for IBM System x .......243
Replacing the N2215 SAS/SATA Host Bus
Adapter for IBM System x .......244
Removing a USB embedded hypervisor flash
device ..............245
Replacing a USB embedded hypervisor flash
device ..............246
Removing a 1400-watt or 900-watt hot-swap
power supply ...........247
Replacing a 1400-watt or 900-watt hot-swap
power supply ...........248
Removing a hot-swap fan assembly ....251
Replacing a hot-swap fan assembly ....252
Removing an ML2 (Ethernet) adapter . . . 254
Replacing an ML2 (Ethernet) adapter . . . 255
Removing a RAID adapter flash power
module from the standard I/O book . . . 258
Replacing a RAID adapter flash power
module in the standard I/O book ....260
Removing a RAID cache card ......261
Replacing a RAID cache card ......261
Removing the system battery ......262
Replacing the system battery ......263
Removing the front I/O panel (USB/video)
assembly .............264
Replacing the front I/O panel (USB/video)
assembly .............265
Removing and replacing Tier 2 CRUs ....266
Removing the storage book.......266
Replacing the storage book .......267
Removing the storage book board assembly 268
Replacing the storage book board assembly 269
Removing the front operator panel assembly 270
Replacing the front operator panel assembly 272
Removing the LCD system information
display panel ...........273
Replacing the LCD system information
display panel ...........274
Removing and replacing FRUs ......275
Removing a microprocessor and heat sink 275
Replacing a microprocessor and heat sink 278
Removing a DDR3 compute book ....283
Replacing a DDR3 compute book.....284
Removing a 750-watt -48 volt to -60 volt dc
power supply ...........287
Replacing a 750-watt -48 volt to -60 volt dc
power supply ...........289
Removing the midplane ........293
Replacing the midplane ........294
Removing the shuttle.........296
Replacing the shuttle .........299
Appendix A. DSA diagnostic test
results ..............301
DSA Broadcom network test results ......301
DSA Brocade test results..........310
DSA checkpoint panel test results ......318
DSA CPU stress test results.........319
DSA Emulex adapter test results .......322
DSA EXA port ping test results .......325
DSA hard drive test results .........327
DSA Intel network test results ........329
DSA LSI hard drive test results .......334
DSA Mellanox adapter test results ......335
DSA memory isolation test results ......338
DSA memory stress test results .......408
DSA Nvidia GPU test results ........411
DSA optical drive test results ........417
DSA system management test results .....421
DSA tape drive test results .........432
Appendix B. Integrated management
module II (IMM2) error messages . . . 437
Appendix C. UEFI/POST error codes 1665
Finding the UEFI (POST) error code .....1666
Appendix D. Getting help and
technical assistance ........1689
Before you call ............1689
Using the documentation .........1690
Getting help and information from the World
WideWeb..............1690
How to send DSA data to IBM .......1690
Creating a personalized support web page . . . 1691
Software service and support........1691
Hardware service and support .......1691
IBM Taiwan product service ........1691
Notices .............1693
Trademarks .............1694
Contents v

Important notes ............1694
Particulate contamination .........1695
Documentation format ..........1696
Telecommunication regulatory statement ....1696
Electronic emission notices ........1697
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
statement .............1697
Industry Canada Class A emission compliance
statement .............1697
Avis de conformité à la réglementation
d'Industrie Canada ..........1697
Australia and New Zealand Class A statement 1697
European Union EMC Directive conformance
statement .............1698
Germany Class A statement .......1698
Japan VCCI Class A statement ......1699
Korea Communications Commission (KCC)
statement .............1700
Russia Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Class A statement ..........1700
People's Republic of China Class A electronic
emission statement ..........1700
Taiwan Class A compliance statement ....1700
Index ..............1701
vi System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839: Installation and Service Guide

Safety
This topic provides safety information that you should read before using the
server.
Before installing this product, read the Safety Information.
Antes de instalar este produto, leia as Informações de Segurança.
Læs sikkerhedsforskrifterne, før du installerer dette produkt.
Lees voordat u dit product installeert eerst de veiligheidsvoorschriften.
Ennen kuin asennat tämän tuotteen, lue turvaohjeet kohdasta Safety Information.
Avant d'installer ce produit, lisez les consignes de sécurité.
Vor der Installation dieses Produkts die Sicherheitshinweise lesen.
Prima di installare questo prodotto, leggere le Informazioni sulla Sicurezza.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2014 vii

Les sikkerhetsinformasjonen (Safety Information) før du installerer dette produktet.
Antes de instalar este produto, leia as Informações sobre Segurança.
Bu ürünü kurmadan önce güvenlik bilgilerini okuyun.
Antes de instalar este producto, lea la información de seguridad.
Läs säkerhetsinformationen innan du installerar den här produkten.
Important:
Each caution and danger statement in this documentation is labeled with a
number. This number is used to cross reference an English language caution or
danger statement with translated versions of the caution or danger statement in
the Safety Information document.
For example, if a caution statement is labeled Statement 1, translations for that
caution statement are in the Safety Information document under Statement 1.
Be sure to read all caution and danger statements in this document before you
perform the procedures. Read any additional safety information that comes with
the server or optional device before you install the device.
viii System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839: Installation and Service Guide

Statement 1
DANGER
Electrical current from power, telephone, and communication cables is
hazardous.
To avoid a shock hazard:
vDo not connect or disconnect any cables or perform installation,
maintenance, or reconfiguration of this product during an electrical storm.
vConnect all power cords to a properly wired and grounded electrical outlet.
vConnect to properly wired outlets any equipment that will be attached to
this product.
vWhen possible, use one hand only to connect or disconnect signal cables.
vNever turn on any equipment when there is evidence of fire, water, or
structural damage.
vDisconnect the attached power cords, telecommunications systems,
networks, and modems before you open the device covers, unless
instructed otherwise in the installation and configuration procedures.
vConnect and disconnect cables as described in the following table when
installing, moving, or opening covers on this product or attached devices.
To Connect: To Disconnect:
1. Turn everything OFF.
2. First, attach all cables to devices.
3. Attach signal cables to connectors.
4. Attach power cords to outlet.
5. Turn device ON.
1. Turn everything OFF.
2. First, remove power cords from outlet.
3. Remove signal cables from connectors.
4. Remove all cables from devices.
Statement 2
Safety ix

CAUTION:
When replacing the lithium battery, use only IBM Part Number 33F8354 or an
equivalent type battery recommended by the manufacturer. If your system has a
module containing a lithium battery, replace it only with the same module type
made by the same manufacturer. The battery contains lithium and can explode if
not properly used, handled, or disposed of.
Do not:
vThrow or immerse into water
vHeat to more than 100°C (212°F)
vRepair or disassemble
Dispose of the battery as required by local ordinances or regulations.
Statement 3
CAUTION:
When laser products (such as CD-ROMs, DVD drives, fiber optic devices, or
transmitters) are installed, note the following:
vDo not remove the covers. Removing the covers of the laser product could
result in exposure to hazardous laser radiation. There are no serviceable parts
inside the device.
vUse of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than those
specified herein might result in hazardous radiation exposure.
DANGER
Some laser products contain an embedded Class 3A or Class 3B laser diode.
Note the following.
Laser radiation when open. Do not stare into the beam, do not view directly
with optical instruments, and avoid direct exposure to the beam.
Class 1 Laser Product
Laser Klasse 1
Laser Klass 1
Luokan 1 Laserlaite
Appareil A Laser de Classe 1
`
xSystem x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839: Installation and Service Guide

Statement 4
CAUTION:
Use safe practices when lifting.
Three graphic illustrations for safety practices when lifting the server
≥18 kg (39.7 lb.) ≥32 kg (70.5 lb.) ≥55 kg (121.2 lb.)
Statement 5
CAUTION:
The power control button on the device and the power switch on the power
supply do not turn off the electrical current supplied to the device. The device
also might have more than one power cord. To remove all electrical current from
the device, ensure that all power cords are disconnected from the power source.
1
2
Statement 6
CAUTION:
Do not place any objects on top of a rack-mounted device unless that
rack-mounted device is intended for use as a shelf.
Safety xi

Statement 8
CAUTION:
Never remove the cover on a power supply or any part that has the following
label attached.
Hazardous voltage, current, and energy levels are present inside any component
that has this label attached. There are no serviceable parts inside these
components. If you suspect a problem with one of these parts, contact a service
technician.
Statement 12
CAUTION:
The following label indicates a hot surface nearby.
Statement 19:
CAUTION:
The power-control button on the device does not turn off the electrical current
supplied to the device. The device also might have more than one connection
to dc power. To remove all electrical current from the device, ensure that all
connections to dc power are disconnected at the dc power input terminals.
OFF
Statement 26
xii System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839: Installation and Service Guide

CAUTION:
Do not place any object on top of rack-mounted devices.
Statement 31:
DANGER
Electrical current from power, telephone, and communication cables
is hazardous.
To avoid a shock hazard:
To Disconnect:
1. Turn OFF all power sources and equipment that is to
be attached to this product.
For ac systems, remove all power cords from the
chassis power receptacles for interrupt power at the
ac power distribution unit.
For dc systems, disconnect dc power sources at the
breaker panel or by turning off the power source.
Then, remove the dc cables.
2. Remove the signal cables from the connectors.
3. Remove all cables from the devices.
To Connect:
1. Turn OFF all power sources and equipment that is to
be attached to this product.
2. Attach signal cables to the product.
3. Attach power cords to the product.
For ac systems, use appliance inlets.
For dc systems, ensure correct polarity of -48 V dc
connections: RTN is + and -48 V dc is -. Earth
ground should use a two-hole lug for safety.
4. Attach signal cables to other devices.
5. Connect power cords to their sources.
6. Turn ON all the power sources.
Do not connect or disconnect any cables or perform installation,
maintenance, or reconfiguration of this product during an electrical storm.
Connect all power cords to a properly wired and grounded power source.
Connect to properly wired power sources any equipment that will be attached to this product.
When possible, use one hand only to connect or disconnect signal cables.
Never turn on any equipment when there is evidence of fire, water, or structural damage.
Disconnect the attached ac power cords, dc power sources, network connections,
telecommunications systems, and serial cables before you open the device covers,
unless you are instructed otherwise in the installation and configuration procedures.
Connect and disconnect cables as described in the following table when
you install, move, or open covers on this product or attached devices.
Safety xiii

Statement 34:
CAUTION:
To reduce the risk of electric shock or energy hazards:
• This equipment must be installed by trained service personnel in a
restricted-access location, as defined by the NEC and IEC 60950-1,
First Edition,The Standard for Safety of Information
Technology Equipment.
• Connect the equipment to a properly grounded safety extra low
voltage (SELV) source. A SELV source is a secondary circuit that
is designed so that normal and single fault conditions do not
cause the voltages to exceed a safe level (60 V direct current).
• Incorporate a readily available approved and rated disconnect
device in the field wiring.
• See the specifications in the product documentation for the
required circuit-breaker rating for branch circuit
overcurrent protection.
• Use copper wire conductors only. See the specifications in the
product documentation for the required wire size.
• See the specifications in the product documentation for the
required torque values for the wiring-terminal screws.
>240VA
Statement 35:
CAUTION:
Hazardous energy present. Voltages with hazardous energy
might cause heating when shorted with metal, which might
result in splattered metal, burns, or both.
The 8U version of the server is intended for use in a system/rack always installed
on the load side of a Power Distribution Unit (PDU) or Uninterruptible Power
Supply (UPS) supplying a maximum 20 A branch circuit protection. The overall
system/rack connection to mains power is to be a Pluggable Type B connector.
This server is suitable for use on an IT power-distribution system whose maximum
phase-to-phase voltage is 240 V under any distribution fault condition.
Important: Maschinenlärminformations-Verordnung - 3. GPSGV, der höchste
Schalldruckpegel beträgt 70 dB(A) oder weniger.
The product is not suitable for use at visual display workplaces according to §2 of
the German Ordinance for Work with Visual Display Units. Das Produkt ist nicht
für den Einsatz an Bildschirmarbeitsplätzen im Sinne§2der
Bildschirmarbeitsverordnung geeignet.
xiv System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839: Installation and Service Guide

Guidelines for trained service technicians
This section contains information for trained service technicians.
Inspecting for unsafe conditions
Use the information in this section to help you identify potential unsafe conditions
in an IBM product that you are working on. Each IBM product, as it was designed
and manufactured, has required safety items to protect users and service
technicians from injury. The information in this section addresses only those items.
Use good judgment to identify potential unsafe conditions that might be caused by
non-IBM alterations or attachment of non-IBM features or options that are not
addressed in this section. If you identify an unsafe condition, you must determine
how serious the hazard is and whether you must correct the problem before you
work on the product.
Consider the following conditions and the safety hazards that they present:
vElectrical hazards, especially primary power. Primary voltage on the frame can
cause serious or fatal electrical shock.
vExplosive hazards, such as a damaged CRT face or a bulging capacitor.
vMechanical hazards, such as loose or missing hardware.
To inspect the product for potential unsafe conditions, complete the following
steps:
1. Make sure that the power is off and the power cord is disconnected.
2. Check the power cord:
vMake sure that the third-wire ground connector is in good condition. Use a
meter to measure third-wire ground continuity for 0.1 ohm or less between
the external ground pin and the frame ground.
vMake sure that the power cord is the correct type, as specified in “Power
cords” on page 214.
vMake sure that the insulation is not frayed or worn.
3. Check for any obvious non-IBM alterations. Use good judgment as to the safety
of any non-IBM alterations.
4. Check inside the server for any obvious unsafe conditions, such as metal
filings, contamination, water or other liquid, or signs of fire or smoke damage.
5. Check for worn, frayed, or pinched cables.
6. Make sure that the power-supply cover fasteners (screws or rivets) have not
been removed or tampered with.
Safety xv

Guidelines for servicing electrical equipment
This topic provides guidelines that you must follow when servicing electrical
equipment.
Observe the following guidelines when you service electrical equipment:
vCheck the area for electrical hazards such as moist floors, nongrounded power
extension cords, power surges, and missing safety grounds.
vUse only approved tools and test equipment. Some hand tools have handles that
are covered with a soft material that does not provide insulation from live
electrical currents.
vRegularly inspect and maintain your electrical hand tools for safe operational
condition. Do not use worn or broken tools or testers.
vDo not touch the reflective surface of a dental mirror to a live electrical circuit.
The surface is conductive and can cause personal injury or equipment damage if
it touches a live electrical circuit.
vSome rubber floor mats contain small conductive fibers to decrease electrostatic
discharge. Do not use this type of mat to protect yourself from electrical shock.
vDo not work alone under hazardous conditions or near equipment that has
hazardous voltages.
vLocate the emergency power-off (EPO) switch, disconnecting switch, or electrical
outlet so that you can turn off the power quickly in the event of an electrical
accident.
vDisconnect all power before you perform a mechanical inspection, work near
power supplies, or remove or install main units.
vBefore you work on the equipment, disconnect the power cord, unless you are
hot-swapping a device. If you cannot disconnect the power cord, have the
customer power-off the wall box that supplies power to the equipment and lock
the wall box in the off position.
vNever assume that power has been disconnected from a circuit. Check it to
make sure that it has been disconnected.
vIf you have to work on equipment that has exposed electrical circuits, observe
the following precautions:
– Make sure that another person who is familiar with the power-off controls is
near you and is available to turn off the power if necessary.
– When you are working with powered-on electrical equipment, use only one
hand. Keep the other hand in your pocket or behind your back to avoid
creating a complete circuit that could cause an electrical shock.
– When you use a tester, set the controls correctly and use the approved probe
leads and accessories for that tester.
– Stand on a suitable rubber mat to insulate you from grounds such as metal
floor strips and equipment frames.
vUse extreme care when you measure high voltages.
vTo ensure proper grounding of components such as power supplies, pumps,
blowers, fans, and motor generators, do not service these components outside of
their normal operating locations.
vIf an electrical accident occurs, use caution, turn off the power, and send another
person to get medical aid.
xvi System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839: Installation and Service Guide

Chapter 1. The IBM System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types
3837 and 3839 server
Use this information for a product overview of the IBM®System x3850 X6 and
x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839 server and links to additional information for users
of the system and Business Partners. Read the safety information before installing
and removing components in the server.
This information provides instructions and information for setting up your IBM
System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839 server, instructions for
installing some optional devices, cabling and configuring the server, removing and
replacing devices, and diagnostics and troubleshooting information.
Note: The information and installation procedures in this documentation apply to
both the 4-socket and the 8-socket configurations of the server, unless otherwise
specified. Most of the illustrations in the documentation show the 4-socket
configuration of the server.
In addition to the instructions in Chapter 2, “Installing optional devices,” on page
43 for installing optional hardware devices, updating firmware and device drivers,
and completing the installation, IBM Business Partners must also complete the
steps in “Instructions for IBM Business Partners” on page 44.
The IBM System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 server is a rack model, modular design
server, for virtualization, database, and computational intensive computing. The
modular design allows for upgrade from a 4-socket (4U-high) to an 8-socket
(8U-high) server, using the same building blocks that are used for the 4-socket
server. It is the next generation enterprise server based on the Intel Xeon™EX
E7-4xxx v2 and E7-8xxx v2 processor technology. This high-performance, scalable
server is ideally suited for enterprise environments that require superior
input/output (I/O) flexibility and high manageability.
Note: You must purchase the IBM x3950 X6 4-socket to 8-socket Upgrade kit to
upgrade to an 8-socket server. In addition, the upgrade must be performed by an
IBM Service representative.
Performance, ease of use, reliability, and expansion capabilities were key
considerations in the design of the server. These design features make it possible
for you to customize the system hardware to meet your needs today and provide
flexible expansion capabilities for the future.
The server comes with a limited warranty. For information about the terms of the
warranty and getting service and assistance, see the IBM Warranty Information
document that comes with the server.
The server contains IBM next generation technologies, which help increase
performance and reliability. For more information, see “What your server offers”
on page 13 and “Reliability, availability, and serviceability” on page 18.
You can obtain up-to-date information about the server and other IBM server
products at http://www.ibm.com/systems/x/. At http://www.ibm.com/support/
mysupport/, you can create a personalized support page by identifying IBM
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2014 1

products that are of interest to you. From this personalized page, you can subscribe
to weekly email notifications about new technical documents, search for
information and downloads, and access various administrative services.
If you participate in the IBM client reference program, you can share information
about your use of technology, best practices, and innovative solutions; build a
professional network; and gain visibility for your business. For more information
about the IBM client reference program, see http://www.ibm.com/ibm/
clientreference/.
The server supports up to eight 2.5-inch hot-swap drives or sixteen 1.8-inch
hot-swap drives, or a combination of both 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch drives, using the
supported drive backplanes. It supports 2.5-inch hot-swap Serial Attached SCSI
(SAS) or SATA hard disk drives, 2.5-inch hot-swap SATA solid state drives (SSD),
or 1.8-inch hot-swap SAS solid state drives. See “Supported SAS/SATA drive
backplane configurations” on page 72 for a complete list of the supported
configurations. The illustrations in this document might differ slightly from your
hardware.
The following illustration shows the front of the server.
Fan-pack 1
Fan-pack 2 Fan-pack 4 Fan-pack 6 Fan-pack 8
Storage
book Compute book 1 Compute book 2 Compute book 3 Compute book 4
Fan-pack 3 Fan-pack 5 Fan-pack 7
LCD display
panel
Front
operator
panel
Service
card
The following illustration shows the rear of the server.
Power supply 1 Power supply 2 Power supply 3 Power supply 4
Fan-pack 9 Fan-pack 10I/O book 1 I/O book 2 Standard I/O book
If firmware and documentation updates are available, you can download them
from the IBM website. The server might have features that are not described in the
2System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839: Installation and Service Guide