v TCP/IP offload engine (TOE) support
The Ethernet controllers in the server support TOE, which is a technology that
offloads the TCP/IP flow from the microprocessors and I/O subsystem to
increase the speed of the TCP/IP flow. When an operating system that supports
TOE is running on the server and TOE is enabled, the server supports TOE
operation. See the operating-system documentation for information about
enabling TOE.
Note: As of the date of this document, the Linux operating system does not
support TOE.
Reliability, availability, and serviceability features
Three important computer design features are reliability, availability, and
serviceability (RAS). The RAS features help to ensure the integrity of the data that
is stored in the server, the availability of the server when you need it, and the ease
with which you can diagnose and repair problems.
The server has the following RAS features:
v 3-year parts and 3-year labor limited warranty for machine types 7945 and 7949
and 4-year parts and 4-year labor limited warranty for machine type 4255
v Automatic error retry and recovery
v Automatic restart after a power failure
v Built-in monitoring for fan, power, temperature, voltage, and power-supply
redundancy
v Cable-presence detection on most connectors
v Chipkill memory protection
v Dual redundant UEFI server firmware images
v Error codes and messages
v Error correcting code (ECC) L2 cache and system memory
v Hot-swap cooling fans with speed-sensing capability
v Hot-swap hard disk drives
v Information and light path diagnostics LED panels
v Integrated management module (service processor)
v Memory mirroring
v Menu-driven setup, system configuration, and redundant array of independent
disks (RAID) configuration programs
v Parity checking or CRC checking on the serially-attached SCSI (SAS) bus and
PCI buses
v Power management: compliance with Advanced Configuration and Power
Interface (ACPI)
v Power-on self-test (POST)
v Predictive Failure Analysis (PFA) alerts on memory, SAS/SATA hard disk drives,
fans, and power supplies
v Redundant Ethernet capabilities with failover support
v Redundant hot-swap power supplies
v Remind button to temporarily turn off the system-error LED
v Remote system problem-determination support
v Standby voltage for systems-management features and monitoring
v Startup (boot) from LAN through Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) boot
agent utility or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol/Boot Protocol
(DHCP/BOOTP)
v System auto-configuring from the configuration menu
v System error logging (POST and service processor)
v Systems-management monitoring through the Inter-Integrated Circuit (I
2
C) bus
Chapter 1. The System x3650 M3 server 13