Caution - These procedures require that you handle components that are sensitive to static discharge. This sensitivity can cause the component to fail. To avoid damage, ensure that you follow antistatic practices as described in 2.3 Performing Electrostatic Discharge and Static Prevention Measures.
Physical layout of the CPUs, memory risers, and DIMMs
Memory riser population rules
Memory riser DIMM population rules
Instructions for installing a DIMM
DIMM rank classifications labels
The physical layout of the CPUs, memory risers, and DIMMs is shown in CPU and Memory Riser Layout and Memory Riser DIMMs Physical Layout and Population Order.
Figure 4-1 CPU and Memory Riser Layout
Note - The system firmware checks if the installed CPUs are for the Sun Fire X4470 Server or Sun Fire X4470 M2 Server. The system firmware raises a fault for memory risers whose model belongs with the other family of CPUs.
A maximum of two memory risers (numbered MR0 and MR1) are supported per CPU, thus allowing up to eight memory risers in a 4-CPU system, or up to four memory risers in a 2-CPU system.
Each memory riser slot in the server chassis must be filled with either a memory riser or filler panel, and each memory riser must be filled with DIMMs and/or DIMM filler panels. For example, in 2-CPU systems, empty CPU sockets (P1 and P3) must have associated memory riser slots populated with two riser filler panels per CPU.
Performance-oriented configurations should be configured with two memory risers per CPU. In configurations that do not require two memory risers per CPU, the following guidelines should be followed:
First, populate riser slot MR0 for each CPU, starting with the lowest numbered CPU (P0).
Then, populate riser slot MR1 for each CPU, starting with the lowest numbered CPU (P0).
Figure 4-2 Memory Riser DIMMs Physical Layout and Population Order
On each memory riser, every DIMM slot must be filled with a DIMM or a DIMM filler panel.
Each CPU can support a maximum of 16 DIMMs (8 DIMMs per riser).
DIMMs must be installed in matched pairs of identical DIMMs (Memory Riser DIMMs Physical Layout and Population Order). Memory slot colors correspond to matched DIMM pairs. DIMMs populated in same-colored slots must have the same vendor part number.
Within a single DRAM channel, DIMMs must first be populated in the slots that are farthest from the memory buffer. For example, populate D0/D4 before D1/D5, and D2/D6 before D3/D7.
The recommended DIMM population order, as depicted in Memory Riser DIMMs Physical Layout and Population Order is:
D0/D4 (blue slots)
D2/D6 (white slots)
D1/D5 (black slots)
D3/D7 (green slots)
For best system performance, follow these guidelines, which are listed in decreasing order of importance.
Provide some DIMMs on every memory riser.
Provide DIMMs on every DRAM channel (at least 4 DIMMs per memory riser).
For each CPU, have equal total gigabytes on the MR0 and MR1 risers. Memory bandwidth is five percent higher when all pairs of risers have balanced capacity.
Spread the memory capacity evenly across the CPUs so the operating system can distribute large memory tasks better.
For the Sun Fire X4470 Server, the operating speed of the DIMMs does not decrease as more DIMMs are installed. For best memory performance, follow these guidelines to replace or add DIMMs in the server. Use one or more sizes of DIMMs, with an even number of DIMMs of each size.
Using the largest-capacity DIMMs, add two DIMMs per riser, starting at P0/MR0, continuing through P3/MR1, and then beginning again at P0/MR0 if necessary, until all of the largest-capacity DIMMs are placed.
For installations with one DIMM size, all DIMMs will be placed in this step. For installations with additional DIMMs of different sizes, continue to the next guideline step.
Using DIMMs of the next largest capacity, add two DIMMs per riser, starting with risers with the fewest DIMMs and proceeding from P0/MR0, continuing through P3/MR1, and then beginning again at P0/MR0 if necessary, until there are no more DIMMs of this size, or all risers have four DIMMs.
As long as any riser has fewer than four DIMMs, keep repeating this step with the DIMMs of decreasing capacity. When all risers have four DIMMs, continue to the next guideline step.
Using DIMMs of the next largest capacity, add two DIMMs per riser to risers with the least total GB. Start from P0/MR0, continue through P3/MR1, and then begin again at P0/MR0 if necessary.
Repeat guideline step 3 with all remaining DIMMs, in decreasing order of DIMM capacity, until all DIMMs are placed.
The eight DIMMs supported on each memory riser card in the Sun Fire X4470 Server are divided into two logical DDR3 channels. The first logical channel contains DIMMs installed in slots D0, D1, D4 and D5. The second logical channel contains DIMMs installed in slots D2, D4, D6 and D7.When one or more DIMMs within a logical DDR3 channel are faulted, all four DIMMs within that logical channel will be disabled by BIOS on subsequent boots. This isolates the faulty component from the system to ensure that proper operation is not compromised by the presence of the faulty component.
Supported DIMM Size and Organization identifies the supported DIMM sizes.
Note - Single-rank and quad-rank DIMMs are not currently offered with the Sun Fire X4470 Server.
Table 4-1 Supported DIMM Size and Organization
Use the following procedures to remove and install memory risers, DIMMs, and filler panels.
Dikkat - Whenever you remove a memory riser filler panel, replace it with another filler panel or a memory riser; otherwise, the server might overheat due to improper airflow.
The filler panel is partially ejected from the socket.
Dikkat - Whenever you remove a DIMM filler panel, replace it with another filler panel or a DIMM; otherwise, the server might overheat due to improper airflow.
Figure 4-4 Removing the Memory Riser
The DIMM is partially ejected from the socket.
Figure 4-6 DIMM Socket Release and Alignment
1 DIMM connector slot
2 DIMM connector key
3 DIMM ejector lever
Dikkat - Whenever you remove a memory riser or DIMM, you should replace it with another memory riser or a DIMM or a filler panel; otherwise, the server might overheat due to improper airflow.
Align the notch in the DIMM with the key in the connector. The notch ensures that the DIMM is oriented correctly.
Figure 4-7 Installing DIMMs
If the DIMM does not easily seat into the connector, verify that the notch in the DIMM is aligned with the key in the connector as shown in Installing DIMMs. If the notch is not aligned, damage to the DIMM might occur.
Figure 4-8 Installing a Memory Riser Module