The IBM System x3500 M5 offers a flexible, scalable design and simple upgrade path to 32 HDDs, with up to seven PCIe 3.0 slots and up to 1.5 TB of memory. The onboard Ethernet solution provides four standard integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports without occupying PCIe slots. Comprehensive systems management tools with the next-generation Integrated Management Module II make it easy to deploy, integrate, service, and manage.

Key features

A high-performance dual-socket tower server, the Lenovo System x3500 M5 can deliver the scalability, reliable performance, and optimized efficiency for your business-critical applications. Start with the basics and upgrade as your business changes without jeopardizing existing investments. Virtualizing the PC infrastructure into one server can provide access to a powerful server with abundant storage space, while significantly reducing IT costs.

Scalability and performance

The x3500 M5 offers the following features to boost performance, improve scalability, and reduce costs:

• Improves productivity by offering superior system performance with up to two processors (each with up to 18 cores), up to 45 MB of L3 cache, and up to 9.6 GT/s QPI interconnect links.
• Supports up to two processors, 36 cores, and 72 threads maximize the concurrent execution of multi-threaded applications.
• Intelligent and adaptive system performance with energy efficient Intel Turbo Boost Technology allows CPU cores to run at maximum speeds during peak workloads by temporarily going beyond processor thermal design power (TDP).
• Intel Hyper-Threading Technology boosts performance for multithreaded applications by enabling simultaneous multithreading within each processor core, up to two threads per core.
• Intel Virtualization Technology integrates hardware-level virtualization hooks that allow operating system vendors to better use the hardware for virtualization workloads.
• Intel Advanced Vector Extensions 2.0 (AVX 2.0) enable acceleration of enterprise-class workloads, including databases, and enterprise resource planning.
• Up to 2133 MHz memory speeds with two DIMMs per channel that are running at 2133 MHz to help maximize system performance.
• Up to 1.5 TB of memory capacity with 64 GB load-reduced DIMMs (LRDIMMs)
• The 12 Gbps SAS internal storage connectivity doubles the data transfer rate compared to 6 Gb SAS solutions to maximize performance of storage I/O-intensive applications.
• Up to 32 drive bays with internal backup and optical drive at the same time provide a flexible and scalable all-in-one platform to meet increasing demands.
• Flexible and scalable internal storage configurations provide for up to 122 TB of storage capacity.
• The use of solid-state drives (SSDs) instead of or along with traditional spinning hard disk drives (HDDs) can significantly improve I/O performance. An SSD can support up to 100 times more I/O operations per second (IOPS) than a typical HDD.
• The server has four integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports.
• The server offers up to seven PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 I/O expansion slots.
• With Intel Integrated I/O Technology, the PCI Express 3.0 controller is integrated into the Intel Xeon processor E5 family. This integration helps to dramatically reduce I/O latency and increase overall system performance.
• Support for up to two NVIDIA Quadro graphics processing units (GPUs) to maximize computing power.

Availability and serviceability

The x3500 M5 provides the following features to simplify serviceability and increase system uptime:

• The server offers Chipkill, memory mirroring, and memory rank sparing for redundancy in the event of a non-correctable memory failure.
• Tool-less cover removal provides easy access to upgrades and serviceable parts, such as CPU, memory, and adapter cards.
• Offers hot-swap drives that support RAID redundancy for data protection and greater system uptime.
• Supports the ability to have redundant hot-swap power supplies and redundant hot-swap fans to provide availability for business-critical applications.
• The optional light path diagnostics panel and individual light path LEDs quickly lead the technician to failed (or failing) components. This feature simplifies servicing, speeds up problem resolution, and helps improve system availability.
• Proactive Platform Alerts (including PFA and SMART alerts): Processors, voltage regulators, memory, internal storage (SAS/SATA HDDs and SSDs), fans, power supplies, RAID controllers, and server ambient and sub-component temperatures. Alerts can be surfaced through the system IMM to managers such as Lenovo XClarity Administrator, VMware vCenter, and Microsoft System Center. These proactive alerts let you take appropriate actions in advance of possible failure, thereby increasing server uptime and application availability.
• SSDs offer significantly better reliability than traditional mechanical HDDs for greater uptime.
• Built-in Integrated Management Module II (IMM2.1) continuously monitors system parameters, triggers alerts, and performs recovery actions if there is a failure to minimize downtime.
• Built-in diagnostics by using Dynamic Systems Analysis (DSA) Preboot speeds up troubleshooting tasks to reduce service time.
• Three-year customer replaceable unit and onsite limited warranty; next business day 9×5. Optional service upgrades available.

Manageability and security

The following powerful systems management features simplify local and remote management of the x3500 M5:

• The server includes an IMM2.1 to monitor server availability and perform remote management.
• Integrated industry-standard Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) enables improved setup, configuration, and updates and simplifies error handling.
• An integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) enables advanced cryptographic functionality such as digital signatures and remote attestation. TPM 2.0 supported with UEFI 2.21 or later.
• System x Trusted Platform Assurance, an exclusive set of System x security features and practices, establishes a foolproof security foundation for workloads by delivering firmware that is securely built, tested, digitally signed, and verified before running.
• The server offers enterprise-class data protection with optional self-encrypting drives and simple, centralized key management through IBM Security Key Lifecycle Management.
• Industry-standard AES NI support offers faster, stronger encryption.
• IBM Systems Director offers comprehensive systems management tools that help to increase uptime, reduce costs, and improve productivity through advanced server management capabilities.
• Intel Execute Disable Bit functionality can help prevent certain classes of malicious buffer overflow attacks when combined with a supporting operating system.
• Intel Trusted Execution Technology provides enhanced security through hardware-based resistance to malicious software attacks, which allows an application to run in its own isolated space that is protected from all other software running on a system.

Energy efficiency

The x3500 M5 offers the following energy-efficiency features to save energy, reduce operational costs, increase energy availability, and contribute to the green environment:

• Energy-efficient planar components help lower operational costs.
• High-efficiency power supplies with 80 PLUS Platinum and Titanium certifications. Energy Star 2.1 certified.
• Intel Intelligent Power Capability powers individual processor elements on and off as needed to reduce power draw.
• The Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 v3 product families offer significantly better performance over the previous generation while fitting into the same thermal design power (TDP) limits.
• Intel Intelligent Power Capability powers individual processor elements on and off as needed to reduce power draw.
• Low-voltage Intel Xeon processors draw less energy to satisfy demands of power and thermally constrained data centers and telecommunication environments.
• Low-voltage 1.2 V DDR4 memory DIMMs use up to 20% less energy compared to 1.35 V DDR3 DIMMs.
• SSDs use as much as 80% less power than traditional spinning 2.5-inch HDDs.
• The server uses hexagonal ventilation holes, which is a part of Calibrated Vectored Cooling™ technology. Hexagonal holes can be grouped more densely than round holes, which provides more efficient airflow through the system.
• IBM Systems Director Active Energy Manager™ provides advanced data center power notification and management to help achieve lower heat output and reduced cooling needs.

Locations of key components and connectors

The following figure shows the front of the server.

Figure 2. Front view of the System x3500 M5

The following figure shows the rear of the server.

Figure 3. Rear view of the System x3500 M5

The following figure shows the locations of key components inside the server.