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IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

By Bill Detwiler August 9, 2010, 10:26 AM PDT on Twitter billdetwiler

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IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

One very large box

One very large box

Our IBM System x3400 M3 test server arrived in a rather larger cardboard box with its own wooden pallet.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

First look at the server

First look at the server

With the packing material removed, we get our first look at the IBM System x3400 M3 tower.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Power cables and documentation

Power cables and documentation

The IBM System x3400 M3 is shipped with a pair of power cables and the product documentation.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Out of the box

Out of the box

Unpacking the IBM System x3400 M3 server is best done with two people.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

One rather large tower

One rather large tower

The IBM System x3400 M3 comes as either a tower or 5U rack by CTO or optional conversion kit. This tower version is 17.3 inches tall, 8.6 inches wide, 30.2 inches deep, and weighs between 59.7 and 83.4 pounds (depending on the configuration). This machine is significantly larger and heavier than your average desktop tower.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Top drive cover open

Top drive cover open

Behind the IBM System x3400 M3’s top drive cover is the optical drive and two additional 5.25″ drive bays. A small white power button is also located in the top-left corner.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Top drive bays

Top drive bays

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Media bays access instructions

Media bays access instructions

Instructions for accessing various areas of the IBM System x3400 M3 (such as the media bays) are conveniently located on multiple case stickers.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

External USB 2.0 ports

External USB 2.0 ports

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Side panel catch and media bays access button

Side panel catch and media bays access button

The lock on the side panel prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing the hardware inside the case and the media bays.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Drive covers open

Drive covers open

Opening the drive covers reveals the hard drives.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Optical drive with drive cover open

Optical drive with drive cover open

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Hard drives

Hard drives

Standard IBM System x3400 M3 machines support either eight 2.5″ SAS drives, four 3.5″ SAS/SATA drives, or four solid-state 3.5″ SATA drives. Optional configurations are available with 16 2.5″ SAS or eight 3.5 SAS/SATA bays.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

hard drive latch

hard drive latch

Drives are hot-swappable and removing them is as simple as lifting up this level and pulling the drive out. I’ll leave them in place for now.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Hard drive slots

Hard drive slots

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

5.25" Drive bays

5.25" Drive bays

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Side panel latch

Side panel latch

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Opening the side panel

Opening the side panel

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Inside the IBM System x3400 M3

Inside the IBM System x3400 M3

With the side panel open, we get our first look inside the IBM System x3400 M3. The M3’s case design allows for easy access to the system’s interior hardware.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

System service information

System service information

A large sticker with system service information is located on the inside of the IBM System x3400 M3’s removable side panel.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Removable side case panel

Removable side case panel

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

System board diagram and common part numbers

System board diagram and common part numbers

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Media bays

Media bays

Our test system came with a single optical drive, but the IBM System x3400 M3 has two additional 5.25″ bays.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Hard drive bays

Hard drive bays

The back of the IBM System x3400 M3’s hard drive bays. Our test system was configured for eight, hot-swappable 2.5″ SAS drives.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Power supplies

Power supplies

The IBM System x3400 M3 comes with either a fixed or hot-swappable power supply. Our test system had a pair of hot-swappable supplies.

The supplies were mounted in a large metal housing that swung out of the case allowing access to the first CPU, a second set of DIMM sockets, and various motherboard connections.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

CPUs

CPUs

The IBM System x3400 M3 has space for a pair of CPUs and supports a variety of Intel units, including the 6-Core Intel Xeon (X56xx), 4-Core Intel Xeon (E56xx), 4-Core Intel Xeon (E55xx), and 2-Core Xeon (E55xx).

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Adapter guide

Adapter guide

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Cooling fan

Cooling fan

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Removing the cooling fan

Removing the cooling fan

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Cooling fan removed

Cooling fan removed

The IBM System x3400 M3 tower contains three of these large cooling fans.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Hot-swappable power supplies

Hot-swappable power supplies

Our IBM System x3400 M3 test machine had a pair of hot-swappable power supplies.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Releasing the power supply

Releasing the power supply

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Self-contained power supply

Self-contained power supply

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Power supplies removed

Power supplies removed

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Power supplies removed

Power supplies removed

The IBM System x3400 M3 supports either 920W or 670W universal, autoswitching power supplies.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Power supply connectors

Power supply connectors

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Power supply housing

Power supply housing

With the supplies removed, the supplies’ metal housing should swing out from the case.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Lift up on the power supply latch and pull

Lift up on the power supply latch and pull

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Power supply housing in open position

Power supply housing in open position

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Behind the power supply housing

Behind the power supply housing

With the supply housing in the open position, we can see the clear plastic cover behind it.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Clear plastic cover

Clear plastic cover

We can now remove the clear plastic cover that sits behind the power supply housing.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Clear plastic cover latch

Clear plastic cover latch

This latch holds the clear plastic cover in place.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Clear plastic cover starts to come free

Clear plastic cover starts to come free

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Lifting the clear plastic cover away

Lifting the clear plastic cover away

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Clear plastic cover

Clear plastic cover

This clear plastic cover helps direct air flow to critical areas inside the IBM System x3400 M3.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

System board without the clear plastic cover

System board without the clear plastic cover

With the clear plastic cover removed, we get a much better view of the main system board, DIMM sockets, CPU heatsinks, and other internal components. Next, I’ll remove the large metal housing for the IBM System x3400 M3’s three cooling fans.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Cooling fan housing bottom latch

Cooling fan housing bottom latch

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Cooling fan housing top latch

Cooling fan housing top latch

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Cooling fan housing

Cooling fan housing

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Cooling fan housing removed

Cooling fan housing removed

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

CPUs and DIMM sockets

CPUs and DIMM sockets

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

CPUs and DIMM sockets

CPUs and DIMM sockets

The IBM System x3400 M3 can support up to 128GB of RDIMM memory in 16 DIMM slots, or up to 24GB of UDIMM memory in 12 slots. Our test system had 16 slots.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Miscellaneous cables

Miscellaneous cables

Cables for the optical drive, hard drives, and various other components.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

CPU Heatsinks

CPU Heatsinks

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Samsung 4GB 2Rx4 PC3-10600R DIMM

Samsung 4GB 2Rx4 PC3-10600R DIMM

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Hypervisor USB port

Hypervisor USB port

The IBM System x3400 M3 contains an embedded hypervisor–“a USB port on the motherboard, activated with an optional USB key for supporting VMware ESXi for virtualization.”

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Adapter slots and IMM

Adapter slots and IMM

The IBM System x3400 M3 has six adapter slots standard–five PCIe Gen 2 slots and one legacy PCI slot.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

IBM ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller

IBM ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller

One slot is used for the IBM ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Gb Ethernet

Gb Ethernet

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

IBM ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller - Front

IBM ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller - Front

The optional IBM ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

IBM ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller - Back

IBM ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller - Back

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

SAS hard drive bay circuit board

SAS hard drive bay circuit board

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Three 2.5" SAS hard drives

Three 2.5" SAS hard drives

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Removing the hard drives

Removing the hard drives

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

IBM System X 300GB hard drive

IBM System X 300GB hard drive

Our IBM System x3400 M3 came with three IBM System X 300GB 10,000 RPM SAS hard drives.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Removing the optical drive

Removing the optical drive

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

DVD-ROM optical drive TS-H353

DVD-ROM optical drive TS-H353

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Removing the hard drive bay circuit board and connectors

Removing the hard drive bay circuit board and connectors

This circuit board contains the eight connectors for the 2.5″ SAS hard drives and connects to the IBM ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Main System board release latch

Main System board release latch

The IBM System x3400 M3’s main system board is mounted on a removable plate. Releasing this latch allows you to remove the plate.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Hard drive bay circuit board removed

Hard drive bay circuit board removed

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Near-empty case

Near-empty case

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Nothing left but a few wires and various metal housings

Nothing left but a few wires and various metal housings

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Main system board - Top

Main system board - Top

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

Main system board - Side

Main system board - Side

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

IBM System x3400 M3 small-office server teardown

CPU heatsink removed

CPU heatsink removed

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

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By Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.
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