IBM eX5 Implementation Guide

Chapter 2. IBM eX5 technology 31

For more information regarding each of the eX5 systems and the available I/O adapters, see

the following sections:

򐂰 IBM System x3850 X5: 3.12, “I/O cards” on page 104.

򐂰 IBM System x3690 X5: 4.10.4, “I/O adapters” on page 168.

򐂰 IBM BladeCenter HX5: 5.13, “I/O expansion cards” on page 209.

2.4 MAX5

Memory Access for eX5 (MAX5) is the name give to the memory and scalability subsystem

that can be added to eX5 servers. In the Intel QPI specification, the MAX5 is a node

controller. MAX5 for the rack-mounted systems (x3850 X5, x3950 X5, and x3690 X5) is in the

form of a 1U device that attaches beneath the server. For the BladeCenter HX5, MAX5 is

implemented in the form of an expansion blade that adds 30 mm to the width of the blade (the

width of one extra blade bay). Figure 2-9 shows the HX5 with the MAX5 attached.

Figure 2-9 Single-node HX5 and MAX5

32 IBM eX5 Implementation Guide

Figure 2-10 shows the x3850 X5 with the MAX5 attached.

Figure 2-10 IBM System x3850 X5 with MAX5 (the MAX5 is the 1U unit beneath the main system)

Figure 2-11 shows the MAX5 removed from the housing.

Figure 2-11 IBM MAX5 for the x3850 X5 and x3690 X5

MAX5 connects to these systems through QPI links and provides the EXA scalability

interfaces. The eX5 chip set, which is described in 2.1, “eX5 chip set” on page 16, is

contained in the MAX5 units.