HP Advanced Memory Error Detection Technology

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HP Advanced Memory Error Detection

Technology

Technology brief

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2

SDRAM technology .............................................................................................................................. 2

Memory errors .................................................................................................................................... 3

Traditional memory error classifications .............................................................................................. 4

Correctable and uncorrectable errors ................................................................................................. 4

Why memory errors are increasing ........................................................................................................ 4

Server memory capacity is increasing ................................................................................................. 4

DRAM technology is changing ........................................................................................................... 5

HP Advanced Memory Error Detection Technology .................................................................................. 5

Enhancements .................................................................................................................................. 5

Advantages ..................................................................................................................................... 6

HP ProLiant servers supported ............................................................................................................ 6

Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 6

For more information ............................................................................................................................ 8

Summary of content (8 pages)

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HP Advanced Memory Error Detection Technology Technology brief Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2 SDRAM technology .............................................................................................................................. 2 Memory errors ....................................................................................................................................
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Introduction Across the industry, memory errors have increased significantly due to the growth in overall server memory capacity and the increase in the number of bits per DRAM chip. Uncorrectable memory errors can cause applications and operating systems to crash, so they are costly in terms of downtime and repairs. Over the past 18 years, HP has introduced several memory technology innovations to ensure data reliability and protection.
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Each DDR3 DRAM chip contains billions of memory cells ordered in eight banks (arrays) of rows and columns. Using a 2 Gb x4 DRAM chip as an example, each bank contains 2 10 (1,024) rows and 216 (65,536) columns, totaling more than 256 million cells per bank and more than 2 billion cells per chip. Each memory cell contains a circuit with a transistor and a capacitor that stores an electrical charge. The charge state of the capacitor represents binary information—a “1” or “0” data bit.
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The industry has traditionally classified memory errors by the number of bits affected and the causes of the errors. But for systems with large memory footprints, it‟s more meaningful to classify errors as correctable or uncorrectable. The following sections explain this distinction. Traditional memory error classifications Memory errors are commonly classified according to the number of bits affected in a 64-bit data word. An error in one bit of a data word is a single-bit error.
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Maximum server memory capacity is also increasing to meet the demands of HPC and virtualization. For example, an HP ProLiant DL580 G7 server fully populated with 32 GB DIMMs contains 2 TB of system memory, which translates to 18 trillion memory cells. DRAM technology is changing Memory manufacturers increase DIMM storage capacity by decreasing DRAM feature size (increasing chip density).
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Figure 3A: Example of IML event log with Correctable Memory Error alerts Figure 3B: Example of IML event log with an Uncorrectable Memory Error alert Advantages The HP Advanced Memory Error Detection Technology algorithm is better at pinpointing critical memory errors that can shut down a server. It reduces server downtime by alerting server administrators only when the server is truly at a higher risk of receiving a non-recoverable uncorrectable memory error.
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condition. As a result, administrators have unnecessarily or prematurely replaced good DIMMs at a cost of unnecessary downtime and repairs. In the ProLiant System ROM upgrade (version May 2011 or later), we have enhanced memory error protection with HP Advanced Memory Error Detection Technology. This innovation monitors several memory parameters and seeks out specific defects that either cause performance degradation or significantly increase the probability of a non-recoverable memory condition.
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For more information Visit the URLs listed below if you need additional information. Resource description Web address Certain ProLiant G7-Series ServersSYSTEM ROM UPGRADE REQUIRED for Certain ProLiant G7-Series Servers Configured with Intel Xeon 5500 Series Processors or Intel Xeon 5600 Series Processors http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Docu ment.