Hewlett Packard Enterprise Superdome Flex Server with Intel® Optane™ Persistent Memory Module Support

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides information about the persistent memory support on Hewlett Packard Enterprise Superdome Flex Servers with second-generation of Intel® Xeon® 82XX, 62XX or 52XX Scalable processors.
Disclaimer:  The partner solution referenced in this article is a solution that is developed and supported by the partner. For more information, see https://www.hpe.com/info/persistentmemory

Resolution

Summary of server architecture, persistent memory components, and support information.

Server Architecture

Intel Optane persistent memory 100 series for HPE second-generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors provides a combination of affordable large capacity and support for data persistence.  Intel Optane persistent memory 100 series for HPE uses the standard DIMM form factor and is installed alongside DIMMs in a server memory slot.
Persistent Memory Components

Persistent Memory Modules
 

Persistent Memory Type	Module Description
Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory	128GB Intel Optane Persistent Memory 100 series for HPE
	256GB Intel Optane Persistent Memory 100 series for HPE
	512GB Intel Optane Persistent Memory 100 series for HPE

Configuration Maximums
 

Server Model	Supported CPU Series	Certified Maximum Capacity in App-Direct Mode (TB)	Certified Maximum Capacity in Memory Mode (TB)
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Superdome Flex Server	Intel Xeon Platinum 8200 (Cascade Lake-SP) Series Intel Xeon Gold 6200/5200 (Cascade Lake-SP) Series	12	0

Notes:

• All servers that support Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory supports the following NVDIMM Platform Capabilities:
  • Memory Controller Flush to NVDIMM Durability on Power Loss Capable
• The ACPI Specification 6.2 defines in section 5.2.20.4 the NVDIMM Platform Capabilities: 
  1. CPU Cache Flush to NVDIMM Durability on Power Loss Capable
  2. Memory Controller Flush to NVDIMM Durability on Power Loss Capable
  3. Byte Addressable Persistent Memory Hardware Mirroring Capable

• The certified maximum persistent memory capacity is based on installed memory capacity.  There is a small difference between installed persistent memory capacity and the amount available to ESXi because the system reserves some memory for internal use. 
• App-Direct Mode is supported in vSphere 6.7 U2 + Express Patch 10(ESXi670-201906002) or later.
• Memory Mode is not supported in Hewlett Packard Enterprise Superdome Flex Servers.

Support Information

HPE Customer Advisory

1. All PMem implementations are required to perform integrity checks on PMem to ensure all errors are detected and reported before the OS can be allowed access to the PMem. PMem implementations differ on when and how such integrity checks are performed.  Hewlett Packard Enterprise Superdome Flex Server system BIOS will perform a PMem integrity check on boot when necessary, such as when a system reset is caused by a fatal error. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Superdome Flex Server System, the PMem integrity check may take up to 30 minutes depending on the amount of PMem memory installed in an HPE System.
2. Following or greater version of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Superdome Flex Server BIOS is only recommended.

HPE Bundle: 3.25.30 SFW:IP147.007.002.107.000.2001252203 UEFI Mode