PowerEdge R710 Memory configuration

Question

We inherited a Dell PowerEdge 710 server.  It has a total of 48 GB Ram.  There are a total of 10 memory sticks in the machine.  Five memory sticks in the A bank and five in the B bank.  Eight of the memory sticks are 4 GB 2Rx4 PC3 1060R 09 10 E1 D2.  Two are 8GB 2R4 PC3L 1060R 9 12 E2.  The 4GBs are in the A1 A4 A2 A5 B1 B4 B2 B5 and the 8GBs in the A7 and A8.  YES, I know this is an unsupported configuration, as I said we inherited it (MSP company).  Every time we reboot it, we get the error message about an unsupported memory configuration.  The message Press (Ctrl-B) for Remote Access Setup in 5 seconds appears next.  Then the message Press F1to continue or F2 to  run the system setup program.  Is the press f1 to continue, caused by the unsupported memory configuration or a problem with the Remote Access Setup? Given that we need to have at least 2 sticks of the same type 2 GB 4 GB, 8 GB in the same memory channels, we need to do one of several things: buy 4: 4GB and replace the 8GB by removing it and putting 2: 4B in A3 A6 and 2: 4GB in B3 B6, buy 4:4GB and remove all the memory and put the 4GB in A4 A7 A5 A8 A6 A9 and B4 B7 B5 B8 B6 B9, or by 2: 8GB, remove the 8GB sticks and put the 8 GB memory in A3 A6 and B3 B6, correct? Are there any changes to the memory configuration in the BIOS we might need to change?

DELL-Josh Cr · Accepted Answer

That’s correct, the mode is set in the BIOS.

DELL-Josh Cr · Answer

Hi,

The F1 error is being caused by the unsupported memory configuration. The channels have to match for the error to go away. Do you need all 48GB. The quickest solution is to just remove the two 8GB sticks and just have the eight 4GB sticks installed.

Page 132 ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_ser_stor_net/esuprt_poweredge/poweredge-r710_Owner%27s%20Manual_en-us.pdf

You need either 4,6,9 sticks per processor with matching channels, so four 8GB and four 4GB would work or four 8GB and eight 4GB or six 8GB and six or twelve 4GB.

JTB_RT · Answer

Yes, we need all 48 GB, we are running Microsoft virtual servers on the physical server.

If we are running in Optimizer memory mode the configuration for twelve 4GB would be 4GB in A1 A4 A7 A2 A5 A8 and B1 B4 B7 B2 B5 B8 or A1 A4 A2 A5 A3 A6 and B1 B4 B2 B5 B3 B6? What is the better configuration?

If we are running in ECC memory mode the configuration for twelve 4GB would be 4GB in A2 A5 A8 A3 A6 A9 and B2 B5 B8 B3 B6 B9?

The memory mode is determined by the settings in the BIOS, correct?

PowerEdge Hardware General

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