how-to install/configure online spare memory in HP Proliant Gen8 server

[Alan Buynak]

Hello.  I purchased a DL360p Gen8 server with six 8 GB DDR3 DIMMs so that I could have 32 GB of RAM and two online spares.  So in board 1 I installed two of the DIMMs and the same in board 2.  So far so good:  The system recognizes the 32 Gigs and so does the O/S (Win 2008 R2 Server Std Ed).  However, I cannot find the document that explains what slots to use for the online spares, and how do I tell the BIOS that these are spares?  I tried using the last slots in boards 1 and 2 (as a guess) but the bios says they are not installed correctly.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Jimmy Vance]

The Quickspecs has this information on memory configuration. I think the decal on the may contain similar info

General Memory Population Rules and Guidelines:

• White DIMM slots denote the first slot of a channel. For 1 DPC (DIMM per channel) populate white slots only.
• A minimum of one DIMM is required per server.
• When using HDIMM, 12 DIMMs per processor must be populated.
• Install DIMMs only if the corresponding processor is installed.
• If only one processor is installed in a two processor system, only half of the DIMM slots are available.
• To maximize performance, it is recommended to balance the total memory capacity between all installed
  processors and to load the channels similarly whenever possible.
• When two processors are installed, balance the DIMMs across the two processors.
• Populate DIMMs from heaviest load (quad-rank) to lightest load (single-rank) within a channel. Heaviest load
  (DIMM with most ranks) within a channel goes furthest from the processor.
• The Intel Xeon E5-2620 processor does not support DIMMs at 1.35V. Using the HP RBSU, 1.35V DIMMs
  can be changed to operate at 1.5V.
• Do not mix UDIMMs, RDIMMs,LRDIMMs or HDIMMs.
• RDIMMs operating at either 1.35V or 1.5V may be mixed in any order, but the system will power them at the
  higher voltage.
• DIMMs of different speeds may be mixed in any order; the server will select a common optimal speed.
• The maximum memory speed is a function of the memory type, memory configuration, and processor model.
• The maximum memory capacity is a function of the memory type and number of installed processors.
• HP memory from previous generation servers is not compatible with the DL360p Gen8 Server. Certain HP
  SmartMemory features such as memory authentication and enhanced performance may not be supported.
• To realize the performance memory capabilities listed in this document, HP SmartMemory is required. For
  additional information, please see the HP SmartMemory QuickSpecs at:
  http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/14225_na/14225_na.html (Worldwide)
• For memory population rules and additional memory guidelines, please see the DL360p Gen8 user guide at
  http://www.hp.com/support
• There are four (4) Memory channels per processor; eight (8) channels per 2 processor server .
• There are three (3) DIMM slots for each memory channel; twenty four (24) total slots for 2 processor server .
• Memory channels1 and 3 consists of the three (3) DIMMs that are furthest from the processor .
• Memory channel 2 and 4 consists of the three (3) DIMMs that are closest to the processor.

Page 46 of the users guide also has details on memory

http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.BINARYPORTLET/public/kb/docDisplay/resource.process/?spf_p.tpst=kbDocDisplay_ws_BI&spf_p.rid_kbDocDisplay=docDisplayResURL&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&spf_p.rst_kbDocDisplay=wsrp-resourceState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c03231393-5%257CdocLocale%253Den_US&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken