Online HPE Server Memory Configurator tool

I found some memory modules and wanted to see if I could boost my HP G6 server a bit more. Digging around the HPE site and reading the pdf I was not getting anywhere to see if I could just easily add the extra modules. I then googled and it pointed me to a HPE Server Memory Configurator tool - https://h22195.www2.hpe.com/ddr4memoryconfig/home/legal (Appears to only work with G6 and above)

This tool has two ways to help you work out your memory modules configuration if you are looking to increase/upgrade the memory in your existing server - 

• Use HPE Insight Diagnostics tools to help detect the memory already installed in your server. This means possibly no downtime if you already have the correct versions of various HP management tools already installed on the server otherwise you would still need downtime to install/update/reboot the server. 
• Enter HP part number/s for the memory modules you have installed already in your server but this requires you to either have the information already or shut down the server to gather the information (part number/assembly number) from the memory modules itself.

If you are using this tool to plan for a new server and want to know what combination of modules are required to achieve your capacity then you don’t need to worry about the two points above. I will show a quick example of how I used it based on my G6 DL360 with 8 x 8GB modules installed already. I have located some 2GB modules so I wanted to see if it was possible to add those modules and how to position the installation of all the memory modules.

1) Go to https://h22195.www2.hpe.com/ddr4memoryconfig/home/legal. Select which type of memory you are trying to configure. Select DDR4 if it is for Gen9 or Gen10 servers, DDR3 for G6, G7 or Gen8 then click "I agree". I selected DDR3 as it is a G6

2) Under "Step 1a" if you have a pre-configured BTO server model part number (SKU Number) then select "yes" and select "next". I didn’t have the details for “step 1a” so I followed “step 1b” which is to select which ProLiant server series you have, I selected “HPE ProLiant DL Servers” and then select your server from the drop down box below which I selected “ProLiant DL360 G6”

3) Processors - Once the model has been chosen you will need to select how many processors are installed or to be installed to the system

4) Memory - If you are configuring a brand new server then you would select "No" and click "Next" (Skip to step 7). For me I had memory installed so I selected "Yes" which will bring down another menu to choose what type of technology the memory is currently configured in the server. I selected "None" as I am not using any of those technology but if you are then select the appropriate one followed by "Next"

5) Existing Memory Information - If you have the correct HPE Diagnostics Insight tools (check the versions required as shown on the web screen) on a server then you can use "step2a" to help automatically detect the memory installed in your server. I chose to use "step 2b" clicking on "Enter your memory"

6) A pop-up windows appears and gives you some guidance on how to gather the part numbers of the memory modules you have installed in your server. Use the scroll bar to go down to the section where you start entering the module information. As you can see I have added the part numbers of where the modules are currently installed for me and click “Next”

7) You will see to the right of the web page your server memory configuration details. If “Existing memory” is shown as “0 GB” then you are using the tool to configure a new server or you have entered the incorrect part number/s hence the tool is not recognising your part number. My one is showing I have 64 GB ram which is correct

8) Use the slider or enter your desired memory you would like to increase/upgrade for your server. Select the memory options you would like and read the tips section to give you guidance. This section could determine how your existing memory/new server memory are configured. As you can see some options are based around cost and performance. Selecting the wrong memory option could equate to overspending or degrading the performance to achieve the desired configuration. So for my example I have used 8 out of 18 slots to get my 64GB (8 x 8GB) so I have 10 slots free. The modules that I have found are 2GB so assuming I can use all the remaining 10 slots I should be able to get 20GB extra so my desire memory would be 84GB. I selected “General purpose” and clicked “Next”

9) You will now get the results of what are the possible configuration you can achieve for your server based on your chosen desire memory and memory option selected. Some options may require you to remove/replace/add different modules to the ones you already have in your server. Once you decided which option you will go for click “Select”. As you can see there is an option where I can use all my 2GB ram and my current 8GB ram modules. 

10) You will get details about what HPE memory module kits to buy and a diagram of where to install/re-position the modules which is the essential part !!

So this was just a very basic run through of how I used it at home for my lab kit to see whether the memory I have located can be added to my server and also where to position each of the modules in my server so that it works. As I stated in step 8 it is important on which memory “option” you select where you can choose from Performance/Power Efficiency/Low Cost/ General Purpose as this could affect whether you need to replace existing modules in your server to achieve you memory requirement. I know I will be using this tool when I next do a upgrade or configure a new HPE server.