CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005)Server Hardware Installation and ManagementHard
A technician is installing a new virtualized server platform that will host several high-performance virtual machines. The server's motherboard supports 12 DIMM slots, and the maximum supported RAM capacity is 1.5TB. The technician wants to use memory modules that offer enhanced stability and error correction, which are crucial for a virtualized environment. Which type of memory module should the technician select?
- ARegistered DIMM (RDIMM)
- BUnbuffered DIMM (UDIMM)
- CLoad-Reduced DIMM (LRDIMM)
- DSmall Outline DIMM (SODIMM)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Registered DIMM (RDIMM)
RDIMMs (Registered DIMMs) are standard for enterprise servers, offering enhanced stability and error correction (ECC) by buffering signals to the memory controller. They support higher capacities and more modules per channel than UDIMMs. LRDIMMs are used for even higher capacities but RDIMMs are the common choice for 'enhanced stability and error correction' in virtualized servers.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. UDIMMs are unbuffered and typically used in consumer PCs; they do not offer the stability or capacity needed for enterprise servers.
- C. LRDIMMs are designed for extremely high capacities beyond what RDIMMs can achieve, but the core requirement is 'enhanced stability and error correction' for a virtualized environment, which RDIMMs provide as the standard choice.
- D. SODIMMs are small form-factor memory modules used in laptops and small devices, not enterprise servers.
Registered DIMM (RDIMM)
A type of memory module used in servers and workstations that includes a register between the memory modules and the system's memory controller to buffer signals, improving stability and allowing for higher capacities.
- Supports Error-Correcting Code (ECC) functionality.
- More stable and reliable than UDIMMs, suitable for enterprise environments.
- Allows for more memory modules per channel than UDIMMs, enabling higher total RAM capacity.
- Common choice for virtualized servers.
Memory trick: RDIMM 'Registers' for 'Reliability' in servers.