Product guide

IBM Flex System x240 Compute Node (E5-2600) 14
The hardware kits have the following features:
ServeRAID M5100 Series Enablement Kit for IBM Flex System x240 (90Y4342) enables support

for up to two 2.5” HDDs or SSDs in the hot-swap bays in the front of the server. It includes a
CacheVault unit, which enables MegaRAID CacheVault flash cache protection. This enablement kit
replaces the standard two-bay backplane (which is attached via the planar to an onboard controller)
with a new backplane that attaches to an included flex cable to the M5115 controller. It also includes
an air baffle, which also serves as an attachment for the CacheVault unit.
MegaRAID CacheVault flash cache protection uses NAND flash memory powered by a
supercapacitor to protect data stored in the controller cache. This module eliminates the need for a
lithium-ion battery commonly used to protect DRAM cache memory on PCI RAID controllers. To avoid
the possibility of data loss or corruption during a power or server failure, CacheVault technology
transfers the contents of the DRAM cache to NAND flash using power from the supercapacitor. After
the power is restored to the RAID controller, the saved data is transferred from the NAND flash back
to the DRAM cache, which can then be flushed to disk.
Tip: The Enablement Kit is only required if 2.5-inch drives are to be used. If you plan to install four or
eight 1.8-inch SSDs only, then this kit is not required.
ServeRAID M5100 Series IBM Flex System Flash Kit for x240 (90Y4341) enables support for up to

four 1.8-inch SSDs. This kit replaces the standard two-bay backplane with a four-bay SSD backplane
that attaches to an included flex cable to the M5115 controller. Because only SSDs are supported, a
CacheVault unit is not required, and therefore this kit does not have a supercap. The use of this kit
limits which 1.8-inch solid state drives can be used in the x240 as listed in Table 11. Use Flash Kit v2
instead.
ServeRAID M5100 Series IBM Flex System Flash Kit v2 for x240 (47C8808) enables support for

up to four 1.8-inch SSDs. This kit replaces the standard two-bay backplane with a four-bay SSD
backplane that attaches to an included flex cable to the M5115 controller. Because only SSDs are
supported, a CacheVault unit is not required, and therefore this kit does not have a supercap. This v2
kit provides support for the latest high-performance SSDs.
ServeRAID M5100 Series SSD Expansion Kit for IBM Flex System x240 (90Y4391) enables

support for up to four internal 1.8-inch SSDs. This kit includes two air baffles, left and right, which can
attach two 1.8-inch SSD attachment locations and Flex cables for attachment to up to four 1.8-inch
SSDs.
Note: The SSD Expansion Kit cannot be installed if the USB Enablement Kit, 49Y8119, is already
installed as these kits occupy the same location in the server.
The following table shows the kits required for each combination of drives. For example, if you plan to
install eight 1.8-inch SSDs, then you will need the M5115 controller, the Flash kit, and the SSD Expansion
kit.
Table 8. ServeRAID M5115 hardware kits
Desired drive support Components required
Maximum
number of
2.5" drives
Maximum
number of
1.8" SSDs
ServeRAID
M5115
90Y4390
Enablement Kit
90Y4342
Flash Kit
90Y4341
47C8808
SSD
Expansion Kit
90Y4391
2 0 => Required Required
0 4 (front) => Required Required
2 4 (internal) => Required Required Required
0 8 (both) => Required Required Required