Installing Extra 16GB ECC RAM

[Ziggy]

Hi. I have a 2015 FreeNAS Mini with 16GB of RAM. I decided to increase the RAM as I want to run more VMs and apps. After powering down the server and carefully inserting the new ECC sticks in the two empty slots, the machine remained stuck on 'system initializing'. I moved the original RAM to two adjacent slots - previously they had been in separate slots somewhat apart on the MB (American Megatrends) - and the two new sticks to the other two slots side by side with the same result. Only removing the new RAM will the unit power up fully. Any ideas? Might the MB need an updated BIOS for example? TIA.

 

[Patrick M. Hausen]

What is the mainboard in your Mini and what brand and type precisely are your old and new modules?
This is the community forum, not the iX support channel - I don't have a clue what hardware you are talking about ;)
iX might have an inventory of all systems ever sold including mainboard models etc. but on this forum you need to give us a bit more information.

 

[Ziggy]

Thanks Patrick. The MB is an AsusRock with American Megatrends bios 2.16.1243. The new ram is:
Hynix MemoryMasters 16GB KIT (2x8GB) DDR3 1333MHz PC3-10600 Registered ECC 1.5V CL9 2Rx4 Dual Rank 240 Pin RDIMM Server Memory Ram Module Upgrade (Server Only).
The old ram (from the bios readout) that shipped with the Mini is:
Dual-Channel 8192MB ECC-DIMM DDR3-1600 x 2 sticks.

I hadn't really thought of contacting IX Systems given the machine is 6 years old and out of warranty, but I'll try that too.

 

[Patrick M. Hausen]

The model number printed on the mainboard is more helpful than the BIOS version at the moment. Model number leads to mainboard manual leads to supported memory configurations. Which one should always check before buying parts.

And is it Asus or ASrock?

 

[Ziggy]

The model number printed on the mainboard is more helpful than the BIOS version at the moment. Model number leads to mainboard manual leads to supported memory configurations. Which one should always check before buying parts.

And is it Asus or ASrock?

Sorry ASRock. I'll have to check the mb model number

 

[klu]

If my memory serves me correctly the 2015 FreeNAS Mini should be a ASRock C2750D4I.

I do not have the FreeNAS Mini but I have had the C2750D4I for several years. In the beginning I had kind of the same Problem. The system was always stuck on 'system initializing', or so it seemed. Sometimes it took about 15 minutes for the system to get past that. I did not know at the time but the problem was a faulty memory module. The system did boot up and MemTest was fine for some hours, but in the end I got a lot of ECC-Errors sappming the log and even a system freeze every once and a while.

Have your tried running the system only on the new 16GB or just 8GB of the new modules? It maybe that the modules are just not compatible. I would suggest you try one or both of the new modules and run a memtest if it boots up.

My problems finally got solved with the 3rd RMA of the memory modules and the system ran smooth ever since. But the C2750D4I seems to be very sensitve when it comes to RAM.

 

[Ziggy]

If my memory serves me correctly the 2015 FreeNAS Mini should be a ASRock C2750D4I.

I do not have the FreeNAS Mini but I have had the C2750D4I for several years. In the beginning I had kind of the same Problem. The system was always stuck on 'system initializing', or so it seemed. Sometimes it took about 15 minutes for the system to get past that. I did not know at the time but the problem was a faulty memory module. The system did boot up and MemTest was fine for some hours, but in the end I got a lot of ECC-Errors sappming the log and even a system freeze every once and a while.

Have your tried running the system only on the new 16GB or just 8GB of the new modules? It maybe that the modules are just not compatible. I would suggest you try one or both of the new modules and run a memtest if it boots up.

My problems finally got solved with the 3rd RMA of the memory modules and the system ran smooth ever since. But the C2750D4I seems to be very sensitve when it comes to RAM.

Many thanks. I’ll try your suggestion and run the new ram only. If they’re not working I’ll return them.

 

[Arwen]

I did not think that board supports Registered RAM, only un-buffered RAM. So, some research.

The Intel site does not mention Registered verses un-buffered;
Intel ARK for Intel® Avoton C2750 Octa-Core Processor

But the ASRock Rack site does state UDIMMs;
ASRock Rack C2750D4I specifications

 

[Ziggy]

If my memory serves me correctly the 2015 FreeNAS Mini should be a ASRock C2750D4I.

I do not have the FreeNAS Mini but I have had the C2750D4I for several years. In the beginning I had kind of the same Problem. The system was always stuck on 'system initializing', or so it seemed. Sometimes it took about 15 minutes for the system to get past that. I did not know at the time but the problem was a faulty memory module. The system did boot up and MemTest was fine for some hours, but in the end I got a lot of ECC-Errors sappming the log and even a system freeze every once and a while.

Have your tried running the system only on the new 16GB or just 8GB of the new modules? It maybe that the modules are just not compatible. I would suggest you try one or both of the new modules and run a memtest if it boots up.

My problems finally got solved with the 3rd RMA of the memory modules and the system ran smooth ever since. But the C2750D4I seems to be very sensitve when it comes to RAM.

So I tried your suggestion and left only the new ram in and booted. System remained stuck on 'Waiting for BMC initializing ..' I left it attempting a boot for hours. I may have bad ram or, as Arwen suggested, it's probably just the wrong ram. I didn't do my homework. I was in too much of a hurry to get that extra power. Ironically, I didn't check with IXSystems if they still sold ram for this Mini model because, being in the EU, I didn't want to have to pay the extra taxes to import from the U.S., but I ended up buying from Amazon U.S. anyway because I was having difficulty sourcing ECC ram here. Back to the drawing board.

 

[pschatz100]

Trying to use Registered RAM is most likely your problem. The ASRock C2750D4I does not support RDIMM's.

 

[Ziggy]

Trying to use Registered RAM is most likely your problem. The ASRock C2750D4I does not support RDIMM's.

Thanks all. I have returned the ram and am in the process of ordering the correct modules this time, using the information on the MB supplied here and confirmed by sight when I opened the case again. Much appreciate the help.

 

[Ziggy]

RAM received and installed and working. Thanks again for all the input.