Memory Upgrade

[sapper]

I'm want to upgrade the memory in my FreeNAS box from 6GB to 24GB. I currently have 6 1GB dimm's in the system and will be replacing them with 6 4GB dimm's.

This system is headless and what I need to know is am I required to acknowledge anything from the system that would require me connecting a monitor and keyboard during start-up, or can I just remove the old, insert the new, power up and walk away?

 

[survive]

Hi sapper,

I think it really depends on the system. Some don't care about a change in memory size but some notify you that there has been a change. Personally, I would plan on having quick access to a monitor & keyboard just in case, particularly if the plan is for a quick up\down replacement. That said, if I were swapping out memory I would plan on running a few passes of memtest+ while it was down just to be sure.

Put another way, odds are it won't need a head if you have a head connected or close by.

-Will

 

[sapper]

Good to know.

The memory is in another server of mine right now (a Poweredge 2950) going through memtest+ as I wrote that last post and still is. I have a spare monitor I can use when installing, its just a pain logging everything around and was really hoping I wouldnt need to. But I guess murphy's law will prevail. I shall log the monitor over and have it ready if need be,

 

[titan_rw]

Even if it passes in the machine it's in now, I would memtest it again in the machine it's going to be in long term.

Especially if it's non-ECC you want to do everything you can to make sure the memory's good before letting zfs loose with it and your data.

 

[sapper]

The memory is ECC (PC2 5300F). All 24 GB went through memtest for 5 complete passes without issue, no errors :). I popped it in the NAS box this morning and its been humming long without issue. You bring up a good point though Titan, perhaps tonight I'll let memtest run it through the gauntlet on the NAS box as well for two or three passes to see how it does.