Yesterday I was asked to tune an old server-class machine running MS Windows 2000 Advanced Server and MS SQL 2000. Because of its age, nobody knows its exact specification. What they know is just it is Intel dual CPUs and 512 MB RAM. That’s all! They don’t even know how fast they are? They don’t know CPU’s model as well as its clock rate. This machine is used all the time so I could not turn it off to see what are inside. Fortunately, there are many software that capables to retrieve hardware information without opening the chassis. My most favorite tool is Everest Home Edition developed by Lavalys. Everest Home Edition is a freeware. However, Lavalys discontinued this product since last month. Anyway, I found lots of its mirror sites, e.g., Softpedia. The latest version is Everest Home Edition 2.20. By this powerful product, I found that there are already 2 memory modules 256 MB each. Both memory modules are the same model, ECC PC-133 256 MB. Everest didn’t clearly indicate what RAM can fit into this mainboard, instead it stated that the mainboard is Intel STL2 Server Board which was also discontinued. Below are what I found for compatible memory issue.

• The memory module on the Intel STL2 Server Board has 4 DIMM sockets, which can hold up to 4 GB of Registered ECC PC-133 memory using four 72 bit DIMM modules.
• 133 MHz, Registered ECC PC-133 compatible 3.3V registered SDRAM modules (in compliance with the PC-133 Registered DIMM Specification).
• DIMMs with capacity of 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB. Other DRAM sizes may function correctly but will not be validated.
• Minimum configuration is 64 MB using one 64 MB DIMM.

The problem is ECC. This kind of memory is not widely used in commodity market. However, a saleman claimed that he had ECC memory in stock so they took 2 modules 256 MB each. They are twice more expensive than Non-ECC. After installation, the machine didn’t boot up anymore. Nothing happened, no sound, no light. The system administrator who bought the memories and installed them immediately asked me for urgent help. I found that the new memory modules are not the correct ones. They are Non-ECC so the mainboard didn’t recognize and didn’t function properly.

I just want to recommend everybody, especially me, to double check each memory module you bought from commodity market to make sure that it is what you really want. Otherwise, you might get some trouble to ask for the replacement of that ones like me.

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