The Random Access Memory, or RAM, is one of the most important aspects when looking to increase performance in web and database servers. Focus is usually on how many gigabytes of memory a server has, but not as much on memory stability.

In WebDeal AS, we only recommend using IBM hardware, which is known for high levels of stability, mainly due to memory functions having been originally designed for mainframe machines.

Chipkill memory

Chipkill corrects multiple single-bit errors to keep a DIMM (Dual In-line Memory Module) from failing. Chipkill memory is approximately 100 times more effective than ECC (Error-correcting code) technology, providing correction for up to four bits per DIMM (eight bits per memory controller), whether on a single chip or on multiple chips.

If a memory chip error does occur, Chipkill is designed to automatically take the inoperative memory chip offline while the server keeps running. The controller is able to reconstruct the “missing” bit from the failed chip and continue working as usual.

Chipkill support is provided in the memory controller and implemented using standard ECC DIMMs, so it is transparent to the OS.