Market share for IBM POWER in the Unix environment was up 4.3% since the introduction of Power 7 – in a period showing the largest shift of customer spending in Unix history. To date, IBM have published 3,900+ successful migrations to POWER technology, most coming from HP/UX and Oracle/Sun along with some X86 consolidations. Power 7 has been massively successful and in middle of its life cycle, there have been some further announcements made.

New models have been announced. 710 – 740 ranges have been refreshed as well as the 770 and 780 at the higher end. Memory capacity has been doubled and at the top end more cores are available and higher speed processors.

The 770 and 780 range

The 770 and 780 range have seen major improvements in I/O bandwidth using PCIe Gen2 adapters. Memory is now expandable to 4Tb, and 4 sockets per node are now available giving you up to 96 cores using the 6 core 3.44GHz processor.

Some of the newly available GEN2 I/O adapters include:

Softek™ Replicator software provides an efficient, reliable method to help ensure usable data recovery regardless of storage vendor or server platform. In doing so, it enables any data protection budget to stretch further.

In addition to being essential for disaster recovery, Softek Replicator software helps reduce downtime for backup windows while enabling centralised backup from remote sites.

Replicator software provides advanced volume-level replication for fast data recovery in widely used IBM AIX®, HP-UX, Solaris, Red Hat Linux® and Microsoft® Windows® environments and supports virtualised environments (VMware).

Offering flexibility with point-in-time copies for protection beyond backups, Replicator software can make two copies of source data at the same time – one copy can be a remote copy for disaster-recovery use while the local copy assists with backup processes.

Additionally, Replicator software’s write-order consistency provides continuous transfers of updated data to help minimise data loss and recovery time should an interruption occur.

ICT organisations with huge databases and shrinking backup windows can back up a point-in-time copy, thereby increasing availability. Data is replicated while applications remain active, and backups are carried out from the point-in-time copy during normal business hours. For centralised backups, production data can be replicated from remote locations to a central site where the backup is taken from the point-in-time copies.

Softek™ Replicator software delivers virtually uncompromised data integrity because the source data is not changed during replication. In a database environment in which the database may reside over multiple volumes, it is critical to treat all volumes as one logical entity.

Replicator software does this not only by grouping volumes together but also by ensuring the correct write order for all data. With staging areas on both the primary and secondary servers, Replicator software helps ensure that the data is in a usable state for continuous availability.

Softek Transparent Data Migration Facility (TDMF)

Softek TDMF is designed to move data between multivendor storage arrays without application outages. It is a host-based software that helps enable local or long-distance data migration at the volume level and supports IBM z/OS®, Microsoft® Windows®, UNIX® and Linux® environments.

Reasons for Data Migration

• Operational infrastructure (optimisation)
• Relocation
• Storage consolidation
• End of storage lease
• Server equipment replacement
• Storage equipment replacement (technology refresh)

Features

• Patent-pending non-disruptive Dynamic Swap migration – Transparent cutover to new storage without application outage
• Dynamic configuration – Volumes can be included or excluded at virtually any time
• Throttled migration – Low impact to applications on the server
• Data Mobility Console feature – Central management console to manage migrations across all major platforms
• Works seamlessly with (or without) a volume manager or file system – Host-based offering ensures support for all arrays
• Large scalability – Volume grouping enables easy migration of thousands of volumes

Enhanced availability and recoverability with Softek TDMF z/OS add-on modules

• Point-in-time (PIT), perpetual point-in-time (PPIT), offline volume access (OVA) and Transmission
• Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
• Helps reduce the risk and cost associated with data migration on a multivendor, multiplatform solution
• Facilitates protection against data corruption and loss by tracking and validating the data migrated

See also: Data Mobility Services – Softek Replicator (PDF file 64kb, opens in new window)

Dear Margaret,

I picked up my new little pussy-cat last week!

A brand new, Jaguar XKR convertible - a sports car defined by effortless power, instant response and outstanding agility. Constructed from aluminium for lightness, strength and rigidity, powered by Jaguar’s latest generation Supercharged 4.2 litre V8 306kW engine, and featuring a Sequential Shift 6-Speed transmission with fully automatic or paddle-shift manual control the XKR delivers blistering acceleration, superb driving dynamics and pin-sharp handling…

Listen to me, I’ve only had it a week and I sound like a sales brochure. But it really is a fantastic machine. Performance, comfort, reliability and backed up by the full support of Jaguar.

I love it!

Joseph Jagman

Dear Joseph,

I am so pleased that you have found yourself a gem with the XKR. It is really good to have a machine so good that it sells itself!

Take the new IBM Power Systems for example. Performance, functionality, reliability and with the virtualisation tools available it can give you the flexibility to move and to grow with your business. With IBM backing this really is a machine that comes from a great stable.

And speaking of stables, when it comes to performance cars I’ll stick with my little red stallion!

Margaret

Active Energy Manager (formally IBM Director PowerExecutive) measures, monitors, and manages the energy components built into IBM systems enabling a cross-platform management solution. Active Energy Manager is an extension of IBM Director that supports BladeCenter, POWER Systems and System x servers.

It also provides a source of energy management data that can be exploited by Tivoli enterprise solutions such as Tivoli Monitoring and Tivoli Usage and Accounting Manager. Active Energy Manager is a key component of IBM’s Cool Blue portfolio within Project Big Green.

This solution helps customers monitor energy consumption to allow better utilization of available energy resources. The application software enables customers to trend actual energy consumption and corresponding thermal loading of IBM Systems running in their environment with their applications.

Active Energy Manager has other advantages as well

• It’s the only energy management software tool that can provide a single view of the actual power usage across multiple platforms
• It increases energy efficiency by controlling power use across the data centre
• It can limit server power consumption by capping maximum power consumption
• It can improve energy efficiency resulting in substantial savings and cost reductions
• It offers out of the box management for single IBM systems while being able to provide a cross environment view of power and thermal usage within an IT shop
• Plan for the future by viewing trends of power usage over time
• Monitor and report actual power usage and thermal information
• Use power trending to assist in better data centre decision making.

Active Energy Manager is a cornerstone of IBM’s Project Big Green initiative.

Learn more about IBM Active Energy Manager (including their 60 day free trial download).

Many of you have heard about blades, in fact, many of you are probably running blades. However for those of you wanting to know more about this new technology, please read on!

What is a BladeCenter Blade Server?

The term Blade Server refers to a thin, ultra dense enclosure that houses microprocessors, memory, disk, networking and other features. Multiple blade servers are inserted into a rack mounted chassis called the BladeCenter.

Normally with a typical server you would find power supplies, ethernet connections, cooling, media optical drives and other ports. The BladeCenter provides this functionality as well as a connection between the blades to achieve redundancy, high reliability and increased density.

Importantly, the IBM BladeCenter offers energy efficient designs and powerful IBM “cool blue” tools to help plan, monitor, control and allocate power consumption and cooling.

Chassis

BladeCenter S

The IBM BladeCenter S is designed for small and medium sized offices with limited IT skills needs. Its target is to be simplistic and economic. It does this by being small enough to fit under a desk and its ability to run by plugging into an average wall power socket. One of the main advantages of this chassis is that it offers disk storage (up to 12 disks) so that no separate external disk storage needs to be purchased.

BladeCenter E

The IBM BladeCenter E is tailored towards space and power constrained data centres. This chassis holds up to 14 blade servers and is 7U high. The BladeCenter E has an extremely dense design and is up to 11% more efficient in power and cooling than its main competition.

BladeCenter H

The H Chassis is IBM’s high performance blade. The 9U rack houses 14 blades and is fully compatible using the same blades and switches with the entire family of BladeCenter systems. It also supports industry standard I/O switches from Cisco, Brocade and others so you are able to have more choice and flexibility for your environment.

It achieves high speed connectivity through 4 x10GB ethernet and rich telecom functionality. It also has the ability to increase bandwidth and throughput for demanding applications such as IPTV, VoD, IMS and security.

BladeCenter T

This model was designed by IBM to meet the rugged needs of the telecom industry. The T chassis is NEBS 3/ETSI compliant and meets standards for electromagnetic compatibility, thermal robustness, fire resistance, earthquake and office vibration resistance and airborne contaminant resistance!

Another feature is optional hot-swappable redundant AC or DC power supplies and cooling and built-in systems management resources in a 20″ deep chassis. The chassis is 8U rack optimised and houses up to 8 Blade Servers.

BladeCenter HT

This is IBM’s Telco version of the BladeCenter HT and is the correct choice for the ultimate combination of high performance and durability in telco, military, medical, government and industrial scenarios. Again this model is available with AC or DC power as well as high speed switching with multi terabit networking, 10Gbps switch fabric.

The BladeCenter HT is the largest in size being 12U, it houses 12 Blade Servers.

Blade Servers

The most common blade servers available from IBM are split into 3 areas:

• Intel Based,
• AMD Based, and
• Power Based.

Below is a quick overview of some of the Blade Servers available.

Intel Based

HS12 – 1-socket single, dual or quad-core Intel® Xeon®
HS21 – 2-socket dual-core or quad-core Intel® Xeon

AMD Based

LS21 – 2-socket dual-core AMD Opteron
LS22 – 2-socket quad-core AMD Opteron
LS41 – 4-socket dual-core AMD Opteron
LS42 – 4-socket quad-core AMD Opteron

POWER Based – Runs AIX , OS/400 and Linux for Power

JS12 – 1-socket dual-core 64-bit IBM POWER6^TM with AltiVec^TM SIMD accelerator
JS21 – 2-socket single-core or dual-core 64-bit IBM PowerPC® 970MP with AltiVec SIMD accelerator
JS22 – 2-socket dual-core 64-bit IBM POWER6^TM with AltiVec^TM SIMD accelerator

The POWER6 processor has several new features, including:

• power trending,
• power saver mode, and
• thermal reporting.

So what do these features do exactly?

Power Trending collects information to predict the power consumption of the data centre at various times of the day, week, or month. It uses that information to identify peak times, manage loads when electrical demands or costs are high, and if the system supports power capping, determine appropriate power caps.

Power Saver Mode provides a way to save power by being able to drop the voltage and frequency to a fixed percentage when the server is being underutilized.

Thermal Reporting helps identify server “hot-spots” that need attention. You can monitor the measured ambient temperature and a calculated exhaust heat index temperature via Active Energy Manager.

This all adds up to POWER6 technology being power efficient and a green technology.

See also: IBM EnergyScale for POWER6 Processor-Based Systems (PDF)

Servers

• IBM Power Blade servers
• IBM Power 520
• IBM Power 550
• IBM Power 570
• IBM Power 575
• IBM Power 595
• All IBM Power Systems (including earlier System i and System p models)

Software

• Virtualization – PowerVM
• AIX
• IBM i
• Linux
• Availability – PowerHA
• Security
• Energy
• Management

IBM Power Systems Solutions

Power systems – with POWER6™ processor technology have the ability to run AIX®, IBM i, and Linux® operating systems simultaneously. In fact, regardless of which operating systems you are using the actual hardware will be the same.

To accompany the new announcement, I5 OS has a been given a name also, it will now be referred to as simply IBM i.

Included in the family of the new Power Systems comes two new blades to run IBM i. These are designed to be installed into the BladeCentre S and BladeCentre H chassis.

In summary the Power Systems that will be available to run IBM i are:

• JS12 Blade 2-core cpw = 4000 – 7100
• JS22 Blade 4-core cpw = 4000 – 13800

• Power 520 1/2 way, cpw = 4300 – 8300
• Power 550 1/4 way, cpw = 4800 – 18000
• Power 570 2-16 way, cpw = 8150 – 76900
• Power 595 1-64 way, cpw = TBA

More Information 

IBM Announces IBM Power Systems: The New Power Equation For The New Enterprise Data Center

IBM Power Systems: the next generation systems for UNIX, i and Linux clients

We trust that Roger will remember his work address is 41 Sudbury Street, Darra, Queensland!

This is not the first time Roger has won a prize at an IBM event, of which he was reminded by many of us who were at the launch.

For anyone who is yet to ‘catch up’ the following is a quick summary of some products that share ‘dual personalities’.

System 390 = zSeries = System z (Mainframe)
AS/400 = iSeries = System i (Midrange OS/400)
RS/6000 = pSeries = System p (Midrange Unix)
FastT600 = DS4300 (Fibre Disk Array)
FastT700 = DS4400 (Fibre Disk Array)
FastT900 = DS4500 (Fibre Disk Array)

UPDATE: IBM have since replaced System i and System p with the new IBM Power Systems.

A hardware management console (HMC) is an Intel based PC appliance that is used to configure and manage partitions on IBM Power 5 systems (i520 etc). The main applications of a HMC include server and partition management and licensed internal code maintenance.

When Are They Required?

You will need a HMC whenever your i5 is partitioned. The exception to this is when you have up to 4 hosted Linux partitions on your iSeries.

What Models Can I Choose From?

You can choose between a rack mounted model (7310-CR3) or the desktop model (7310-C04). The rack mount model takes up 2U, with the HMC taking 1U and the flat screen, keyboard and mouse taking up another 1U.

How Much Are They?

HMCs, rack mounted with TFT Console Display and keyboards are priced at about $13,000. There are cheaper options available too.

See also: Hot Tips For Our IBM Customers – Consoles