IBM GPFS Native RAID for GPFS Storage With Up to 348 Disk Drives

IBM GPFS Native RAID for GPFS Storage Server, V3.5 is required for licensing the software needed to complete the GPFS Storage Server solution on the Intelligent Cluster.

The GPFS Native RAID software is preinstalled on the Intelligent Cluster. This offering replaces the PRPQ license software previously announced as a required part of the IBM System x GPFS Storage Server.

System x GPFS Storage Server
It is a single, integrated, supported IBM solution, built to leverage a strong GPFS software market. It offers high performance on a scalable building-block approach – performance and capacity increase as you add multiple building blocks.

It is cost competitive, with extreme data integrity and reduced latency with faster rebuild times.

This new storage solution is an IBM-provided solution, built on standard System x components with GPFS software tuned to support this configuration.

There are two models: Model 24 and Model 26. Each model has two x3650 M4 servers twintailed with either four or six JBODs, with up to 348 disk drives. This solution leverages the high demand for GPFS software and couples it with a System x hardware solution; and is provided exclusively through the Intelligent Cluster portfolio. The System x GPFS Storage Server is designed to be easy to configure and buy. With no storage controllers, the data resides closer to the compute nodes for faster rebuild times. The hardware for this solution can be ordered through x-config. The solution is currently password protected in x-config so a password will need to be acquired.

Additional software licensing is also needed for the GPFS Native RAID for GPFS Storage Server, V3.5.

Licenses for GPFS Native RAID for GPFS Storage Server, V3.5, cannot be ordered independent of the selected hardware on which it can be preinstalled.

Licenses for offerings in this announcement include three or five years of software subscription and support. Software subscription and support contracts are managed in Passport Advantage .

If a new release or version of the offering in this announcement is made available in Passport Advantage after the announcement of the offering in System x ordering systems, clients with valid software and subscription contracts may elect to take electronic delivery of the latest release or version.

Key prerequisites

• Intelligent Cluster hardware solution
• GPFS Storage Server

Planned availability date: October 29, 2013