IBM System Storage 7216 Multi-Media Enclosure

The IBM System Storage 7216 Multi-Media Enclosure from IBM Corp. is a choice for environments where:

The availability of internal server bays for storage devices is limited or no bays are available (depending on server model)
It is important to consolidate storage devices in a single, convenient location to minimize space and cabling impacts
There is a need for the versatility of tape, DVD-RAM, and removable disk drives with either SAS and USB interface electronics
19-inch rack space is limited

IBM System Storage 7216 Multi-Media Enclosure (Model 1U2) is designed to attach to specific models of the IBM POWER7 models through a USB port on the server, or through an external Serial Attach SCSI (SAS) adapter.

7216 delivers external tape, removable disk drive, and DVD-RAM drive options that allow customers to transfer data with similar archival storage and retrieval technologies already installed in existing IT facilities.

Optional drive technologies
available in the 7216 offering are:

DAT320 160 GB SAS Tape Drive: Read-write compatible with DAT320 and DAT160 data cartridges
DAT320 160 GB USB Tape Drive: Read-write compatible with DAT320 and DAT160 data cartridges
Half-high LTO Ultrium 5 1.5 TB SAS Tape Drive: Read-write compatible with LTO Ultrium 5 and LTO Ultrium 4 data cartridges, and read-only compatible with Ultrium 3 data cartridges
DVD-RAM: 9.4 GB SAS Slim Optical Drive supports most standard DVD disks
RDX Removable USB Disk Drives: RDX Docking Station is compatible with most RDX disk drive cartridge and supports RDX Removable drives, with 160 GB and 500 GB capacity options

The 7216 offers IBM’s Customer Replaceable Unit (CRU) maintenance service to help make installation or replacement of new drives efficient. Other 7216 Model 1U2 components are also designed for CRU maintenance.

Mandatory software
IBM POWER7 Operating System software options:

AIX

AIX Version 7.1
AIX Version 6.1 with the 6100-06 Technology Level
AIX Version 6.1 with the 6100-05 Technology Level and Service Pack 3, or later
AIX Version 6.1 with the 6100-04 Technology Level and Service Pack 7, or later
AIX Version 6.1 with the 6100-03 Technology Level and Service Pack 7, or later
AIX Version 5.3 with the 5300-12 Technology Level and Service Pack 2, or later
AIX Version 5.3 with the 5300-11 Technology Level and Service Pack 5, or later
AIX Version 5.3 with the 5300-10 Technology Level and Service Pack 5, or later

Note: Assignment of devices in the 7216 to the VIOS requires VIOS level 2.2, or later.
Note: 7216 with SAS only devices may also use V5.3 with Levels 10 and 11, and V6.1 with Levels 3, 4, and 5.

Linux

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 Service Pack 3, or later
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 1, or later
Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 5.5, or later

IBM i (OS/400)

IBM i 6.1.1 operating system, or later

Supports only the IBM 7216 with the following features:

DAT320 SAS Tape Drive (feature number 1402)
DVD-RAM Drive and Sled (feature number 1420) and DVD-RAM Drive (feature number 1422)
Half-high LTO5 SAS Tape Drive (feature number 8247)

Cables and Host System Bus adapters

SAS Controller Adapter and Cable: PCI-E DDR Dual-x4 External SAS Controller Adapter (feature numbers 5278 or 5901) must be installed in IBM POWER7 processor-based servers in order to attach to a7216Model 1U2 Multi-Media Storage Enclosure with DAT320, HHLTO5, and DVD-RAM SAS device features. For each SAS tape drive and DVD-RAM drive feature installed in the 7216, the appropriate external SAS cable will be included for attach to an IBM Power server. Up to two 7216 storage enclosure SAS features may be attached per PCI-E DDR Dual-x4 SAS Adapters (feature numbers 5278 or 5901). Attaching 7216 to an IBM POWER7 processor-based server through the integrated SAS adapter is not supported.
7216 USB Adapter and Cable: The DAT320 USB Tape Drive and Removable RDX HDD Docking Station features on 7216 only support the USB cable that is provided as part of the feature code. Additional USB hubs, add-on USB cables, or USB cable extenders are not supported. For each DAT320 USB tape drive and RDX Docking Station feature installed in the 7216, the appropriate external USB cable will be included for attachment to an IBM Power server. The 7216 DAT320 USB tape drive or RDX Docking Station features can be connected to the external, integrated USB ports on POWER7 Systems or to the USB ports on 4-Port USB PCI Express® Adapter (feature number 2728).
RDX Removable Disk Drives: RDX Removable Disk Drives (features numbers 1106 and 1107) require an RDX Drive Docking Station (feature number 1103).

Planned availability date:
September 10, 2010