Friday, August 29, 2008

NEW - IBM System x3350 server


The System x3350 server delivers the performance, scalability, control, and serviceability you need to manage Web applications:

Product positioning

The System x3350 server is positioned as the entry 1U server of the System x rack-optimized product portfolio, filling a large one-socket/two-socket gap and enabling users to run applications like e-mail and collaboration, Web serving, and Javatm applications on a single-socket server.

This single-socket solution
incorporates the enhanced RAS and management features often found only in a dual-socket solution at a price point much closer to that of current single-socket solutions. These include:

Hot-swap and redundant power
Hot-swap and redundant fans
Hot-swap HDDs
Base Management Controller (BMC) with IPMI 2.0
Remote Supervisor Adapter II Slimline
PowerExec
Integrated HW RAID 0 and 1
Up to four HDDs hot-swap
Dual Ranked Memory
800 MHz memory

In addition to addressing concerns with server solution costs, the System x3350 server affords users greater scalability to accommodate changing workloads and provides them with the capability of running applications typically reserved for dual-processor servers.

For e-mail and collaboration, the System x3350 offers:

High availability features to enable up to 24/7 access to mission-critical e-mail and enable uninterrupted collaboration
Systems management to monitor, maintain, and maximize server availability to enable up to 24/7 access
I/O and storage for e-mail storage capacity and flexibility to meet growing and changing user needs
For Web serving, the x3350 offers:

High availability to enable up to 24/7 access to mission-critical, Web-enabled applications and data
Systems management to monitor, maintain, and maximize server availability
Memory throughput to enable uninterrupted response during peak volumes and seamless processing
Optimized for excellent 64-bit operation

The System x3350 server incorporates Intel Xeon processors with EM64T and dual-core or quad-core models. New Intel 64-bit extensions provide increased productivity, performance, and reliability for applications that can take advantage of 64-bit extensions.

With EM64T, you can run Intel-compatible software in either 32- or 64-bit extension mode. EM64T enables 64-bit extensions, allowing applications to address more memory and up to 1333 MHz FSB, which speeds up information access within the system.

Users can contact their software provider to determine their software support for EM64T and dual-core computing.

Value proposition

Affordable availability at the right size to meet your business needs
Performance and protection at an entry-level price
Attractively priced, easy-to-use, rack-optimized server for Web and network infrastructure
Perfect for single application hosting in a non-blade environment
Uncompromised availability features never before seen in a single-socket server from Tier 1 OEMs
Single-processor server delivering optimized performance for nonvirtualized application workloads
Resilience and performance in a package that is easy to deploy, manage, and service
Greater integrated I/O performance and compatibility with next-generation devices for added long-term investment protection
Energy efficient, to enable high-performance quad-core computing at a significantly lower cost
Lean power and cooling consumption, helping save power and cooling costs
Scalability, flexibility, and security for managing risk and responding to business change
Perfect server for deployments where users require a dedicated server, the application vendor doesn't support virtualization, or the application doesn't scale to take advantage of multiple sockets
Ability to stretch your IT dollar further by not paying for unused server infrastructure

* Ultrathin, rack-optimized, 1U high
* Choice of Intel® Xeon® processors:
o Xeon dual-core or quad-core processors with 1333 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and 4, 6, or 12 MB L2 cache
o Xeon 3.16 GHz1 dual-core processors
o Xeon 2.66, 2.83, or 3.0 GHz quad-core processors
o Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T)
* Standard 1 or 2 GB of PC2-6400 CL6 ECC 800 MHz DIMM system memory; 8 GB2 maximum
* Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) that supports high-speed, internal disk storage solutions, or Serial-ATA (SATA) controllers
* Two PCI-Express x8 slots (full-height, half-length)
* Hardware RAID 0 and 1 support on 3.5-inch hot-swap SAS and SATA models, and RAID 1E support on 2.5-inch hot-swap SAS models or optional hardware RAID-5
* Up to two SATA or four SAS HDDs, model dependent
* 450-watt, voltage-sensing power supply
* Integrated, dual Gigabit Ethernet controllers; dual-channel SATA
* Integrated SATA and SAS controllers
* Four USB, two Ethernet, one serial, and video ports

Planned availability date September 19, 2008

3.16 GHz E3120 6 MB 1024 MB HS SATA/SAS 4192B2U
3.16 GHz E3120 6 MB 1024 MB SS SATA 4192B4U
2.66 GHz X3330 6 MB 2048 MB HS SAS/2.5-in 4192D2U
2.83 GHz X3360 12 MB 2048 MB HS SAS/2.5-in 419284U
3.0 GHz X3370 12 MB 2048 MB HS SAS/2.5-in 419292U
3.16 GHz E3120 6 MB 1024 MB HS SATA/SAS 4193B2U
3.16 GHz E3120 6 MB 1024 MB SS SATA 4193B4U
2.66 GHz X3330 6 MB 2048 MB HS SAS/2.5-in 4193D2U
2.83 GHz X3360 12 MB 2048 MB HS SAS/2.5-in 419384U
3.0 GHz X3370 12 MB 2048 MB HS SAS/2.5-in 419392U

Note: All models contain a combination optical drive

Options
1 GB (2x512MB) PC2-6400 CL6 ECC 800 MHz DIMM 46C7443
2 GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400 CL6 ECC 800 MHz DIMM 46C7428
4 GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400 CL6 ECC 800 Mz DIMM 46C7429

Thursday, August 28, 2008

NEW - IBM System x3250 M2 server


The System x3250 M2 server helps you run your business while lowering overall IT cost and complexity.

Product positioning

The all-new System x3250 M2 server is positioned as the entry 1U single-socket server of the System x rack-optimized product line - a solution designed to help reduce clients' operating costs and improve operational efficiency and business performance.

As part of the IBM family of proven solutions that balance innovation, experience, and energy for our clients' business prosperity, the x3250 M2 server has been enhanced to help clients even better address and resolve issues around business continuity, IT security and optimization, and infrastructure management and growth.

Economically designed to help clients stretch their IT dollar further by cutting costs and "going green" with a leadership combination of energy-efficiency, noise reduction, and space optimization, the x3250 M2 server does more with less, offering:

A budget-friendly entry price, small form factor, and reduced power consumption
Reliability features and optional full remote management capabilities
Flexibility to meet a wide range of general or dedicated infrastructure needs
At the same time, the x3250 M2 offers clients simplicity and value integration in an easy-to-manage, solution with up-to-date industry standard technologies that deliver the speed, agility, and flexibility essential to conducting today's on-line business, at no risk-now or in the company's future.

Available with high-performance, 64-bit processors, the System x3250 M2 server can optimize investment decisions around managing and reducing business complexity, increasing competitiveness, and improving the speed and efficiency of:

General-purpose and specialized applications
Infrastructure workloads
Appliance solutions
Target markets include small, medium, and large businesses, including Internet and Application Service Providers (OEMs) with constrained data centre environments, who are concerned about:

Lowering total cost of ownership through the power, space, and cooling characteristics
Efficiently running infrastructure applications like firewall, security, disaster recovery, name server, authentication, credit card processing, e-mail, domain controller, and more
Leveraging their consolidated IT expertise by extending senior staff's technical knowledge to remote systems via long-distance and remote systems management
Delivering performance and protection at the lowest price point, as well as remote monitoring and alerting capabilities that provide strong systems management, the System x3250 M2 solution offers:

Intel Pentium dual-core, Core 2 Duo, and Xeon processors with EM64T and dual- and quad-core models, for excellent 64-bit operation.
With EM64T 64-bit extensions, the ability to run Intel-compatible software in either 32- or 64-bit extension mode. These new extensions provide increased productivity, performance, and reliability for applications that can take advantage of 64-bit extensions by enabling them to address more memory and up to 1333 MHz FSB, which speeds up information access within the system.
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) HDDs and PCI-Express to help enable even greater integrated I/O performance and compatibility with next-generation devices for added long-term investment protection.
Simple-swap and hot-swap HDDs that offer easy serviceability without removing the system from the rack.
Integrated hardware RAID-0 or RAID-1 without using a slot.
Rack-optimized, 1U form factor with the ability to support four 2.5-inch SAS HDDs.
Optional upgrade to the Remote Supervisor Adapter II Slimline for remote management, often even when the server is powered down.

* Ultrathin, rack-optimized, 1U high with 351-watt power supply
* Choice of Intel® processors:
o 2.20 GHz1 Intel Pentium dual-core/800 MHz FSB and 1 MB L2 cache
o 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/1066 MHz FSB and 3 MB L2 cache
o 3.16 GHz Intel Xeon® dual-core/1333 MHz FSB with 6 MB L2 cache
o 2.66 GHz Intel Xeon quad-core/1333 MHz FSB with 6 MB L2 cache
o 2.83 GHz Intel Xeon quad-core/1333 MHz FSB with 12 MB L2 cache
* Standard 1 GB of 800 MHz PC2-6400 CL6 ECC DDR2 800 MHz DIMM system memory; 8 GB2 maximum
* Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) that supports high-speed, internal disk storage solutions, or Serial-ATA (SATA) controllers
* Two PCI-Express x8 slots
* Hardware RAID-0 and -1 support on 3.5-inch hot-swap SAS and SATA models, and RAID 1E support on 2.5-inch hot-swap SAS models or optional hardware RAID-5
* Three or five drive bays: One slim optical drive, two 3.5-inch HDDs, or four 2.5-inch (model dependent)
* 351-watt, voltage-sensing power supply
* Integrated, dual Gigabit Ethernet controllers; dual-channel SATA
* Four USB ports, two Ethernet ports, one serial port, and one video port

Planned availability date September 19, 2008

2.20GHz E2200 1 MB 1 GB SS SATA 4190B2U
2.53GHz E7200 3 MB 1 GB SS SATA 4190C2U
3.16GHz E3120 6 MB 1 GB HS SAS/SATA 419042U
2.66GHz X3330 6 MB 1 GB SS SATA 4190D2U
2.66GHz X3330 6 MB 1 GB HS SAS/SATA 4190D4U
2.66GHz X3330 6 MB 1 GB HS SAS 2.5" 4190D6U
2.83GHz X3360 12 MB 1 GB HS SAS/SATA 419082U
2.83GHz X3360 12 MB 1 GB HS SAS 2.5" 419084U

2.20GHz E2200 1 MB 1 GB SS SATA 4194B2U
2.53GHz E7200 3 MB 1 GB SS SATA 4194C2U
3.16GHz E3120 6 MB 1 GB HS SAS/SATA 419442U
2.66GHz X3330 6 MB 1 GB SS SATA 4194D2U
2.66GHz X3330 6 MB 1 GB HS SAS/SATA 4194D4U
2.66GHz X3330 6 MB 1 GB HS SAS 2.5" 4194D6U
2.83GHz X3360 12 MB 1 GB HS SAS/SATA 419482U
2.83GHz X3360 12 MB 1 GB HS SAS 2.5" 419484U

Note: All models have a combination optical drive.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Word of the Day - Unified Storage

Definition:

Unified storage (sometimes termed network unified storage or NUS) is a storage system that makes it possible to run and manage files and applications from a single device. To this end, a unified storage system consolidates file-based and block-based access in a single storage platform and supports Fibre Channel SAN, IP-based SAN (iSCSI), and NAS (network attached storage).

A unified storage system simultaneously enables storage of file data and handles the block-based I/O (input/output) of enterprise applications. In actual practice, unified storage is often implemented in a NAS platform that is modified to add block-mode support. For example, Reldata Inc offers the SANnet universal IP storage system and Network Appliance Inc. offers a unified storage architecture. Numerous other products based on Microsoft's WUDSS (Windows Unified Data Storage Server) have been configured to support both block and file I/O.

For the FULL DEFINITION - on SearchStorage.com

NEW - IBM BladeCenter LS22 and LS42 blade servers


The IBM BladeCenter LS22 and LS42 blade servers, coupled with the BladeCenter chassis, advance application serving with performance, density, and scalability.

Product positioning

The BladeCenter server blade offerings are positioned as the highest-density servers of the IBM line. These server blades represent a new approach to the deployment of application servers where two-way, SMP-capable processing, high-availability design, systems management, and easy setup features are combined in an extremely dense package.

The BladeCenter can require less space and power resources because of their high-density design, reduced power requirements, and single-environment systems management. This is an extremely important consideration for:

Large enterprises
Application service providers
Scientific and technical computing businesses
They are an excellent fit for applications such as:

HPC life sciences
Linux clusters

At your command are:

* Powerful, two-way SMP-capable Opteron processors
* High-speed memory with error checking and correction (ECC)
* Dual Gigabit Ethernet connections (LS22)
* Four Gigabit Ethernet connections (LS42)
* SAS RAID-1 (mirroring) supported in 32-bit legacy mode only
* Advanced high availability and systems management features

These features offer an economical approach to the deployment of large numbers of powerful servers that require less space and fewer power resources than traditional rack servers.

These next-generation processors use one 1 GHz interprocessor HyperTransport bus.

Planned availability date September 19, 2008

IBM BladeCenter LS22 - Quad Core 79013QU
IBM BladeCenter LS22 - Quad Core 7901CQU
IBM BladeCenter LS42 - Quad Core 79023QU
IBM BladeCenter LS42 - Quad Core 7902CQU

IBM BladeCenter LS22

Quad Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2347 HE 44X1542
1.9 GHz 2MB L2 2MB L3 Cache
Quad Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2356 44R4961
2.3 GHz 2MB L2 2MB L3 Cache

IBM BladeCenter LS42


Quad Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 8347 HE 44X1552
1.9 GHz 2MB L2 2MB L3 Cache
Quad Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 8356 44R4971
2.3 GHz 2MB L2 2MB L3 Cache

IBM BladeCenter LS22 & LS42
8 GB (2x4 GB) PC2-5300 CL5 ECC DDR2 667 VLP RDIMM 46C7524
8 GB (2x4 GB) PC2-6400 CL6 ECC DDR2 800 VLP RDIMM 46C7525
2 GB (2x1 GB) PC2-5300 CL5 ECC DDR2 667 VLP RDIMM 46C0522

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

NEW - IBM System x3200 M2 tower server


Product positioning

The System x3200 M2 server is positioned as an affordable, enterprise-class platform of the System x uniprocessor server line. It is designed and packaged with features intended specifically for cost-conscious small and medium-sized businesses, or for deployment in distributed environments and retail locations.

The System x3200 M2 server combines leading industry-standard technologies, excellent internal data storage capacity, availability, and basic systems management and control features into an attractively priced entry server. This uniprocessor server provides solid performance to support general-purpose network infrastructure, retail store, or e-mail and messaging applications.

Features of the System x3200 M2 server include:

Intel® Pentium® dual-core, Core 2 Duo, or Xeon® dual- and quad-core processors
Standard system memory including 512 MB, 1 GB, or 2 GB of 800 MHz PC2-6400 CL6 ECC DDR2 800 MHz DIMM system memory; 8 GB1 maximum
Integrated Serial-ATA (SATA) and Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) controllers, depending on model
Rack support through a rack conversion kit option for seven-bay models
Five available I/O expansion slots (PCI-X slot is optional)
Hardware-based RAID striping (RAID-0) and mirroring (RAID-1) standard without consuming an I/O expansion slot or optional hardware RAID-5, depending on model
Dedicated I/O slot for Remote Supervisor Adapter II Slimline card
Up to eleven total bays (special bid only): two 5.25-inch, one 3.5-inch for optional diskette drive, and four 3.5-inch or up to eight 2.5-inch for HDDs
SATA DVD-ROM
One fixed 400-watt, voltage-sensing power supply or two redundant hot-swap 430-watt power supplies, depending on model
System management support
I/O ports:
Six USB (four rear, two front)
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet with RJ-45
Two software-compatible serial ports
One parallel port supporting devices using SSP, EPP, or ECP protocols adhering to the IEEE 1284 standard
Integrated ATI graphics controller with 16 MB video memory and one rear port

Planned availability date September 19, 2008

2.2 GHz E2200 512 MB S/S SATA 4367B2U
2.53 GHz E7200 512 MB S/S SATA 4367C2U
2.83 GHz X3360 1024 MB SAS SFF HS 436776U
3.0 GHz X3370 2048 MB SAS SFF HS* 436784U
Note: DVD-ROM in all models
(*) Redundant power

2.2 GHz E2200 512 MB S/S SATA 4368B2U
2.53 GHz E7200 512 MB S/S SATA 4368C2U
2.83 GHz X3360 1024 MB SAS SFF HS 436876U
3.0 GHz X3370 2048 MB SAS SFF HS* 436884U

Withdrawal - Selected IBM System x & Blade Options

Effective August 29, 2008, IBM® will withdraw the following products from marketing. After that date, you can no longer obtain these products directly from IBM. You can obtain these products through authorized remarketers or IBM authorized BladeCenter® dealers while supplies last.


4.3m, 16A/120V, C19 to NEMA L5-20P (US) Line Cord 41Y9222
IBM Ultra 320 SCSI Controller 2-PCI-X 39R8743
8GB (2x 4GB Kit) PC2-4200 CL4 ECC DDR2 SDRAM VLP 39M5870

4GB (2x2GB Kit) PC2-3200 Single Rank CL3 ECC DDR2 39M5815

Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2210 (1.8GHz 25R8938

Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2216 (2.4GHz 25R8940

Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2210 (1.8GHz 40K1208

Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2216 (2.4GHz 40K1210

Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2214 (2.2GHz 40K1215

Intel Xeon® Processor 7110N (2.5GHz 4MB L3 Cache 40K1259
Dual Core)
Dual Core Opteron Processor Model 2210HE (1.8GHz 43W7271

Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2212 (2.0GHz 25R8939

Dual Core Opteron Processor Model 2222 SE (3.0Ghz 43W7266

Dual CoreAMD Opteron Processor Model 8224SE (3.2GHz 44R6036

Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2218 40K1211
Dual Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2218 (2.6GHz 40K1212

Dual-Core Intel® Xeon Processor 5130(2.0 GHz 1333 40K1233

Dual Core Opteron Processor Model 2220 (2.8Ghz 43W7265

Dual Core Opteron Processor Model 2220 (2.8GHz 43W7270

Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5110 (1.60 GHz 1066 40K1231

Quad-Core Intel Xeon LV Processor L5310 1.6GHz 8MB 43W5909

Quad-Core Intel Xeon LV Processor L5310 1.6GHz 4MB 43W5918

Quad-Core Intel Xeon LV Processor L5320 1.86GHz 8MB 43W5910

Quad-Core Intel Xeon LV Processor L5320 1.86GHz 4MB 43W5919

Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5110 (1.60 GHz 1066 40K1237

Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5140 (2.33 GHz 1333 40K1240

Monday, August 25, 2008

Notice - IBM CORE Inventory @ TD

New weekly update coming to you from your IBM team at Tech Data

The IBM CORE parts list are servers and options that IBM and distribution are working together to have them in stock at all times. For piece of mind and quick delivery, please review and make sure your using the following systems and options for all your configurations and quotes.

Even better, let your IBM team at Tech Data create your configurations and we will make sure the product we use are in stock.

Technology - Redundant ethernet I/O with BladeCenter S


The BladeCenter S can now be equiped with a second ethernet switch and if you add the 2/4 port Ethernet Expansion Card (CFFh), partnumber 44W4479, you can have up to 6 ethernet ports on each blade installed in the BladeCenter S. This means that the BladeCenter S can now be used in virtualised environments as well.

This 2/4 port Ethernet Expansion Card has been announced and will be GA at the end of this month (august 2008). The BladeCenter Interoperability Guide and BladeCenter Products and Technology Guide will be updated shortly.

Here are some examples on what is now possible:

BladeCenter S with 2 ethernet ports per blade by using the base NICs on blade
BladeCenter S with 4 ethernet ports per blade by using the base NICs on blade + 2/4 port 1GB (44W4479)
BladeCenter S with 6 ethernet ports per blade by using the base NICs + 2 port 1Gb CFFv (39Y9310) + 2/4 port 1GB (44W4479)

Source: Announcement Letter 2/4 port Ethernet Expansion Card

Article Source - x4LIVE

NEW - TS2900 Autoloader LTO3 or LTO4 SAS Single drive


IBM System Storage TS2900 Tape Autoloader

  • 1 U form factor
  • Contains either a single
  • LTO 4 Half-High SAS Tape Drive, or
    LTO 3 Half-High SAS Tape Drive
  • One removable magazine
  • 9 cartridge slots, including a single I/O station
  • Bar code reader and Remote Management are standard
  • Total capacity up to
    7.2TB with LTO 4 (up to 14.4TB with 2:1 compression)
    3.6TB with LTO 3 (up to 7.2TB with 2:1 compression)
  • Warranty: 1Year (Customer Exchange)
§ Incorporates IBM’s new patented High Density slot technology.
§ Can be configured to run in either sequential (autoloader) mode or random (library) mode.
§ Manageable by local operator panel or remote web GUI.
§ Stand alone or rack mount configurations.
§ Supports encryption with LTO Gen 4 drives.
§ Supports WORM cartridges.


Midrange (FeatureCode) Announcement: August 26, 2008 / GA: September 5, 2008

Machine Type & Model Number: 3572 Model S3H & S4H

System X Annoucement: August 26, 2008 / GA:September 19, 2008

–TS2900: 3572S4R – LTO Gen4 SAS drive with rack mount kit
–TS2900: 3572S3R – LTO Gen3 SAS drive with rack mount kit
Express Seller:
–TS2900: 3572S4E – LTO Gen4 SAS drive with deskside covers
–TS2900: 3572S3E – LTO Gen3 SAS drive with deskside covers


IBM TS2900 Market Opportunity

Target Customer / environments
- Small businesses considering tape autoloaders or tape libraries with software for automatic backup or archive to accommodate growth and reduce manual operations.
- Small businesses that require a low TCO for storage backup.
- Customers with limited physical space.
- Customers operating in a rack environment.

Customer benefits
- Exploits LTO tape technology to help reduce backup windows.
- High capacity, high data rate.
-Provides compact footprint for space constrained environments.
- Rack mountable.
- Allows flexibility in deployment with removable magazines, barcode reader and remote management capability.
- Helps to support data security and data retention.
- On-board encryption with LTO 4.
- WORM cartridge option.

Monday, August 18, 2008

NEW - IBM BladeCenter HS12 blade server


BladeCenter® HS12 blade servers support the economics of application server deployment with power, scalability, control, and serviceability.

The BladeCenter HS12 offerings are positioned as high-density BladeCenter servers. They represent a new approach to the deployment of application servers where uni-processor processing, high-availability design, systems management, and easy setup features are combined in an extremely dense package.

The BladeCenter and BladeCenter HS12 blades can require less space and power resources than traditional rack offerings because of their high-density design, reduced power requirements, and single environment systems management. This is an extremely important consideration for:

SMB enterprises
Application service providers
Retail businesses
They are an excellent fit for applications such as:

Branch offices and departmental servers
General business applications including file and print
Applications running currently on uni systems

This new blade server model includes:

* Powerful, high-performance 2.5 GHz/1333 MHz quad-core Intel® 50W processor
* 2.5 GHz quad-core processor features 12 MB L2
* Standard model with high-speed 2 GB (2 x 1 GB DIMMs) PC2-5300 VLP 667 MHz high-performance double data rate (DDR2) ECC memory; maximum system memory 24 GB2
* Dual Gigabit Ethernet connections
* Support for Ethernet or Fibre Channel expansion cards
* Integrated systems management processor
* Support for up to two hot-swap SAS/solid state drives, and RAID 0 and 1 support with RAID card

Planned availability date September 3, 2008


IBM BladeCenter HS12 80284LU
Intel L5420 2.5 GHz/1333 MHz/
12 MB, 2 GB, SAS

NEW - NetXtreme II 10 GigE Express Fiber SR Adapter

The NetXtreme II 10 GigE Express Fiber SR Adapter is a PCI Express x8 10 Gb Ethernet SR (10G BASE-SR fibre optic) network solution offering with the highest bandwidth available in a System x Ethernet adapter. This high-performance server adapter is capable of supporting TOE and accelerated iSCSI over a single network connection. This adapter is available with both half- and full-height brackets to support a wide range of System x servers.

NetXtreme II 10 GigE Express Fiber SR Adapter (42C1790) features and benefits:

* PCI Express x8
* PCIe 2.0 capable
* Multimode Fiber SR XFP with LC connector
* Standard PCI Express half-length card with low-profile form factor
* Both half- and full-height brackets to support a wide range of System x servers
* Support for TCP/IP Offload Engine
* iSCSI capability to allow access to storage over the same cable used for networking1

1 iSCSI support requires the purchase of a Software Activation Key at additional cost. Software Activation keys will be available at a future date.

Planned availability date August 29, 2008
NetXtreme II 10 GigE Express Fiber SR Adapter (42C1790)

NEW - 2/4 Port Ethernet Expansion Card (CFFh) for IBM BladeCenter

The IBM® 2/4 Port Ethernet Expansion Card (CFFh) for IBM BladeCenter is the perfect example of IBM's goal to meet user requirements in the BladeCenter environment. In addition to the two onboard Ethernet ports, this card allows the client to add up to four (in IBM BladeCenter H chassis) or two (in BladeCenter S) extra 1 Gb ports, thereby allowing them to leverage the benefits of 6/4 ports per blade. This card provides support for up to four Low Speed Switch Module (LSSM) switches within the Multi-Switch Interconnect Module (MSIM) in BC-H chassis (1 LSSM switch in BC-S). Some of the high-level features included in this offering are:

* Based on the Broadcom 5709 module
* PCI Express x4 host interface for high-speed connection
* Connectivity to either standard or high-speed I/O modules bays (depends on chassis)
* Multiple connections from the blade server to the external network
* Ability to function as a 2-port Ethernet NIC in BC S chassis or a 4-port Ethernet NIC in a BC H chassis

Performance features:

* First TCP offload engine (TOE) on an Ethernet expansion card
* Full fast-path TCP offload
* TCP, IP checksum offload
* TCP, segmentation offload
* PXE 2.0 remote boot support

Planned availability date August 29, 2008

2/4 Port Ethernet Expansion Card (CFFh) for IBM BladeCenter (44W4479)

LEARNING - Blade Server Objections / how to overcome them

Solution provider takeaway: Solution providers can learn how to address common blade server objections by arming themselves with the right information and good workarounds.

As you know, blade servers can be a real boon in your customers' data centers. Increased server density in a smaller footprint; easier server expansion, maintenance and swap-in; less network closet clutter; and rapid provisioning of new blades -- all these benefits mean a more efficient data center for customers.

But to deliver these benefits, you of course have to get buy-in from customers -- and oftentimes it's a hard sell. You've probably encountered a whole host of objections. But even the strongest ones can be readily countered with education and sound solutions. Here's what you need to know about the objections to blade servers and ways to address them.



Full Article

The IBM System x3350 - Lean, Green and Mean - Winning over the Competition!

If you've been looking for that differentiator against our competition - the IBM System x3350 finally provides it and there is independent data to prove it. The IBM System x3350 delivers a purpose-optimized, cost-optimized single application server that is capable of replacing legacy 2-socket servers in stable workload environments. In several recent studies, the x3350 has been found to beat out HP and Dell in CPU power and power consumption.

The recent SpecPower benchmark
http://www.spec.org/power_ssj2008/results/power_ssj2008.html
of the x3350 found that it was...

13% higher than the score achieved by the Dell PowerEdge R300 with the
Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processor L5410
28% higher than Dell PE 1950 and 37% higher than the HP DL360, the two
1U, 2s servers which are the target systems for winback opportunities
from Dell and HP.

Also, Network World just published an article
http://www.networkworld.com/research/2008/060908-green-windows-linux.html?page=1
in which they noted,
"We ran multiple power consumption tests using Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition, Red Hat's Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5.1 and SUSE Enterprise Linux 10 SP1 on four, popular 1U server machines, one each from Dell and IBM and two from HP......"

"In our testing, we found that the CPU 'throttle-back' mechanism – the main technique for how an operating system can aid in reducing a server's energy draw -- requires new firmware and updated drivers that specifically support that feature. Only the IBM x3350 and the HP DL-360 G5 arrived ready for optimal power conservation. The HP DL-160 and Dell 1950 servers required several updates throughout our six-week test period to accommodate the CPU throttling features of Windows 2008 and Linux."

"With the IBM x3350, HP DL360G5, and Dell 1950 servers we performed our quiescent and active state tests twice: once with High Performance settings in place; and, the other with the Power Saver mode applied. For the HP
DL-160G5 server, we could only complete the tests without the maximum power saving setting applied as the server crashed each time we attempted to toggle between the power saving settings. HP says a fix for this issue should be available by the time this test publishes."

"IBM's x3350 was the leanest and greenest, both in terms of CPU 'horsepower' but also power consumed. In quiescent tests, there was less than a 2-watt difference among any of the three operating systems tested in either performance or savings mode. In the active tests, the power draws stayed within that 2-watt range with the exception of when Windows Server
2008 drew 87.8 watts, compared with SUSE's 79.6 watts and RHEL's 78.3 watts in our active test when the systems were tuned from performance."

Often we hear that sellers need that competitive advantage to make a difference in the market. Now you have it! Go Win!

For more information visit the x3350 Sales Kit, and the HP Dell Rack Attack Play or send an email to Amelia Frost (afrost@us.ibm.com).

Notice - Software withdrawal: Selected Vista, IBM Director, and IBM UAM software for System x servers

Software withdrawal: Selected Vista, IBM Director, and IBM UAM software for System x servers

Effective July 31, 2008, or August 29, 2008, IBM® will withdraw from marketing the products listed in the Withdrawn products section.

On or after the effective date of withdrawal, you can no longer order these products directly from IBM or an IBM Distributor.

Withdrawn products

Effective July 31, 2008, IBM is withdrawing from marketing the following orderable program numbers related to these offeringswill be withdrawn as part of this announcement:

42C6541 IBM Director 5.10 Media Package
42C6448 IBM Director 5.10 per Server License with 1 Year Subscription
42C6447 IBM Director 5.10 per Agent License with 1 Year Subscription
42C6542 IBM Director Capacity Manager 5.10 Media Package
42C6450 IBM Director Capacity Manager 5.10 per Server, Single License with 1 Year Subscription
42C6543 IBM Director Software Distribution Premium Edition 5.10 Media Package
42C6452 IBM Director Soft Dist Premium Edition 5.10 per Server, Single License with 1 Year Subscription
42C6545 IBM Usage and Accounting Manager - 5.1 Media Pack
42C6464 IBM Usage and Accounting Manager 5.1 - System License + 1 Year Subscription
42C6540 IBM Usage and Accounting Manager - 6.1 Media Pack
42C6535 IBM Usage and Accounting Manager 6.1 - System License + 1 Year Subscription

Effective August 29, 2008, IBM is withdrawing the following:
The following orderable SEO numbers related to these offerings will be withdrawn as part of this announcement:

4817V16 VMware Infrastructure Media Kit
4817V01 VMware VI3 Starter - 2 Sockets (License Only, Must Order Sub)
4817S01 Subscription Only VMware VI3 Starter - 2 sockets - 1 Year Full
4817T01 Subscription Only VMware VI3 Starter - 2 sockets - 3 Year Full
4817U01 Subscription Only VMware VI3 Starter - 2 sockets - 5 Year Full
4817V02 VMware VI3 Standard - 2 Sockets (License Only, Must Order Sub)
4817V08 VMware VI3 Starter to Standard Upgrade - 2 sockets (License Only)
4817S02 Subscription Only VMware VI3 Standard - 2 sockets - 1 Year Full
4817T02 Subscription Only VMware VI3 Standard - 2 sockets - 3 Year Full
4817U02 Subscription Only VMware VI3 Standard - 2 sockets - 5 Year Full
4817V03 VMware VI3 Enterprise - 2 sockets (License Only, Must Order Sub)
4817V09 VMware VI3 Starter to Enterprise Upgrade - 2 sockets (License Only)
4817V10 VMware VI3 Std to Ent Upgrade - 2 sockets (License Only)
4817S03 Subscription Only VMware VI3 Enterprise - 2 sockets - 1 Year Full
4817T03 Subscription Only VMware VI3 Enterprise - 2 sockets - 3 Year Full
4817U03 Subscription Only VMware VI3 Enterprise - 2 sockets - 5 Year Full
4817V05 VMware DRS 2 for 2 sockets (License Only, Must Order Sub)
4817S05 Subscription Only VMware DRS 2 for 2 sockets - 1 Year Full
4817T05 Subscription Only VMware DRS 2 for 2 sockets - 3 Year Full
4817U05 Subscription Only VMware DRS 2 for 2 sockets - 5 Year Full
4817V04 VMware HA 2 for 2 sockets (License Only, Must Order Sub)
4817S04 Subscription Only VMware HA 2 for 2 sockets - 1 Year Full
4817T04 Subscription Only VMware HA 2 for 2 sockets - 3 Year Full
4817U04 Subscription Only VMware HA 2 for 2 sockets - 5 Year Full
4817V24 VMware VCMS 2 for VI3 (License Only, Must Order Sub)
4817S24 Subscription Only VMware VCMS 2 - 1 Year Full
4817T24 Subscription Only VMware VCMS 2 - 3 Year Full
4817U24 Subscription Only VMware VCMS 2 - 5 Year Full
4817V25 VMware VMotion 2 for 2 Sockets (License Only, Must Order Sub)
4817S25 Subscription Only VMware VMotion 2 for 2 Sockets - 1 Year Full
4817T25 Subscription Only VMware Vmotion 2 for 2 Sockets - 3 Year Full
4817U25 Subscription Only VMware Vmotion 2 for 2 Sockets - 5 Year Full
4817V21 VMware VDI Enterprise Pilot Bundle - 4 sockets (License only)
4817V19 VMware VDI Enterprise Pilot Bundle, PSO - 4 sockets (License only)
4817S19 Subscription Only VMware VDI Ent Pilot - 4 Sockets - 1 year Full
4817T19 Subscription Only VMware VDI Ent Pilot - 4 Sockets - 3 Year Full
4817U19 Subscription Only VMware VDI Ent Pilot - 4 Sockets - 5 Year Full
4817V23 VMware VDI 100 Enterprise VMs up to 16 sockets (License Only)
4817S23 Subscription Only VMware VDI 100 Ent VMs - 16 Sockets - 1 Year Full
4817T23 Subscription Only VMware VDI 100 Ent VMs - 16 Sockets - 3 Year Full
4817U23 Subscription Only VMware VDI 100 Ent VMs - 16 Sockets - 5 Year Full
43W6547 Subscription Only- 2 sockets 1 Year Full Upgrade from VI3 Std to Ent
43W6548 Subscription Only- 2 sockets 3 Year Full Upgrade from VI3 Std to Ent
43W6549 Subscription Only- 2 sockets 5 Year Full Upgrade from VI3 Std to Ent

LEARNING - IBM System Storage Tape Library Guide for Open Systems

If your anything like me, it has been impossible to try to figure out all the different models and versions of IBM tape solutions. This RED BOOK has everything you could ever want to know about IBM Tape Solutions.

This IBM® Redbooks® publication presents a general introduction to Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology and the implementation of corresponding IBM products. It describes both general LTO technology specifications and specific details of the unique design of IBM Ultrium tape drives and libraries. This sixth edition of the book includes information about the fourth-generation Ultrium drive including Tape Encryption and about the recently announced IBM System Storage™ TS3100, TS3200, TS3310, and TS3400 Tape Libraries. You will find technical information about each of the IBM tape products for Open Systems, including generalized sections about SCSI and Fibre Channel connections, multi-path architecture configurations, and IBM System Storage TS3500 features, such as the Advanced Library Management System (ALMS) and virtual I/O. The book also includes a detailed discussion of tools and techniques for Library Management.
This book is intended for anyone who wants to understand more about the general LTO technology specification and its evolution, as well as the IBM implementation of that specification and other IBM Tape products. It is suitable for IBM clients, IBM Business Partners, IBM specialist sales representatives, and technical specialists. If you do not have a background in computer tape storage products, you might need to reference other sources of information. In the interest of being concise, topics that are generally understood are not covered in detail.


Part 1. Open Systems Tape Basics
Chapter 1. Tape technology perspective
Chapter 2. Overview of IBM tape technology
Part 2. IBM Open System Tape Libraries
Chapter 3. IBM System Storage TS2230 Tape Drive
Chapter 4. IBM System Storage TS2340 Tape Drive
Chapter 5. IBM System Storage TS3100 Tape Library
Chapter 6. IBM System Storage TS3200 Tape Library
Chapter 7. IBM System Storage TS3310 Tape Library
Chapter 8. IBM System Storage TS3400 Tape Library
Chapter 9. IBM System Storage TS3500 Tape Library
Chapter 10. Library Management
Part 3. Previous IBM Tape Libraries
Chapter 11. IBM TotalStorage 3580 Tape Drive
Chapter 12. IBM TotalStorage 3581 Tape Autoloader
Chapter 13. IBM TotalStorage 3581 2U Tape Autoloader
Chapter 14. IBM TotalStorage 3582 Tape Library
Chapter 15. IBM TotalStorage 3583 Tape Library
Appendix A. IBM LTO Ultrium and 3592 media
Appendix B. Renaming IBM Tape products
Appendix C. Additional material

Thursday, August 14, 2008

TRAINING - Lowering IT Costs for Medium-Sized Enterprises with IBM and VMware




Lowering IT Costs for Medium-Sized Enterprises with IBM and VMware

Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Time: 12pm ET / 9am PT

Time and budget resources are tighter than ever for medium-sized businesses. VMware™ and IBM offer robust virtualization solutions that you can use to avoid the budget crunch and dramatically decrease IT costs by improving hardware utilization and service availability.

Attend this webcast and learn how to:

Reduce the number of servers, storage and other related IT hardware by centralizing data management to lower your operational, power and cooling costs.
Manage IT infrastructure and help IT administrators spend less time on repetitive tasks such as provisioning, configuration, monitoring and maintenance.
Incorporate IBM N Series™, which is an ideal storage partner for VMware™ deployments, into your infrastructure for proven TCO advantages over the competition.


Notice - EOL - DS3400 Bundles

Hardware withdrawal: IBM System Storage DS3400 Simple SAN Express kits - Replacements available

Effective July 29, 2008, IBM will withdraw from marketing the DS3400 Simple SAN Express kits Models 41U and 42U. On or after that date, you can no longer order these models.


DS3400 SAN Express Kit Model 41U - 172641U
DS3400 SAN Express Kit Model 42U - 172642U


Replacement product information:

DS3400 SAN Express Kit Equivalent function is
Model 41U (172641U) available by ordering the
(Single FC Controller) following:

1 x DS3400 Simple SAN Express 172641S
Kit Model 41S (172641S)
(Single FC Controller)

1 x IBM SAN16B-2 Switch 200516B
(includes 8 SFP transceivers)


DS3400 SAN Express Kit Equivalent function is
Model 42U (172642U) available by ordering the
(Dual FC Controller) following:

1 x DS3400 Simple SAN Express 172642S Kit Model 42S (172642S)(Dual FC Controller)
1 x IBM SAN16B-2 Switch 200516B(includes 8 SFP transceivers)
Call your IBM team for further information:

NEW - IBM ServeRAID-BR10il SAS/SATA Controller

IBM ServeRAID-BR10il SAS/SATA Controller offers a high performance SAS and SATA host bus adapter for direct attach storage

The IBM ServeRAID-BR10il SAS/SATA PCIe Controller (44X0411) delivers a solid performing storage solution for upgrading simple-swap models to RAID 0, 1 and 1E capability. The RAID adapter kit contains the RAID 0, 1 and 1E controller and supporting hardware for SAS and SATA simple-swap hard drive configurations. It can be configured for two or four HDDs.

Intended specifically for the small to medium business (SMB) market, as well as departments of large enterprise (LE), the solution is ideal for supporting server and workgroup applications where high levels of sustained read and write operations are required.

IBM ServeRAID BR10il SAS/SATA RAID Controller Kit - 44X0411

Features include the following:
RAID levels: 0, 1 and 1E
Up to 3 Gb/second of performance throughput for each port
1064E controller
1 x4 internal mini-SAS SFF-8087 connector
Global hot spare and rebuild
Supported on x3200 M2, x3250 M2 and x3350 servers

The IBM ServeRAID BR10il SAS/SATA Controller is the ideal solution for all servers and workstations that need ultra-high-speed data transfer in disk connectivity for data backup and mission-critical applications.

The 44X0411 is supported on the following IBM platforms.
x3200 M2 4367 4368
All x3250 M2 4190 All 4194
All x3350 4192 All 4193 All

Call your IBM team for more information.

NEW - System Storage DS3400 Simple SAN Express BUNDLES

New System Storage DS3400 Simple SAN Express bundles include frequently requested DS3000 SAN options without SAN switch

DS3400 Simple SAN Express Kits

Two new DS3400 Simple SAN Express Kits are now available that contain the parts needed to easily setup a SAN, but does not include a SAN switch.

The DS3400 Simple SAN Express Kits contain the Emulex EZPilot software that enables automated installation and configuration of the Simple SAN components. The EZPilot software also provides a Windows® Virtual Disk (VDS)-based storage manager for discovery, inventory, allocation, and assignment of virtual disks.

The DS3400 Simple SAN Express Kits and EZPilot software work with the IBM TotalStorage SAN16B-2 Express Model Switch (SEO/part number 200516B), which comes with eight ports-enabled and eight 4 Gbps SFPs. The EZPilot software can support configurations with either one or two SAN16B-2 switches.

DS3400 Simple SAN Express Kit Model 41S (1726-41S)
DS3400 FC single controller
Two IBM Emulex 4 Gbps FC 1-port PCI-E Enterprise HBA (42C2069)
Four 5m Fiber Optic cables LC-LC (39M5697)
CD and Flyer containing Emulex EZPilot software and instructions

DS3400 Simple SAN Express Kit Model 42S (1726-42S)
DS3400 FC dual controller
Four IBM Emulex 4 Gbps FC 1-port PCI-E Enterprise HBA (42C2069)
Eight 5m Fiber Optic cables LC-LC (39M5697)
Four 4 Gbps SW SFP transceivers (39R6475)
CD and Flyer containing Emulex EZPilot software and instructionsThe DS3400 Simple SAN

Express Kits include all of the functionality of the base DS3400 controllers including the following:
2U rack-mountable enclosure with 12 easily accessible drive bays
Support for dual-ported, and hot-swappable SAS disks at 10,000 and 15,000 rpm speeds
Support for dual-ported, and hot-swappable SATA disks at 7,200 rpm speeds
Scalability of up to 3.6 TB internal physical storage capacity using 300 GB SAS disk drives and up to 12 TB using 1,000 GB SATA drives
Expandability by attaching up to three EXP3000s for a total of up to 48 disk drives and up to 48 TB physical storage capacity
Built-in reliability features with dual-redundant power supplies standard
Three-year limited warranty on parts and labour.


Planned availability date
August 8, 2008

Training - NEW IBM Storage - DS5000


IBM System StorageTMIBM DS5000® series University Program
DS5000 Product Training

Launch Webcast Series


Learn about the upcoming DS5000 disk systems; the newest addition to the IBM DS series family of products.
Official product announcement is August 26, 2008.

About the DS5000
: In today’s leaner business environment, IT decision-makers have been charged with delivering faster application performance, 24/7, while lowering costs. For balanced performance in mixed workload enterprise environments, the IBM DS5000 is the right foundation. It delivers the speed, dependability and flexibility you need to meet your business imperatives. The IBM DS5000 is ready to meet what ever changes customers may face today, and in the future by delivering unprecedented performance, multi-dimensional scalability and unparalleled flexibility.

Learn about the benefits of the new IBM DS5000 series by attending the webcasts scheduled below:

PLEASE SEE IMPORTANT WEBCAST TECHNICAL INFORMATION AT THE END OF THIS EMAIL!

Webcast 1: DS5000 Solutions Training- Mark Dayan, LSI (August 15th 10:00CST)
After listening to this webcast, you should be able to:
Identify the solutions available with the DS5000 disk system
Recognize market opportunities and effectively position the DS5000 within these markets
Communicate to your customer the key value propositions of the DS5000 with these solutions
Utilize resources developed to assist your selling process

To attend this webcasts follow the URL’s below:

Audio Portion (by phone):
Dial In # 1-800-214-0745 - passcode 641699
International: 1-719-457-0700
URL: http://sym6.centra.com/main/Customers/Engenio/fasttu/User/GuestAttend.jhtml?s_guid=0000011650d60000011b1bed10d98904

Webcast 2: DS5000 Sales Training- Rip Wilson, LSI (August 18th 10:00CST)
After listening to this webcast, you should be able to:
Identify the product features and functions of the DS5000 disk system
Recognize market opportunities and effectively position the DS5000 within these markets
Communicate to your customer the key value propositions and customer benefits of the DS5000
Utilize resources developed to assist your selling process

To attend this webcasts follow the URL’s below:

Audio Portion (by phone):
Dial In # 1-888-373-5705– passcode 875432
International: 1-719-457-3840
URL: http://sym6.centra.com/main/Customers/Engenio/fasttu/User/GuestAttend.jhtml?s_guid=0000011650d60000011b1bed10d98907

Webcast 3: DS5000 Competitive Training- Roger Kasten, LSI (August 19th 11:30CST)
After listening to this webcast, you should be able to:
Recognize the existing and emerging storage players and their products
Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of the competition
Determine when and where to sell the DS5000 Series of disk systems

To attend this webcasts follow the URL’s below:

Audio Portion (by phone):
Dial In # 1-800-214-0694– passcode 986211
International: 1-719-955-1425
URL: http://sym6.centra.com/main/Customers/Engenio/fasttu/User/GuestAttend.jhtml?s_guid=0000011650d60000011b1bed10d9890a

Webcast 4: DS5000 Technical Training- Rip Wilson & David Worley, LSI (August 21st 11:30CST)
After listening to this webcast, you should be able to:
Describe the functional operation of the DS5000 disk system
List the DS5000 system components
Identify the major technical differences of the DS5000 disk system


Audio Portion (by phone):
Dial In # 1-866-237-3252– passcode 351464
International: 1-719-457-1018
URL: http://sym6.centra.com/main/Customers/Engenio/fasttu/User/GuestAttend.jhtml?s_guid=0000011650d60000011b1bed10d9890d


Target Audience for this series: IBM Business Partners- Sales and Technical, IBM System x and System Storage eSM, Brand Sales Specialists, S&D (SMB and LE) Client Reps, BPO, Channel Reps, ATS, and FTSS. Feel free to attend all three webcasts or select those that are most relevant to your role!


If you receive an error when joining the webcast, follow the steps (Windows XP) below to reinstall the Centra Client Software:
Go to START > control panels > add and remove programs > remove Centra client
Using your web browser, go to http://cs1.saba.com/main/Install/win32/setup.jhtml
Download the Setup.exe to your computer, and then run it locally.
Rejoin the webcast.

Monday, August 11, 2008

ServicePaks - Questions you might have?

If you have had any questions concerning servicePak, hopefully this will answer most.

1. Can a post warranty servicepaq be ordered if the end users warranty has already expired?

Yes.

2. Where is the best place for me to go to find the part numbers for these post warranty Servicpaqs.

ServicePac Product Matrix http://www-03.ibm.com/services/ca/en/its/documents/servpac_product_matrix.pdf

3. Are the part numbers for the Servicepaq the same even if the customer has already expired?

Prior to original warranty expiration, customer can purchase Warranty upgrade ServicePacs.After original warranty expiration, customer can purchase Post Warranty ServciePacs.

4. Do we need to have the units have some sort of inspection or assessment done before we order?

Not usually. However, after the customer registers the ServicePac, if an assessment is needed, IBM will contact the customer directly.

5. Is there a link I can have that I can use for reference on the details of servicpaqs?

http://www-03.ibm.com/services/ca/en/its/spacs.html

6. If the customer purchases a post warranty servicepac and they have already expired does this new post warranty servicepaq back date to the day that the original warranty expires or does it start on date of purchase?

The Post Warranty ServicePac starts on the date of purchase.We do not "back date" it to when the original warranty expired.

If you have any other questions, please drop us a line.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

NEW - IBM Enterprise Rack and Expansion Rack support IBM BladeCenter and IBM System x servers

These will be replacing the current product family, very small changes based on required specifications.


Overview:


The IBM Enterprise Rack is a 42U, industry-standard 19-in rack that supports BladeCenter and rack-mountable System x servers and options. This rack cabinet, the premier IBM rack offering, blends the highest-quality welded-steel construction with additional space for cable management. This robust design allows for dynamic shipment loading, assisting in reducing deployment time and associated costs.


Perforated front and rear doors improve the air flow, helping enable a fan-free rack environment.


Four sidewall compartments support installation of 1U power distribution units (PDUs) and switches without taking up valuable rack space. Front and rear rack doors and side panels include locks, helping keep your servers secure.


The front door opens approximately 170 degrees. The rear door opens approximately 110 degrees. The Enterprise Rack also supports the IBM Rear Door Heat Exchanger and IBM Acoustic Door.



Planned availability date: August 8, 2008

9308-RC4
9308-RC4
9308-4PX
9308-4EX

VMware's free virtualization offering

Virtualization pioneer VMware to give away ESX in response to Microsoft's aggressive pricing.

This is great news for us all, makes selling the product a lot easier and will allow the manufactures to include EXSi with most servers rather then a select few.

Hopefully we see the changes quickly by the OEM partners so we can start selling those VMware options.

ARTICLE from CDN - Hit the title to see the full story.

Notice - Revised availability: IBM 300 GB 15K HS SAS HDD Option

Revised availability: IBM 300 GB 15K HS SAS HDD Option required for IBM System x and BladeCenter support

Overview

The 300 GB 15K HS SAS HDD (43X0802), that was previously withdrawn from marketing, will be available for use in System xtm and BladeCenter® systems.

For more information, refer to Hardware Withdrawal A07-2477, dated December 04, 2007.

For information on this option (part number 43X0802), refer to the IBM® ServerProven® list at:

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/

Planned availability date: July 23, 2008

NEW - Leostream Connection Broker for the IBM workstation blade

Overview

Available under System x Software.

The Leostream Connection Broker is a software-based "virtual appliance" that resides on a single server and is used to manage the connection between a CP20 workstation connection device and an HC10 workstation blade. The HC10 workstation blade comes with a Leostream Connection Broker Basic license that can be used to implement a flexible HC10 solution. The Connection Broker Basic license comes with the following features:

The Leostream Connection Broker will help IT administrators get the most value from IBM HC10/CP20 deployments with a tightly integrated hardware and software solution. The Leostream Connection Broker provides the management layer IT administrators need to centralize and consolidate IT resources in the data centre, and then create, assign, and deliver Hosted Desktops to end users. Hosted Desktops are complete, familiar, end user desktop environments created, assigned, and hosted from virtual machines, physical machines, Terminal Services sessions, or a combination of these back ends. Hosted Desktops can be also delivered to conventional "fat," thin, or Web-based clients using a flexible range of authentication and viewer protocols, and supporting security systems such as SSL VPN.

*Policy-based access to HC10s provides a flexible, secure computing environment for end-users.
*Centralized administration and management of computing resources enables more efficient use of time and resources.
*Improved resource utilization saves energy and software costs.
*Secure, flexible, high-performance access to Hosted Desktops from the datacenter.

Planned availability date: August 1, 2008


5731-LCB Leostream Connection Broker Enterprise
Per 1 User 4812L02
Per 14 Users 4812L03
Per 100 Users 4812L04
Per 1000 Users 4812L05
Per 4000 Users 4812L06
Per 10000 Users 4812L07

5731-LCB Leostream Connection Broker - 1 year Subscription
Per 1 User 4812M02
Per 14 Users 4812M03
Per 100 Users 4812M04
Per 1000 Users 4812M05
Per 4000 Users 4812M06
Per 10000 Users 4812M07

Leostream Connection Broker Basic - Subscription Renewal
Per 1 Authorized User - 1 Year 4812M01

NEW - IBM System x3655 -- SMP capable, rack-optimized servers include PCI-Express support and powerful 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz/2 MB quad-core AMD Opteron

Overview:

The IBM® System x3655 is a low-cost, dual-socket server that is optimized for general-purpose computing. It provides flexibility and scalability while offering multiple levels of price/performance. The x3655 provides quad-core performance at an entry-level price. With features such as low-cost processors, 16 available DIMMs with up to 64 GB of DDR II memory, and robust I/O, users can configure to meet their needs.

Features include:

*Ultrathin, rack-optimized, 2 U high
*AMD Opteron 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz quad-core processors with 2 MB of L2 cache and 2 MB L3 cache
*Two-, four-, and eight-way interleaved Chipkilltm, 667 MHz ECC DDR2 SDRAM RDIMM memory; addressable up to 64 GB

Choice of configurations
*3.5-inch hot-swap SAS (6; 4 with tape)
*2.5-inch hot-swap SAS (8 with tape)
*3.5-inch hot-swap SATA (6; 4 with tape)

*Integrated SAS controller with 8 lanes for 1.168 TB high-speed internal disk storage solutions (eight x 146 GB) or up to 4.5 TB1 (six x 750 GB SATA HS HDDs)
*Support for PCI-Express, PCI-X, or HTX
*One standard DVD-CD/RW Combo drive in all models
*835-watt, auto-ranging power supply
*Embedded systems management processor
*Integrated dual Gigabit Ethernet Broadcom BCM5706
*One serial port (16550A-compatible), six USB ports (two front, four rear), and two RJ-45 ports

Planned availability date: August 8, 2008

Offerings

Description model

System x3655 794322U
ExpressSeller models System x3655 7943E1U

Quad Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 2344 HE 46M2282
(1.7GHz, 55W ACP)

Call your IBM team for a full configuration.