|
|
Why i5?
So what is the big deal? Why should you consider an i5 server for your organization as opposed to another
common server solution available in the market today? What does an i5 server offer that others do not?
The information below will help answer these and other questions you may have. Continue reading on to see why IBM
i5 servers are considered by many to be the best platform in the industry, and why one just might be the perfect
choice for your business.
|
|
|
|
i5 POWER Hypervisor & Virtualization Engine
The i5 HyperVisor plays a key role in the application flexibility and reliability found in the IBM iSeries
server line. Typical computing environments require software to be written to certain hardware specifications
(ie. a 32-bit or 64-bit). In such environments, applications must be recompiled when there are significant
changes such as moving from a 32-bit to a 64-bit hardware platform. Without recompilation, applications run at
the older 32-bit speed, thus not taking advantage of the new hardware enhancements. System stability can also be
affected when drivers or other software contains bugs or poorly written code since software can have a more direct
linke to physical memory and other resources.
With an i5 server software is kept separate from the hardware by using the IBM POWER Hypervisor. The POWER
Hypervisor (previously called SLIC or TIMI) is firmware residing below the operating system and software level
but above the hardware level. This layer allows applications to fully exploit the underlying hardware technology
without having to "know" what they are using
|
|
since coding is not written to specific registers or areas in memory.
While the previous SLIC or TIMI was firmware written by IBM for the iSeries platform, the i5 POWER Hypervisor
is now able to support multiple platforms and operating systems (including i5/OS, Linux and AIX* 5L) making
i5 servers a true multiplatform base to support differing technologies found in most companies today.
|
Amongst the enhanced functionality made possible thanks to the POWER Hypervisor is the new IBM Virtualization
Engine. This engine combines existing offerings along with new technologies allowing a variety of disparate
products to run together which were previously separated due to differences in operating systems and platforms.
And this is all made possible by the IBM Power Hypervisor firmware.
|
|
Hierarchy of Microprocessors
Traditional servers (Intel based systems) typically have a main system processors performing a myriad of tasks
ranging from servicing RAID controllers, modems and video cards to running the operating system and core
applications such as web serving, ERP, mail, etc. Obviously if the main processors are being interrupted (IRQ)
to service I/O requests they are not 100% available for serving the operating system and other software
applications on the system.
|
|
|
|
The Hierarchy of Microprocessors found in the architecture of an iSeries server allows the main system processor(s)
to focus on operating system / application software needs while a network of smaller processors sitting below
handle requests for RAID controllers and other hardware devices.
|
|
Single Level Storage
iSeries architecture allows for disk and main memory to be viewed as one addressible space called single-level
storage. This innovative feature allows for users and/or applications to ask for data by name, not by where
the data is physically located. The iSeries OS keeps
track of where the lastest copy of data is stored (memory or disk) thus avoiding time wasting searches through
main memory before moving on to disk.
|
|
|
With the OS automatically managing data storage it also provides a virtual SAN environment when consolidating multiple
environments on your iSeries server such as AIX, Linux and Windows servers.
|
POWER5 Architecture
The IBM eServer i5 is the next generation of iSeries…the industry’s first POWER5 processor-based server.
i5 represents IBM’s ongoing commitment to deliver new technologies and reinforces the iSeries value proposition
of leveraging investments while advancing forward without disruption. So what is POWER5 really about? What
makes this technology so different and such a breakthrough?
It's Powering Everything, including parts of the Mars Opportunity & Spirit rovers
It's Fifth Generation, a milestone rarely reached
It Delivers on 64-bit, IBM's ninth generation of 64-bit processor
It's Collaborative, allowing device designers & chip manufacturers to work together
PowerPC, POWER4, POWER5: It is Power architecture. Not just a faster chip, but rather the technology open
to collaboration with the capability of powering almost every conceivable device.
|
|
