IBM System x
Encyclopedia
The IBM System x computer
s form a sub-brand of International Business Machines (IBM's) System brand server
s (the other System sub-brands having the names IBM System i
, IBM System p
, IBM System z and IBM System Storage
). In addition IBM System x is the main component of the IBM System Cluster 1350
solution.
x86 CPU
s; IBM positions them as their "low end" or "entry" offering.
Previously IBM servers based on AMD Opteron
CPUs did not share the xSeries brand; instead they fell directly under the eServer umbrella. However, current AMD Opteron-based servers fall under the System x brand.
Not to be confused with a different IBM product with a similar name, NetFinity (notice the capital F).
cabling scheme for Keyboard/Video/Mouse.
cabling scheme for Keyboard/Video/Mouse.
From a numbering perspective the AMD servers did fit into the xSeries range, under the similar x335 and x336 Intel processor products. These numbers were not re-used in the xSeries range to prevent confusion.
First, the application must have the ability to distribute workload across the execution engines, this applies to the hypervisor, the operating system, and the application. Second, the memory and I/O subsystems must have the physical ability to feed the execution engines with enough data to keep them fully utilized. These two requirements are easier said than done; indeed the average processor utilization in an x86 computing platform is 5 - 10%.
Software vendors have previously been able to fall back on the increasing clock speed of the processors for performance gains, however the recent shift to multi-core processing requires intelligence coded into the applications to support parallel processing. The applications can eventually be recoded, but this takes time and a finite limit always exists to the performance benefits that can be achieved by adding processor cores. Using software to virtualize your servers offers a way to use existing applications, not written for parallel processing, and still scale up in performance because the hypervisor can distribute multiple virtual machines across all of the processor cores in the system.
Virtualization
brings many other benefits such as increased flexibility for server fault tolerance, disaster recovery, and power savings that reduce costs and support environmental responsibility. It is however a software solution and can therefore do little to alleviate the problem of physically feeding data into the processing units fast enough to maximize utilization. The performance of the processor, memory and I/O subsystems inside an x86 server must complement each other to allow virtualization software to get the most use out of the machine. The System x data center is built to face current industry challenges.
3rd digit is a 0 for tower models, and 5 for rack-mount
4th digit is a 0 for Intel processors, and 5 for AMD Opteron.
Models with a T at the end are meant for Telco purposes.
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s form a sub-brand of International Business Machines (IBM's) System brand server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
s (the other System sub-brands having the names IBM System i
IBM System i
The IBM System i is IBM's previous generation of midrange computer systems for IBM i users, and was subsequently replaced by the IBM Power Systems in April 2008....
, IBM System p
IBM System p
The System p, formerly known as RS/6000, was IBM's RISC/UNIX-based server and workstation product line.In April 2008, IBM announced a rebranding of the System p and its unification with the System i platform. The resulting product line is called IBM Power Systems.-History:It was originally a line...
, IBM System z and IBM System Storage
IBM System Storage
IBM System Storage is the brand name for IBM's computer storage products, covering both Disk and Tape products.-DS3000 Series:The DS3000 products are made for IBM by LSI* DS3200...
). In addition IBM System x is the main component of the IBM System Cluster 1350
IBM System Cluster 1350
The IBM Intelligent Cluster is a cluster solution for High-performance computing composed primarily of IBM System x, IBM BladeCenter and IBM System Storage components integrated with network switches from various vendors and optional high-performance InfiniBand interconnects...
solution.
History
Starting out as IBM PC Server, rebranded Netfinity, then eServer xSeries and now System x, these servers are distinguished by being based on off-the-shelfCommercial off-the-shelf
In the United States, Commercially available Off-The-Shelf is a Federal Acquisition Regulation term defining a nondevelopmental item of supply that is both commercial and sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, and that can be procured or utilized under government contract...
x86 CPU
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
s; IBM positions them as their "low end" or "entry" offering.
Previously IBM servers based on AMD Opteron
Opteron
Opteron is AMD's x86 server and workstation processor line, and was the first processor which supported the AMD64 instruction set architecture . It was released on April 22, 2003 with the SledgeHammer core and was intended to compete in the server and workstation markets, particularly in the same...
CPUs did not share the xSeries brand; instead they fell directly under the eServer umbrella. However, current AMD Opteron-based servers fall under the System x brand.
PC Server range
- IBM PC Server 300
- IBM PC Server 310 (PCI/ISA)
- IBM PC Server 315 (PCI/ISA)
- IBM PC Server 320 (PCI/EISA)
- IBM PC Server 325 (PCI/EISA)
- IBM PC Server 330 (PCI/EISA)
- IBM PC Server 500 (MCA)
- IBM PC Server 520 (PCI/EISA or PCI/MCA)
- IBM PC Server 704 (PCI/EISA)
- IBM PC Server 720 (PCI/MCA)
Numbering scheme
- 300 range for high-volume, entry level servers
- 500 range for midrange
- 700 range for high-end.
IBM Netfinity
Not to be confused with a different IBM product with a similar name, NetFinity (notice the capital F).
Netfinity range
- IBM Netfinity 1000
- IBM Netfinity 3000, 3500
- IBM Netfinity 4000R, 4500R
- IBM Netfinity 5000, 5100, 5500, 5600
- IBM Netfinity 6000R
- IBM Netfinity 7000, 7000-M10, 7100, 7600
- IBM Netfinity 8500R
Numbering scheme
The numbering scheme started off similar to that of the IBM PC Servers, but additional ranges were added, like the entry-level 1000 later on. Models ending with an R, are rack-mount.KVM Cabling scheme
Some Netfinity servers used IBM's C2TIBM C2T
C2T is an IBM technology for KVM chaining.C2T, built into some of the IBM's xSeries and Netfinity models, allows daisy-chaining up to forty-two compatible servers in a single rack. Servers are daisy-chained using a special purpose cable which is included with new servers...
cabling scheme for Keyboard/Video/Mouse.
xSeries range
- IBM eServer xSeries 100, 130, 135, 150
- IBM eServer xSeries 200, 205, 206, 206m, 220, 225, 226, 230, 232, 235, 236, 240, 250, 255, 260
- IBM eServer xSeries 300, 305, 306, 306m, 330, 335, 336, 340, 342, 345, 346, 350, 360, 365, 366, 370, 380, 382
- IBM eServer xSeries 440, 445, 450, 455, 460
Numbering scheme
- 100 series are entry-level tower servers
- 200 series are tower servers
- 300 series are rack-mount servers
- 400 series are rack-mount scalable servers
KVM Cabling scheme
Many xSeries servers used IBM's C2TIBM C2T
C2T is an IBM technology for KVM chaining.C2T, built into some of the IBM's xSeries and Netfinity models, allows daisy-chaining up to forty-two compatible servers in a single rack. Servers are daisy-chained using a special purpose cable which is included with new servers...
cabling scheme for Keyboard/Video/Mouse.
eServer range
- IBM eServer 325, 326, 326m
- IBM eServer BladeCenterIBM BladeCenterThe IBM BladeCenter is IBM's blade server architecture.-History:Originally introduced in 2002, based on engineering work started in 1999, the IBM BladeCenter was a relative late comer to the blade market. But, it differed from prior offerings in that it supported the full range of high powered x86...
, BladeCenter T, BladeCenter H, BladeCenter HT
Numbering scheme
For marketing reasons the AMD processor based e325, e326 and e326m and the BladeCenter which supports non-Intel processor products were not branded xSeries, but were instead placed directly under the eServer brand. The xSeries brand was limited to only Intel-based server products.From a numbering perspective the AMD servers did fit into the xSeries range, under the similar x335 and x336 Intel processor products. These numbers were not re-used in the xSeries range to prevent confusion.
IBM System x range
- IBM System x3105, 3100
- IBM System x3200, x3200 M2, x3250, x3250 M2, x3250 M3
- IBM System x3350
- IBM System x3400, x3450, x3455
- IBM System x3500
- IBM System x3550, x3550 M2, x3550 M3
- IBM System x3650, x3650T, x3655, x3650 M2, x3650 M3
- IBM System x3755
- IBM System x3800, x3850, x3850M2
- IBM System x3950, x3950 M2
Enterprise eX5 architecture
IBM eX5 systems innovations introduced on March 2, 2010 include:- MAX5 – Unprecedented memory expansion with the external MAX5 memory chassis, decoupling server memory from system processors to allow you to optimize server performance
- eXFlash – Get dramatically faster I/O, with greater storage density and improved reliability
- FlexNode – Gain the ability to re-deploy server on a project-by-project basis for superior asset utilization and workload management
- Scalability – Updating IBM’s innovative ‘pay-as-you-grow’ capability by enabling all eX5 servers to scale
- Workload optimized systems – Delivering specific workload-tuned models to minimize your time to value by leveraging IBM’s industry expertise
Enterprise X4 architecture
In large, scalable servers, the importance of the memory, I/O, and disk subsystems are paramount. To efficiently utilize multiple execution engines, whether they are cores, threads, or physical processors, two things need to be achieved.First, the application must have the ability to distribute workload across the execution engines, this applies to the hypervisor, the operating system, and the application. Second, the memory and I/O subsystems must have the physical ability to feed the execution engines with enough data to keep them fully utilized. These two requirements are easier said than done; indeed the average processor utilization in an x86 computing platform is 5 - 10%.
Software vendors have previously been able to fall back on the increasing clock speed of the processors for performance gains, however the recent shift to multi-core processing requires intelligence coded into the applications to support parallel processing. The applications can eventually be recoded, but this takes time and a finite limit always exists to the performance benefits that can be achieved by adding processor cores. Using software to virtualize your servers offers a way to use existing applications, not written for parallel processing, and still scale up in performance because the hypervisor can distribute multiple virtual machines across all of the processor cores in the system.
Virtualization
Virtualization
Virtualization, in computing, is the creation of a virtual version of something, such as a hardware platform, operating system, a storage device or network resources....
brings many other benefits such as increased flexibility for server fault tolerance, disaster recovery, and power savings that reduce costs and support environmental responsibility. It is however a software solution and can therefore do little to alleviate the problem of physically feeding data into the processing units fast enough to maximize utilization. The performance of the processor, memory and I/O subsystems inside an x86 server must complement each other to allow virtualization software to get the most use out of the machine. The System x data center is built to face current industry challenges.
Numbering scheme
2nd digit increments to show capability3rd digit is a 0 for tower models, and 5 for rack-mount
4th digit is a 0 for Intel processors, and 5 for AMD Opteron.
Models with a T at the end are meant for Telco purposes.
iDataPlex
- SciNet ConsortiumSciNet ConsortiumSciNet is a consortium of the University of Toronto and affiliated Ontario hospitals. It has received funding from both the federal and provincial government, Faculties at the University of Toronto, and affiliated hospitals....
's IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
System x iDataPlex Supercomputer
External links
- IBM's System x
- IBM's server homepage
- IBM System x Twitter, Blogs and Commumities
- IBM System x Redbooks
- IBM System x Configuration and Options Guide for current systems
- Tuning IBM System x Servers for Performance - IBM Redbooks
- [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitute/psref/nwbook.pdf IBM Netfinity Reference]
- [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitute/psref/swbook.pdf IBM PC Servers Reference]
- Real World Technologies: x86 Servers Brace for a Hurricane an in-depth overview of the X3 architecture, covering the cache coherency protocol, snoop filter, memory and I/O subsystems and the remote directory, by David Kanter
- Community Portal with the latest news on IBM System x, BladeCenter and Systems Management
- The Price of Safety: Evaluating IOMMU Performance (mentions the Calgary IOMMU which is featured in eSeries AMD Opteron systems.
- IBM's System x configurator and system builder