Edit: Some links no longer work.
Originally posted August 6, 2013 on AIXchange
As noted at the end of last week’s post, on July 30 IBM made another PowerLinux announcement. Here’s the full IBM press release.
“The PowerLinux 7R4 is the high-end addition to IBM’s line-up of Power Systems PowerLinux servers running industry standard Linux from Red Hat and SUSE. Joining the PowerLinux 7R1 and 7R2 models, the PowerLinux 7R4 delivers a new level of performance with up to 4 sockets and 32 cores — ideal for clients seeking a Linux solution capable of handling compute-intensive workloads including analytics, cognitive computing, database and web infrastructure. The PowerLinux 7R4 takes advantage of the same virtualization, middleware, and applications that are available on all Power Systems running Linux today.
“In addition to IBM DB2 database software for Linux, which offers an average 98 percent compatibility when migrating Oracle Database applications, IBM announced that EnterpriseDB’s enterprise-level PostgreSQL-based database solution is now available on all Power Systems servers running Linux.
“Switching databases has traditionally been costly and risky due to limited application compatibility and lack of comprehensive migration tools and resources. EnterpriseDB’s Postgres Plus Advanced Server and IBM Power Systems solve this problem by providing extensive Oracle compatibility functionality, migration tools and expertise that can deliver significant cost savings while allowing many Oracle based applications to run virtually unchanged,” said Ed Boyajian, President and CEO, EnterpriseDB.
“IBM has participated in a wide range of open source projects since 1999, and today this includes Open Stack, Open Daylight, KVM, Apache and Eclipse in addition to Linux. Hundreds of IBM programmers and engineers around the world are contributing to open source as part of the collection of global open source communities, including experts working on projects such as KVM and hands-on support for clients, IBM Business Partners and software vendors interested in running Linux on Power Systems. In May 2013 IBM opened the world’s first IBM’s Power Systems Linux Center in Beijing, and in June 2013 IBM announced its intention to open two more IBM Power Systems Linux Centers in New York and Austin.”
Here’s the IBM PowerLinux 7R4 announcement letter:
“The IBM PowerLinux 7R4 (8248-L4T) server is a powerful 2-socket or 4-socket server that ships with 16 or 32 fully activated cores and I/O configuration flexibility to meet today’s growth and tomorrow’s processing needs. The server features:
- Powerful POWER7+ DCM processors that offer 3.5 GHz and 4.0 GHz performance with 16 or 32 fully activated cores
- Up to 1024 GB of memory
- Rich I/O options in the system unit: six PCIe 8X Gen2 slots in the system unit; two GX++ slots for I/O drawers; six hard disk drive (HDD)/solid-state drive (SSD) SAS small form factor (SFF) bays and integrated SAS I/O controllers; integrated multifunction card with four Ethernet, two USB, and one serial port; redundant hot-swap ac power supplies in each enclosure; 19-inch rack-mount 5U configuration …
“Without PowerVM, dynamic LPAR allows one partition per processor. With PowerVM , up to 20 partitions are allowed per processor. Logical partitioning is supported when IBM PowerVM for IBM PowerLinux (#EC22) is ordered.
“The backplane can be configured as one set of six bays, two sets of three bays (3/3), or three sets of two bays (2/2/2). Configuration options will vary, depending upon the controller options and the operating system selected. The controllers for the six-bay or 3/3 configurations are always the two pairs of embedded controllers. If the 2/2/2 configuration is used, the two embedded controllers run the first two sets of bays (2/2) and a feature 5901 PCIe SAS adapter located in a PCIe slot in a CEC enclosure controls the third set (2). By having three controllers, you can have three boot drives supporting three partitions.
“The IBM PowerLinux 7R4 (8248-L4T) server is designed with both IBM and customer serviceability in mind. Advancements such as Guiding Light LED architecture are used to control a system of integrated LEDs that lead the individual servicing the machine to the correct part as quickly as possible. With the PowerLinux 7R4 server, you can replace service parts (customer replaceable unit). To do this, the PowerLinux 7R4 server uses Guiding Light LEDs to indicate the parts that need to be replaced. An HMC attached to the PowerLinux 7R4 server enables support personnel (with your authorization) to remotely log in to review error logs and perform remote maintenance if required.
“Concurrent maintenance guided service procedures will continue to be supported by the Repair and Verify (R&V) component of the Service Focal Point application running on the HMC. Repair procedures that are not covered by the guided R&V component are documented and available for display on any web browser-enabled system as well as on the HMC. These procedures are available through the InfoCenter application.”
If you search for IBM 7R4 you will find more analysis. Here are two additional articles.
InformationWeek says:
“Why buy Power when there are more x86 choices? Performance is the differentiator, according to IBM. Multi-threaded Java applications, for example, can take advantage of four threads per core instead of the two threads per core on Intel machines. What’s more, Power 7+ series upgrades introduced over the last year include a highly optimized IBM Java Virtual Machine for better Java performance. Finally, the machine has a 2.5 times more cache than competitive Intel machines.
The Register says:
“… because of the relatively high cost of Power Systems iron, which was marketed to Unix and proprietary customers used to paying a premium for every component in their systems, it was difficult to pitch a Power-based machine against an x86 box and win. So, with the PowerLinux machines, IBM cut its prices to take that issue off the table. And now, IBM can focus the conversation on the performance of Java, database, and analytics workloads and show that a Power7+ alternative can take on a Xeon system and make economic as well as technical sense.”
IBM continues to make Power servers an attractive option for running Linux. As AIX and IBM i cannot run on the 7R1, 7R2 or 7R4, IBM has made the pricing on these systems very competitive when compared with traditional x86 commodity hardware. Take the time to investigate whether Linux on Power makes sense in your environment.
In case you missed it, here is some information from today’s Wall Street Journal about the OpenPOWER Consortium:
“The effort will start with Power8, a forthcoming member of the chip family that IBM plans to discuss at a technical conference this month.”
The IBM news release says the consortium is “an open development alliance based on IBM’s POWER microprocessor architecture. The Consortium intends to build advanced server, networking, storage and GPU-acceleration technology aimed at delivering more choice, control and flexibility to developers of next-generation, hyperscale and cloud data centers.”
IBM Systems Magazine also had an article on the announcement today.