Re: i5 vs. p5

My understanding is that the hardware is identical and there's a switch setting 
that enables either I5/OS or AIX to be selected, and that the setting can be 
configured via an ethernet port on the back of the box using a low-level 
internal HTTP server attached to the specific port.  But legally, you'd need 
the OS license, which AFAIK IBM only bundles with the hardware, rather than 
selling separately.



----- Original Message ----
From: "Ingvaldson, Scott" <SIngvaldson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 8:46:18 AM
Subject: i5 vs. p5

Seriously what's the difference?  Can anyone definitively say that you
can't (or can) load i5/OS on any 5xx model p5 or load AIX on any 5xx
series i5?
 
I took a plant tour at IBM Rochester yesterday and the tour guide
specifically said that there was no way to tell an i5 from a p5 until
the cover was put on.  Later I asked one of the engineers and she said
that other than licensing and support issues she didn't know why it
wouldn't work.
 
A thread earlier this week suggested that i5/OS could only run on p5 in
a "limited fashion" and it would cost "a GAZILLION dollars."   Does
anyone really know?
 
Regards,
 
Scott Ingvaldson
iSeries System Administrator
GuideOne Insurance Group