Re: IXS Server Cards

I didn't love the IPCS, but did the IXS. ;)


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|DrFranken <midrange@xxxxxxxxxxxx> |
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|Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx> |
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|06/11/2010 08:28 AM |
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| Subject: |
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|Re: IXS Server Cards |
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|midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx |
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The IXS implementation as an internal card is all done. As cool as they
were it was hard to keep up with the changing technology and put enough
horsepower on the card then still get it enough power and keep it cool
at the same time. In addition the card slots keep getting smaller so
that made for other issues to deal with. In addition the older style IXA
adapters, which went into selected xSeries servers and connected them
via HSL have also been phased out in favor of iSCSI.

The single drawback to iSCSI is the fact that you need to purchase
separate maintenance on the external server rather than getting 'free'
coverage along with your System i/POWER system. However you do get a
dramatically larger selection of server models from single core up to at
least 8 way and you put in as much memory as you require, no 4GB limit
any longer. You can also add other I/O cards if required which you
couldn't do with IXS. If you choose correctly you also don't have to
purchase iSCSI hardware any longer either as software initiators are
used instead on both the i and x sides. For a while you needed to load a
hunk of IBM Director but that's not needed either as the required
support is built into IBM i now in V5R4 and up. (PTFs in V5R4)

iSCSI supported servers can run Windows, Linux, or VMWare and can be
powered up and down from IBM i or on their own. You can add them on the
fly or remove them, unlike the IXA setup which was in the data loop. The
servers can also be stand alone or Blades.

Still a great option in many shops but J-U-S-T a little different than
the old FSIOP, um, IPCS, no INS, I mean IXS! cards that we all know and
love.

- DrFranken

On 6/10/2010 4:18 PM, fbocch2595@xxxxxxx wrote:

Hi Folks, are any of you buying or planning to buy server cards? I'm not

sure they're still called IXS's. Any idea of the cost of these and how
they perform?

Thanks, Frank

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