New iSeries Hardware Brings Racks and More Processing Options
by
Al Barsa, Jr.
October 03, 2000 —
In addition to changing the names of the new model AS/400s and the other server lines, IBM made two significant hardware announcements today that give more options to customers on high-end processors and that bring a long-awaited rack-mount capability to the mid-tier servers.
Capacity Upgrade on Demand
A new feature, “Capacity Upgrade on Demand,” brings more options in price and performance to the model 840 line (Figure 1). Customers had criticized the 840’s standard 8-way and 12-way as not giving enough choices for price and performance. So in answer, IBM has started to ship model 840s with the next upgrade included in the same box. The new 840s will ship as 8-, 12-, and 18-way servers that pack additional, dormant processors under the same black cover.
When you purchase a selected feature code of the model 840, it ships with the lower number of processors turned on. When you decide you need more CPW, you turn on the additional processors through a Dedicated Server Tools (DST) function. These additional processors will remain active for up to 14 days while you work out exactly how much additional processing power you need. To activate them permanently, you pay IBM for the upgrade. Although the DST function will turn on all of the processors, when you pay IBM for them you can choose the exact number you want activated permanently.
Capacity Upgrade on Demand should solve the problems of a number of users, especially high-end customers, who complained that IBM took too long to deliver upgrades. Now these customers will have their next upgrade already installed; all they have to do is enable it and square off financially with IBM. The Capacity features will be priced at a premium over the 840’s standard feature codes.
Rack-Mountable iSeries Servers
Rochester has also bowed to frequent customer demands for rack-mountable servers. Existing feature codes of the models 270 and 830, as well as I/O towers for the model 840, are now available in rack-mounted enclosures. (The 270 models are rack-mountable only when they have an I/O sidecar attached.) Rack capability is particularly attractive for customers with several servers who need to get the most computing power in the smallest square footage. Rack mounting requires the purchase of an additional feature on the system, but there are no changes in processor feature code.
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