Click to enlarge IBM® supports attachment of SMP IBM BladeCenter® blade and System x® models to an IBM i system via an iSCSI network. This implementation uses iSCSI target and initiator adapters and provides systems management and storage consolidation features.
Attachment of BladeCenter blade and System x models via an iSCSI network requires IBM i 5.4 or later plus a minimum cumulative PTF package and additional PTFs. See the IBM i PTFs page for details.
Benefits of server consolidation on the IBM i platform using iSCSI
- Provides flexible Storage Area Network management for Windows® and VMware® ESX servers
- Delivers heterogeneous application solutions with one offering
- Supports a less expensive high availability solution with hot spare technology
- Lowers the cost of user administration by synchronizing IBM i and Windows profiles and passwords
- Reduces operations and skills costs through management using IBM i GUI interfaces
- Improves Windows and VMware ESX server uptime and stability with a consistent implementation
Documentation
The following documents contain information about planning and implementing Windows and VMware ESX on BladeCenter and System x servers that are attached to the IBM i via an iSCSI network:
- IBM i iSCSI Solution Guide and associated work sheets provide the information you need to plan for and install an IBM BladeCenter blade or System x server that is attached to IBM i using an iSCSI network.
- IBM i integration with BladeCenter and System x topic in the IBM i 7.1 Information Center contains information for Windows and VMware ESX servers.
- iSCSI-attached System x and blade systems topic in the IBM i 6.1 Information Center contains information for Windows and VMware ESX servers.
- Windows environment on iSeries topic in the IBM i 5.4 Information Center.
- VMware ESX Server on iSCSI attached integrated servers for i5/OS V5R4 (PDF, 146KB) white paper.
- Implementing Integrated Windows Server through iSCSI to System i5 i 5.4 Redbook.
