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IBM i integration
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VMware ESX overview
Storage support
Migrating from i 5.4

VMware ESX on integrated servers

IBM i integration with BladeCenter® and System x™ allows businesses to operate heterogeneous environments that include Intel®-compatible servers running VMware® ESX Server in addition to core business applications on the IBM i platform.

VMware ESX Server is the host server for abstracting processor, memory, storage and networking resources of a physical server into multiple virtual machines. The ESX Server is part of the VMware Infrastructure. To learn more about the VMware Infrastructure, see http://www.vmware.com.

IBM i 5.4 or i 6.1 is required in order to run VMware ESX Server on BladeCenter blade or System x models that are attached to the IBM i platform via an iSCSI host bus adapter (iSCSI HBA).

  • For IBM i 5.4, IBM® has made PTFs available to enable running VMware ESX Server on iSCSI attached servers. See IBM i PTFs for the latest list of PTFs that are required.
  • For IBM i 6.1, support is included in the base i5/OS products.

For IBM i 6.1, a new IBM i infrastructure for VMware ESX on integrated servers is provided.

Attention: A one-time migration of VMware ESX servers that were created on i 5.4 is required after upgrading IBM i to i 6.1. See the Migrating VMware ESX servers from i 5.4 to i 6.1 page for details.

What is provided

  • Updates to the IBM i Install Linux® Server command (INSLNXSVR) for installing VMware ESX Server 3.0.1 or 3.0.2 for use with Virtual Infrastructure 3, Standard or Enterprise editions.
  • Access to IBM i virtual disk storage.
  • Post install and update functions.
  • Ability to shutdown the ESX server by varying off the associated Network Server Description (NWSD).
  • For i 6.1: Shared storage is supported. Therefore, VMware VMotion, VMware HA and VMware DRS are supported.

Limitations

  • For i 5.4: Shared storage is not supported. Therefore, VMware VMotion, VMware HA and VMware DRS are not supported.
  • Dynamic unlinking of disk storage from an active server is not supported.
  • IBM i virtual tape and virtual optical devices are not supported on integrated servers running VMware ESX Server.
  • IBM i virtual Ethernet is not supported with VMware ESX Server.
  • For this IBM i iSCSI solution, System x PCIe iSCSI HBAs are not supported for use with VMware ESX. See the iSCSI host bus adapter (iSCSI HBA) page for PCI-X iSCSI HBAs that are supported for use with VMware ESX.

For details on planning and installation, see:


Installing, configuring, and managing VMware ESX Server in iSCSI-attached integrated server environments in the Information Center for i 6.1.

VMware ESX Server on iSCSI attached integrated servers for IBM i 5.4.


VMware ESX Server versions tested

The following VMware ESX Server versions have been tested on various BladeCenter blade and System x models:

  • VMware ESX Server 3.0.1 or 3.0.2

The specific BladeCenter blade and System x models that have been tested are listed on the BladeCenter and System x models supported with iSCSI page.


Installation information

See the iSCSI install read me first web page.


Related information
System i Virtual Storage Support for VMware ESX Server on iSCSI Attached BladeCenter and System x Servers.
Backing up and recovering integrated servers from IBM i in the Information Center for i 6.1.
Backing up and restoring your ESX server topic in the VMware ESX Server on iSCSI attached integrated servers for IBM i 5.4 document. (146 KB)

Trademark information

See the Trademark information page for information on IBM and other company trademarks.

iSCSI
IBM i and BladeCenter/System x integration via iSCSI

iSCSI overview

BladeCenter and System x models supported with iSCSI

Ethernet switches for iSCSI

iSCSI install read me first


ROI with IBM i

Infrastructure Simplification and the ROI of consolidating Windows, Linux, and AIX 5L applications on IBM System i


Total cost of ownership
Total cost of ownership

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Contact us

Tell us about your integrated server implementations.
Send a note to intwin@us.ibm.com