IBM i Storage Solutions

IBM i continues to exploit the I/O architecture, introduced first on the AS/400 systems, aimed at providing high performance scalability while maintaining the flexibility required to infuse new technologies into the product as they became available. Since that time, this flexibility has been leveraged on numerous occasions. The main system I/O bus named the High Speed Link (also known as HSL, Remote I/O or RIO bus) has a sustained throughput of 1GB/s in both directions. In 2007 a new system bus (named 12X) was introduced that enables 3GB/s in both directions.. High performance I/O adapters based on industry-leading PowerPC architecture provide the horsepower behind this I/O. In addition to the long standing industry standard Peripheral Component Interface (PCI-X) bus controllers, Power Systems IBM i now offers many adapters in the new PCI-e standard. PCI-e stands for Peripheral Component Interface - express and doubles the last version of PCI-X speed from 2GB/sec to 4GB/sec.