Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 for POWER can be ordered from IBM for System i and System p servers.
With POWER6 processor-based servers the following Linux distributions are supported: SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 10 SP1 for POWER, or later and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.5 for POWER. It is IBM’s intention to support a future version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 for POWER starting in second half 2007 on POWER6 processor-based servers.
Red Hat Announces Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 with per server licensing. This new distribution supports System i models 515, 520, 525, 550, 570, and 595. RHEL 5 is not supported on System i models 270, 800, 810, 820, 825, 830, 840, 870, and 890. See RHEL 5 system requirements for more details.
IBM intends to enhance System i integration with BladeCenter and System x via iSCSI by enabling virtual storage support for running VMWare ESX 3.x on selected IBM BladeCenter and System x servers. See Product Preview for more information.
Novell Announces SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10. This new distribution supports System i models 520, 550, 570, and 595 and 800, 810, 825, 870, and 890. SLES 10 is not supported on System i models 270, 820, 830, and 840. See SLES 10 system requirements for more details.
IBM BladeCenter and System x offerings deliver industry-leading x86 innovation to support Intel® applications. New options enable you to use industry-standard iSCSI technology to integrate System x and BladeCenter servers with the IBM i platform to consolidate server management and take advantage of System i virtual storage, networking and tape resources to simplify the operations of your server infrastructure. This offering supports System x and BladCenter servers running Windows starting in May and plans are in place to support Linux in the 2nd half of 2006.
The System i5 family based on POWER5+ processors and IBM i V5R4 deliver enhanced performance, flexibility, and integration for AIX 5L and Linux operating environments.
Capacity on Demand
Capacity on Demand enhancements provide more cost effective options for customers to add AIX 5L and Linux applications to their System i5 servers. The introduction of Capacity on Demand on the 520 with the IBM Accelerator for System i5 and the 1/2-way models extend the power and flexibility of CoD to the entry systems. The 570 Enterprise Edition now comes standard with one processor license of IBM i and one Enterprise Enablement feature, enhancing the flexibility for adding IBM i, AIX 5L, or Linux applications. The entry 570 is now a 2/4-way server which provides clearer positioning with the 1/4-way 550 model.
IBM i Integration
The IBM i Integrated Server Support option 29 for IBM i and IBM i Integration for Linux on xSeries (5722-LSV) replaces the IBM iSeries Integration for Windows Server (5722-WSV) licensed program product. These new offerings deliver virtual storage, communications, and operations management integration between IBM i and Integrated xSeries solutions and Linux and AIX 5L partitions for the System i5 family.
These integration offerings include enhancements provided with IBM i V5R4 to deliver:
- Virtual Ethernet support for Linux on xSeries systems attached by an Integrated xSeries Adapter.
- Support for extending the size of a network server storage space.
- iSeries Navigator enhancements to deliver a consistent management interface for integrated xSeries systems and Linux and AIX 5L partitions
Virtual Storage Performance
Enhancements to IBM i V5R4 virtual storage support can improve performance and reduce configuration complexity for AIX 5L and Linux partitions. With V5R4, the virtual storage support has been re-architected to improve handling of multiple I/O requests from a partition with these enhancements; one virtual SCSI connection (NWSD) can support more I/O requests. Multiple virtual SCSI connections (NWSDs) can provide additional I/O performance in certain application environments.
OS Support
- The following operating system releases are required for the new 520, 550, 570, and 595 systems.
- AIX 5L 5.2 (5200-08 maintenance level)
- AIX 5L 5.3 (5300-04 maintenance level)
- SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Service Pack 3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Update 2
Integrated xSeries Solutions - Product Preview*
IBM intends to extend its integrated xSeries solutions in 2006 by leveraging industry-standard iSCSI technology to attach selected xSeries systems and BladeCenter to the System i5 platform. New iSCSI Host Bus Adapters will enable you to exploit System i5 virtual storage, networking, and tape resources to help simplify the operations of your Windows Server System infrastructure. System i5 integration with xSeries systems and BladeCenter via iSCSI will be supported on IBM i V5R4 and will be able to coexist with Integrated xSeries Servers and xSeries systems attached via Integrated xSeries Adapters.
* Product Previews provide insight into IBM plans and directions. All statements regarding IBM's plans, directions, and intent are subject to change without notice.
IBM i has been enhanced with support for virtual partition management to enable the creation and management of Linux partitions without the requirement for a Hardware Management Console (HMC). With the Virtual Partition Manager, the System i5 family can support one IBM i partition and up to four Linux partitions.
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