This document discusses IBM's Flex System and PureSystem families of integrated infrastructure solutions. It provides an overview of the PureSystem portfolio and highlights how Flex System and PureFlex solutions deliver application platforms, infrastructure services, and data platforms in an integrated and optimized manner. It also describes key integration and design aspects of these solutions including virtualization, networking, storage, and systems management capabilities. The document includes details about IBM Flex System such as the Enterprise Chassis, its networking and storage expansion options, and supported compute nodes. It promotes the new IBM Flex System X6 as providing faster, more agile and resilient platforms optimized for analytics, virtualization, databases and other enterprise workloads.

1. © 2014 IBM Corporation
Flex & X6
Marcus A. Mac Dougall
Platformleader Flex and PureFlex DACH
06.05.2014

2. © 2014 IBM Corporation2
The PureSystem family
Infrastructure Application Platform Data Platform
• PureSystem with models optimized
exclusively for data workloads
Integrated
and optimized
application platform
Built on IBM
middleware
to accelerate
deployment of your
choice of applications
Integrated and
optimized
infrastructure with
flexibility
Runs your choice of
applications and
middleware
Integrated
and optimized data
platform
Delivers high
performance data
services to
transactional and
analytics applications
• Delivering application platform
services
• Delivering IT infrastructure
services

3. © 2014 IBM Corporation3
Integration by Design
Virtualization
Hyper-VVMwareKVMPowerVM
AIX / System i Linux / Windows
Server Networking Storage
Integrated System and Workload Management
Integrated and Open Infrastructure

4. © 2014 IBM Corporation4
IBM Flex System

5. © 2014 IBM Corporation5
IBM FlexSystem Enterprise Chassis
5
Front view Specifications Value
Chassis with 10 rack units (10U)
 14 slots (half-wide nodes)
 28 slots (double-dense nodes)
 7 slots (full-wide nodes)
Integrates following components:
 2S/4S Intel Compute Nodes
 2S/4S Power 7 Compute Nodes
 PCI-Expansion Unit
 Storage Expansion
 Storwize V7000 Storage System
 FlexSystem Manager (appliance)
 Highest density
 Virtual FC and NIC-addresses
 Supports different processor-architectures
 Non-disrubtive installation and
replacement of hardware components
(Hot add und Hot swap)
 Easy cabeling
 Maximum networking bandwidth
with lowest latency
 Integrated management network
 Future-proof and flexible system design
supports future technologies
Back view Chassis Management:
 2 x CMM-modules
Power and Cooling:
 10 x fans
 6 x power supplies
Networking Infrastructure
 4 x switch-modules
avialble switch-modules:
 1/10/40Gb Ethernet with 10/40Gb Uplink
 8/16 Gbps FibreChannel
 10GbE/FCoE Converged Ethernet
 QDR/SDR Infiband
IBM Flex Enterprise Chassis

6. © 2014 IBM Corporation6
Enterprise Chassis Networking Storage Management Software
Ethernet: InfiniBand: FibreChannel: Storage Expansion
Unit
1/10/40GbE
Switches
56Gbit
QDR/FDR
InfiniBand
Switches
8/16Gbps
FC-Switches
10GbE/FCoE
Converged
Switches
Block Storage:
8/16Gbps
FC-Interconnect
Modules
1/10GbE
Interconnect
Modules
(CISCO Fex)
File Storage:
X86 ComputeNodes Power ComputeNodes
X220/X222 X240 X440 PCI Expansion P260 / P270 / P24L P460
1-2 Socket
Intel Sandybridge EN
up to 384GB RAM
1-2 Socket
Intel IvyBridge EP
up to 768GB RAM
2-4 Socket
Intel Sandybrige EP
up to 1.5TB RAM
Supports:
- NVIDIA GPU„s
2 Socket Power 7+
Up to 512GB
4 Socket Power 7+
up to 1024GB
IBM FlexSystem Portfolio

7. © 2014 IBM Corporation7
AGILE
FAST
RESILIENT
X6 is FAST, AGILE and RESILIENT

8. © 2014 IBM Corporation8
X6
X4
EXA2
EXA
X3
eX5
Largest SAP HANA
system in the world
100+ number one
benchmarks
Continuous advancements in x86
Performance and Reliability
>$1B invested in EXA
Technology
1st VMware joint
development partner
#1 market share
1st >8 way scalable solution
Generations of innovation in IBM EXA

9. © 2014 IBM Corporation99
 Unique “pay-as-you-grow”
capability and “fit-for-purpose”
design points enable you to get
the lowest total cost of
ownership
 Flash technologies provide
lower latencies, faster
response times and smarter
data management in real-time
 Save hours of down-time from
unscheduled events and gain
more fault tolerance and better
systems management capability
System x 4-socket
& 8-socket servers
Flex System X6
Compute Nodes
"X6 makes a lot of sense... will drive market share leadership. We'd welcome the [new] product."
- Matt Eastwood, Group Vice President and General Manager, IDC, 3/15/2013
DATABASEVIRTUALIZATION
BUS.
ANALYTICS
ERP
DATABASE
FAST AGILE RESILIENT
BUS.
ANALYTICS
ERP
DATABASE
VIRTUALIZATION
X6: Innovation for business advantage

10. © 2014 IBM Corporation10
Virtualization
• Optimized performance
• Enterprise-level availability
• Investment protection
• Easy, affordable solutionsDatabase
Analytics
ERP
Enterprise workloads drive business advantage

11. © 2014 IBM Corporation11
x280 X6
Ideal for workloads such as
large virtual machines requiring
more memory per VM
Scalable to 2 sockets
2 x Intel E7 2800 v2
3TB memory (48 DIMMs)
Up to 4 networking adapters
2 x 2.5” HDD / SSD or
8 x 1.8” SSD with RAID 5
x480 X6
Ideal for workloads such as
large virtual machines, analytics
and databases requiring more
cores as well more memory per
system or VM
Scalable up to 4 sockets
4 x Intel E7 4800 v2
6TB memory (96 DIMMs)
Up to 8 networking adapters
4 x 2.5” HDD / SSD or
16 x 1.8” SSD with RAID 5
x880 X6
Ideal for workloads that demand
the highest levels of performance
such as analytics and databases
requiring more cores as well
more memory per system
Scalable up to 8 sockets
8 x Intel E7 8800 v2
12TB memory* (192 DIMMs)
Up to 16 networking adapters
8 x 2.5” HDD / SSD or
32 x 1.8” SSD with RAID 5
* 64GB DIMM available on 8 socket x880 in 4Q14. Contact IBM rep for interoperability help with specific configurations.
The Flex System X6 Compute Node Portfolio

12. © 2014 IBM Corporation12
12
Scale to 4-socket server
with pluggable connector
Pluggable 4-socket
scaling connector
attaches here
Pluggable 8-socket
scaling connector
attaches here
Scale to 8-socket server
with pluggable connector
•Scales to meet growth needs
•Modular blade design delivers fit-for-purpose solutions
Easy-to-use IBM Flex System X6 Compute Node scalable
connectors to provide investment protection

13. © 2014 IBM Corporation13
Scalable to 4 socket or
Scalable to 8 socket
4 PCIe Slots
(Mezz slots)
More advanced RAS
capability
30 Cores
3TB Standard Memory
3.2TB of Flash Storage (SSDs)
Flash Accelerator & Caching
Scalable to 4
socket
2 PCIe Slots
(1 CIOv + 1 CFFh)
RAS capability
20 Cores
512GB Standard
Memory
800GB of Flash
Storage (SSDs)
No Flash DIMMs
Maximum I/O Throughput
X5
+400%
+100%
4X
More internal
flash storage
Highest scalability
Ultra-Low Latency Performance
Highest Storage Performance
and Density
Leadership Performance
Highest Fault
Tolerance & Fastest
Serviceability
4.8TB of Flash Storage
(Flash DIMMs)
(For In-Memory Database)
X6
+50%
IBM BladeCenter HX5 vs Flex System X6

14. © 2014 IBM Corporation1414
More than
2100 SAP
HANA
systems
shipped
400TB of
IBM Systems in
SAP HANA
Enterprise Cloud
SAP HANA + IBM momentum
X6 is optimized
for analytics:
I/O performance,
memory and core
scalability
Largest SAP
HANA system
in the world:
100TB
Investment
protection:
Add X6 to existing eX5
clusters
SAP CRM and
HR systems in
production:
4TB IBM HANA
system

15. © 2014 IBM Corporation15
IBM Flex System Networking

16. © 2014 IBM Corporation16
2 I/O Connections
Using different
types of adaptors
FC/Ethernet/IB
Ethernet Modules
 Scalable 40GB Switch
 Scalable 10Gb Switch / 40Gb Uplinks
 Scalable 1Gb Switch 10Gb Uplinks
 1/10Gb Pass Thru Modules
 *CISCO FEX (Fabric Extender)
Ethernet Adapters / Converged Ethernet
 4 port 1Gb (Broadcom)
 4 port 10Gb (Emulex)
 8 Port 10Gb (Emulex)
 2 port 10Gb (Mellanox)
 2 port 40GB (Mellanox)
Fiber Channel Modules
 20 port 8Gb
 20 port 8Gb Pass Thru
 12 port 16Gb
 Scalable 24 port 16Gb w/ ESB
Infiniband
 56GB QDR Switch (Mellanox)
 Upgrade: FDR for investment protection
 2 port FDR Infiniband Adapter (Mellanox)
FC Adapters
 2 port 8GB
 2 port 16GB
 4 Port 16GB
Switch Bays 1-4
Ethernet/FC/Infini-Band
IBM FleySystem Compute Node
42
4 Port Ethernet
1 3
2 Port 10GB LOM
10Gb Ethernet
10Gb Ethernet
ScSE
Scalable Switch Elements
(4X)
FlexSystem Networking Switches and I/O-Adapters

17. © 2014 IBM Corporation17
IBM10GbVirtualFabricSwitch
Logical Partition 1
Logical Partiton 2
 Base Switch: Enables fourteen internal 10Gb ports (one to each
server) and ten external 10Gb ports
 Supports the 2 port 10Gb LOM and Virtual Fabric capability14 internal ports
Poolofuplinkports
 First Upgrade via FoD: Enables second set of fourteen internal
10Gb ports (one to each server) and two 40Gb ports
 Each 40Gb port can be used as four 10Gb ports
 Supports the 4-port Virtual Fabric adapter
 Second Upgrade via FoD: Enables third set of fourteen internal
10Gb ports (one to each server) and four external 10Gb ports
 Capable of supporting a six port card in future
14 internal ports
14 internal ports Logical Partition 3
Flexible I/O-Connections with scalable Ethernet / FC-Switches

18. © 2014 IBM Corporation18
IBM eXFlash DIMMs

19. © 2014 IBM Corporation19
IBM Flash DIMM
(IBM System x)
Available today!
• Consistent “leader of the pack”
performance
• Lowest write latency of any Flash offering - <10
microseconds
• Performance scales linearly with added DIMMs
• Deterministic response time
• 150K IOPS per Flash DIMM enables >1M IOPS in
1 server or ITE
• Efficient and flexible to implement
• Increments of 200GB, 400GB allows granular
capacity expansion
• Ideal for dense environments like Flex with limited
SSD and I/O slots
• More Flash capacity per server = more databases /
more database cache fits on the ITE
• Low CPU and memory resource utilization
Scalable Form
Factor, Capacity, Perf
ormance meets every
need
Deterministic,
Predictable
Performance
Deterministic
Latency
approaching DRAM
Memory Channel Storage

20. © 2014 IBM Corporation20
High Frequency Trading Software
Memory Channel Storage

21. © 2014 IBM Corporation21
Best Flash Economics
eXFlash DIMMs can deliver lower cost
implementations without
compromising on performance or
capacity.
Major drivers for lower cost:
 Aggregation of eXFlash DIMMs
results in higher total IOPs without
increasing latencies – cannot do this
with PCIe or SSD Flash
 Highest IOPs per GB per device
 Ability to leverage memory channel
for a total of 12.8TB of storage
Low Latency Analytics
Enable real-time analytics and deliver
lowest latency performance
eXFlash DIMMs act as primary storage
for messaging and events
Benefits:
 Reduce latencies for messaging and
events as transactions go over the
memory channel rather than disk or
PCIe
 Minimize latency deviation or “jitter”
for maximum throughput
 “Instant On” performance handles
bursts of traffic effectively
 Less than 10 micro sec. latency per
device is 30% lower than any PCIe
based flash device
Virtualization
Increase performance and scalability
eXFlash DIMMs provide the CPU with
an additional server-side caching
Benefits:
 Linear IO scaling independent
of centralized storage
 Increased workload density per
server
 Virtual disk latencies independent of
# of VMs per server
 IOPs per VM decrease by less than
10% as you scale from 1 to 16 VMs per
server – compare that with 80%
reduction with SSDs
Performance boost for virtualization and analytics

22. © 2014 IBM Corporation22
Thank you