Discover the iseries concept, an IBM eserver like no other...

Transcription

1 Discover the iseries concept, an IBM eserver like no other... Franz Bourlet, iseries product leader, IBM Belgium and Luxembourg, February 2004

2 The war of the servers is currently raging with each constructor claiming to propose the best system, with plenty of gigahertz, benchmarks and price/performance ratios. With the new IBM eserver iseries, we leave this futile debate behind and radically change perspective as it has a unique and innovative design, making it the only truly integrated system on the market (and consequently, the most costeffective to use). This statement is confirmed by various studies, like : IDC : Server Cost of Ownership in ERM Customer Sites, August 2001 MetaGroup : The Impact of OS/Platform Selection on the Cost of ERP Implementation, July 2002 The following paragraphs aim to make you discover the concrete advantages that the iseries concept offers you. These may be summarized in one sentence: Time spent on your business earns you money; the time spent managing your IT infrastructure costs you. We suggest you read all the following paragraphs with this simple sentence in mind, as everything will make sense at the end... Table of contents 1. A truly integrated system 2. A modular and versatile system 3. An external... or internal SAN 4. Security: a system immune to viruses 5. Growth: by server upgrade rather than proliferation 6. Availability: You were saying? Ctrl + alt + del?? 7. Database: management or baby-sitting? 8. Logical partitioning: a rational and optimal infrastructure years of virtualization OnDemand features 11.The future? It's today Total cost of use (TCO): the best on the market

3 1. A truly integrated system Non OS/400 World Other Systems iseries built in functions OS/400 Communications Security Database Mgmt Java Application Dev. Security Spooling Systems Mgt. OLTP Communications DB2/400 On-line Help Performance Tuning Multimedia NetServer Graphical Interface Server Support Open Interfaces Technology Independent Machine Interface Systems Management Operating System Online Transaction Processing Hardware and Microcode JAVA TCP/IP Licensed Internal Code OS/400 Kernel Security Communications DB2/400 iseries Hardware 64 Bit RISC PowerPC Many constructors seem only recently to have discovered the merits of an integrated system. For the IBM iseries, integration was a reality even before this terminology put in an appearance: judge for yourselves: hardware and software are developed and manufactured by one single constructor; they are assembled, tested, pre-installed and integrated by this very constructor BEFORE delivery. ready-to-use system no unpleasant surprises on start-up no integration costs the operating system (OS/400) is perfectly integrated with the hardware and automatically detects all additions or modifications to its components. compatibility between hardware and software automatic recognition of the hardware ( plug and play ) no driver problems increased stability Numerous functions are integrated into or delivered with OS/400: - the relational database DB2 UDB - communication functions: TCP/IP, SNA, IPX - the HTTP web server: Apache - Java development tools

4 - print and file functions of the server - system management tools (with graphical interface) - the possibility to split a unique system into several logical ones (logical partitioning) - very elaborate disk memory management - SAN - connectivity tools between PCs and the server - and much more... compatibility between the operating system and other functionalities guaranteed by the constructor easy and safe installation of new versions

5 2. A modular and versatile system ERP Supply Chain Groupware WebSphere Internet ILE Subsystem OS/400 PASE Subsystem Domino Java Linux W2000 CAD/CAM Server Integrated xseries Servers W2003 Application Server W2000 Terminal Server W2003 Proxy Server The IBM eserver iseries is the only server on the market that can simultaneously run : Everything: OS/400 (RPG, Cobol, C, C++, etc.) applications Windows (2000 or 2003) applications Linux applications (SUSE, Red Hat, Turbolinux, UnitedLinux) AIX (the IBM version IBM of Unix) applications Java XML applications Applications based on Lotus Domino / Notes is perfectly integrated (shared resources, shared load, inter-environment communication,...) has a centrally-managed environment (unique back-up for all environments, user management, security, etc.) One single server to satisfy all needs while offering all the advantages of decentralisation (the diversity of applications used) and that of centralisation (less expensive infrastructure, more rational management, increased security, simplicity) ROI of migrating Intel servers to iseries : less than 9 months (source : IDC) Food for thought : IDC White Paper : The ROI of Windows and Linux Server Consolidation on IBM eserver iseries : Analysis and Case Studies of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, July 2003 InfoWorld article : iseries' Changing Colors, October 2003

6 3. An external... internal SAN Should this be your strategy, the iseries may be connected to a SAN type environment, or any other server. However, it is the only one able to offer SAN type functionalities with internal disks! This achievement is facilitated by very advanced storage management functions of the OS/400, among others: single-level storage: all objects (files, programs, etc...) are automatically shared across the entirety of available disks and not concentrated on only one. optimal and automatic storage flexible maintenance effective IO operations use of IO processors: the main processor delegates all IO requests (disks, DVD, networks, etc.) to dedicated processors. parallel processing of IO tasks (DB searches, among others) performance hosting systems (one of those IO processors can be Intel-based and run Windows) Windows and Linux servers benefit from the advantages of a SAN at much less cost

7 4. Security: a system immune to viruses Applications and Data OS/400 Technology Independent Machine Interface iseries Hardware Internet Users C2 Level Designated TLS (SSL+) Encryption Certificates VPN Network Authentication APIs (Kerberos V5) In this field also, the advanced architecture of the iseries, affords it unique advantages making it one of the best protected systems in the world: As a result of its integrated concept, security-related functions are implemented in micro-code, i.e., in a completely protected area of the system, instead of being located in the operating system or even third-party products. no programmer (except developers from IBM laboratories) is able to alter anything in this area : highest level of protection The operating logic of each object is contained in it and known to the OS/400. When an intruder program attempts to change objects illegally, the system prohibits this. Consequently, it is impossible for a virus to inflict any damage. The concept of virus is inexistent in the OS/400 world. users of iseries systems have never experienced the painful problems linked to viruses it is useless to purchase anti-virus software (and they are fairly cumbersome to maintain)

8 5. Growth: by scaling up rather than scaling out Windows 2000/2003 iseries It doesn't take a whole fleet! More chassis More operators More training More manufacturers More maintenance More management More complexity Less efficient Easy to add capacity Add engines as needed Same crew Low maintenance Simple and highly efficient Generally speaking, the capacity of the computer infrastructure should keep up with the results of the enterprise. A growing company must, therefore, be capable of increasing this capacity in a linear manner. In the Unix and Windows spheres, this is translated by: - replacing existing servers (the idea of upgrade is practically inexistent); - the proliferation of servers to launch new applications (servers for files, printing, web, , firewalls, etc.). In the iseries world, this is translated by: - an upgrade (increase in power) of the existing machine, not only to absorb the added burden (the smallest iseries can support about ten users, the largest thousands!) just to launch new applications. safeguard of previous investments management of one single system (definition of security, users, backups, etc.) shared resources between the different applications depending on their needs, within a unique system the computer team spends less time on system management (= cost) and more time on developing (= added value) no replacement = no migration, installation, configuration, etc.

9 6. Availability: You were saying? Ctrl + alt + del?? Availability* iseries solution 99.98% Unix solution 99.90% SIAS solution 99.67% iseries-as/400 solution SIAS solution Unix solution Unplanned User Downtime Per Year / 100 Users The iseries is recognized as being the most stable and reliable mid-range system on the market (notably by numerous consultants such as IDC or Gartner Group). A recent study demonstrated an average availability of 99.98%, 99.90% for Unix systems and 99.67% for Windows systems. Concretely speaking, this means that users are, on average, inactive (unproductive) due to an unscheduled unavailability of the system: - 1,200 man-hours per year in an iseries environment - 6,000 man-hours per year in a Unix environment (5 times more) - 20,000 man-hours per year in a Windows environment (16 times more) enhanced user productivity no need to purchase several servers in cluster simply to anticipate their lack of reliability: one server is enough increased user, client, etc. confidence vis-à-vis the infrastructure

10 7. Database: management or baby-sitting? Typical DBA Tasks DB2 UDB for AS/400 Manage DASD Space Allocation Review Table Space Allocations & Extents Review & Balance Indexes Application Rebinding Maintain Database Integrity Update Database Statistics Synchronized OS & DB User Security Reload Data for Hardware & Software Upgrades Buffer Pool management Load Data into Data Base Build and Manage DB Backup & Recovery Create & Review Indexes for Tables Performance Analysis & Tuning (DB & System) Create and Maintain DB Schema Automated DB Performance Profiling Advanced DB Performance Analysis & Tuning Data Replication & Consolidation Graphical User Interface Graphical User Interface Graphical User Interface Graphical User Interface Graphical User Interface & 3rd party tools DBA Essentials DBA Essentials Multiple IBM & 3rd party products In the iseries, the integration between UDB and OS/400 relieves the database administrator of a considerable number of non-value adding tasks; the system executes them automatically and transparently, and, generally speaking, better than even the most gifted administrator. His time can therefore be devoted to more productive tasks such as: maximizing queries DB analysis, design and tuning other develoments and projects improved utilization of human and computer resources significant financial savings

11 8. Logical partitioning: a rational and optimal infrastructure Japan USA USA UK OS/400 Linux OS/400 OS/ Shared Processors Dynamic Resource Movement iseries way The iseries is the most outstanding consolidation server, the only one able to run four operating systems (OS/400, Linux, AIX, Windows 2000, Windows 2003) and various application environments (Domino, Java, WebSphere, ILE,...) simultaneously on one single system. Each of these environments (with the exception of Windows) benefits from a unique capacity in this price range: logical partitioning which allows to define several logical servers on one physical server (even uni-processor). The operator can therefore allocate the resources he/she needs (discs, memory, CPU) in a dynamic and granular way, whenever necessary. infrastructure that is infinitely less complex and therefore less costly centralized management (for example, the back-ups and security) utilization and maximum resource sharing flexibility numerous financial gains: software licenses, maintenance, footprint, electricity, security (better control over the environment)... all while maintaining (if desired) perfect isolation between the different servers

12 9. 25 years of virtualization... Virtualization is another buzzword in the IT industry. Again, the iseries (and its predecessors) has implemented this concept in many ways, far before the rest of the industry even named it : Processor : iseries applications are not hardware-dependent : they rely on the microcode to accommodate hardware changes (just like Java applications rely on the Java Virtual Machine to achieve portability) OS/400, Linux and AIX logical partitions can be allocated portions of the same processor, with increments of only 1%! Standby processors can be activated temporarily or permanently in minutes Memory : OS/400, Linux and AIX logical partitions can be allocated portions of the same memory cards, with increments of only 1 MB! Storage : Storage (memory, disks, optical drives, etc) is seen as one virtual entity; the physical units do not matter Hosted servers (Linux, AIX, Windows) can be dynamically allocated virtual disks, which are portions of the entire storage space spread on multiple disk drives Being a virtual entity, a hosted server can be cloned at any time in minutes Networking : All consolidated servers (OS/400, Linux, AIX, Windows) have access to virtual LANs which allow inter-server communication on a secure LAN (no sniffing), with a dedicated 1 GB bandwith, and with no extra hardware or software costs. Optimization of the hardware resources Unequalled flexibility in using, managing, allocating, adding hardware resources

13 10. Your server, ondemand... An OnDemand server is characterized by 4 elements : Autonomic computing : The iseries implements many features that allow self-protection, selfconfiguration, self-tuning and self-healing. Some of them have been discussed in other parts of this document. Support of open standards : Linux, Windows, AIX, XML, TCP/IP, Java, SOAP,... : the old style, closed AS/400 system has evolved to the open, versatile iseries server. Virtualization : See Topic 9 : 25 years of virtualization Integration : The i in iseries... Full flexibility of the IT infrastructure Capacity for your business to rapidly react to any new circumstances in your marketplace : threats opportunities macro-economic changes

14 11. The future? It s today... U B I S S N E M S I P Applications Typically Rewrite or Recompile T AC Normal Operations! Applications Typically No change T I M I API's SUN HP Microsoft Sparc Precision NT IBM iseries Hardware Change In the iseries, the operating system and program applications are separated from the hardware by the micro-code (previously mentioned in point 4); only the latter is aware of which hardware they will be executed on (RISC or CISC, 48 bits or 64 bits), thus providing complete protection from past or future technological advances. In comparison, the arrival of a new technology in the Intel or Unix spheres necessitates the rewriting or adaptation of all applications in order to extract the most benefits from this technology. Examples: Eight years passed between the arrival of the Intel 32 bits (1987) and that of Windows 95 processors, Microsoft s first operating system of 32 bits! The Intel 64 bits processor, Itanium, has been on the market since May 2001, but its penetration rate has been very slow because Windows 2000 is unable to exploit all its potential. your software investments are protected migration (hardware, OS, database, applications) from CISC-32 bits towards RISC-64 bits is conducted during one weekend (other platforms need months or years) future technologies will benefit from the same advantages (64 bits processors,...)

15 12. Total cost of use (TCO): the best on the market IDC report, August 2001 : iseries is up to 95% less expensive to operate than Unix or PC Servers 3-Year TCO 5-Year TCO $$$ Difference (%) $$$ Average number of users Difference (%) iseries solution Wintel-based solution Unix-based solution TCO is calculated per 100 users. Source : IDC, August This latter point is the logical conclusion of the preceding arguments: all the unique advantages described above, have an undeniable impact on the total cost of the infrastructure: no viruses, a better protected, more reliable and easier to manage system, etc it is obviously cheaper on a day-to-day basis. You need to distinguish between the price of a system (its initial purchase price) and its cost (purchase price + total cost of utilization: personnel, maintenance, proliferation of servers, etc.). If we are to follow the numerous consultants and analysts who believe that cost is more relevant than the price when comparing two servers, the conclusion is simple: The iseries is the least expensive system on the market. Furthermore, this is the very conclusion arrived at by different consultants such as IDC, every year since this system was announced. it would be insulting to belabor this point!! The iseries d IBM Belgium/Luxembourg team thank you for your interest in this document, and remain at disposal to respond to your inquires in person. P.S.: Feel free to consult our internet site: