Product guide

Ultrascalability combined with extreme availability
features and industry-leading performance
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information.
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system text messages and graphics over serial or LAN.
Predictive Failure Analysis (PFA) is designed to allow the eX5 servers to detect impending
failure of supported components (processors, memory, PCIe slots, VRMs, power supplies,
fans, and hard disk drives) before actual failure, and alert the administrator through IBM
Systems Director. This gives you the ability to replace the failing component before it fails,
resulting in increased uptime.
IBM Systems Director software for advanced workgroup management is included standard.
IBM Systems Director comes with a portfolio of tools, including IBM Systems Director
Active Energy Manager, Service and Support Manager, and others. System Availability (a
no-charge download) and Capacity Manager (sold separately) are available as add-ons for
additional server management and increased availability. IBM Systems Director provides a
single uniform graphical interface for all of these systems management functions. IBM
Systems Director enables you to customize thresholds and monitor system components (for
things like temperature, voltage regulation, etc.) to help maximize uptime.
IBM developed IBM Systems Director Active Energy Manager to put control of system
power-saving features at the fingertips of administrators. Active Energy Manager is designed
to take advantage of new features, such as monitoring power usage and balancing the
performance of the system according to available power input. It provides the ability to plan
and predict power consumption based on your hardware configuration. It also helps enable
you to reduce the infrastructure required for redundancy, by using fewer servers on smaller
power feeds and potentially lowering your overall data center support costs. It does this by
inventorying all components, then adding up the total power draw and tracking the usage. It
also includes power management features to help administrators manage or reduce power
usage.
Extensive System Support Features
The IBM services and technical support portfolio provides world-class, consistent, high-
quality service and support. The eX5 servers offer a number of tools and services designed
to make ownership a positive experience. From the start, IBM programs make it easier for
you to plan for, configure and purchase System x servers, get them running and keep them
running long-term. These features include IBM ServerProven, the IBM Standalone Solutions
Configuration Tool, IBM System x and BladeCenter Power Configurator, IBM ServerGuide,
IBM Systems Director Service and Support Manager, Product Customization Services and
extensive technical support offerings.
The IBM ServerProven program provides the confidence that specific options and operating
systems have been tested on the server and are officially supported to work together. It is
updated frequently to ensure that the latest compatibility information is always at your
fingertips.
The IBM Standalone Solutions Configuration Tool (SSCT) is a downloadable tool that
simplifies the often complex chore of configuring a full rack of servers (including blade
servers) and confirming that you have all the cables, power distribution units, KVM (keyboard,
video and mouse) switch boxes and other components you need, as well as the proper
airflow clearances, electrical circuits and other environmental conditions.
IBM System x and BladeCenter Power Configurator helps IT managers plan for data
center power needs, by providing the following information for specific configurations of
System x and BladeCenter systems: power input (watts), PDU sizing (amps), heat output
(BTUs), airflow requirements through chassis (CFM), VA rating, leakage current (mA), and
peak inrush current (amps).
IBM ServerGuide (installed from CD) simplifies the process of installing and configuring
System x servers. ServerGuide goes beyond mere hardware configuration by assisting with
the automated installation of the Microsoft
®
Windows
®
Server 2008 operating systems, device
drivers and other system components, with minimal user intervention. (Drivers are also
included for support of Novell NetWare, Red Hat Linux and SUSE LINUX.) This focus on
deployment helps you reduce both your total cost of ownership and the complexity that
administrators and technical personnel face.
IBM Systems Director Service and Support Manager (previously called IBM Electronic
Service Agent
™
) is an innovative “call home” feature that allows System x and BladeCenter
servers to automatically report hardware problems to IBM support, which can even dispatch
onsite service if necessary to those customers entitled to onsite support under the terms of
their warranty or an IBM Maintenance Agreement. Service and Support Manager resides on
a server and provides electronic support and problem management capabilities through a
highly secure electronic dialogue between your systems and IBM. It monitors networked
servers for hardware errors and it can perform hardware and software inventories and report
inventory changes to IBM. All information sent to IBM is stored in a highly secure database
and used for improved problem determination.