IBM zEnterprise 114

IBM announced the new server, the powerful version of IBM zEnterprise System in July, 2011. A new system is designed to extend unique qualities and innovations of the platform of the mainframe to more wide range of the organizations, especially to the companies and government agencies in emerging markets of Asian, African and other countries.

The announcement of the new server of a class of the IBM zEnterprise 114 mainframe follows representation in July of last year of the IBM zEnterprise System system for the largest world banks, insurance companies and the governments. The new server which allows the organizations of average scale to take advantage of the platform of the mainframe as a basis of their data processing centers costs for 25% cheaper [1] and offers performance gain to 25% [2] in comparison with the predecessor of IBM System z10 BC. Clients can consolidate workloads which accomplishment is provided by 40 main cores of servers of Oracle, on one z114 system with only three processors managed by Linux OS [3]. Expenses on new z114 system – are 80% less, than at servers of Oracle, at the economy of energy consumption and floor area reserved for the equipment [3] which is so impressing on level.

At the starting cost in 75 thousand dollars – the bottom price for the mainframe IBM class server – zEnterprise 114 is especially attractive option for emerging markets which endure rapid growth in such sectors as banking, retail, mobile devices, public services and other fields of activity. These organizations which face escalating data streams want to have more intelligent computing systems capable to help them to work more effectively, it is better to understand behavior and needs of consumers, to optimize decision making process and to reduce risks.

IBM also provided new opportunities which allow the zEnterprise System systems to integrate and manage workloads on additional platforms. An innovation is support in the zEnterprise System system of separate System x blade servers. These server modules System x provide accomplishment of the Linux x86 applications without making changes in a program code, and in the future they will be capable to support accomplishment of Windows applications. Having this potential, servers of the zEnterprise System family, including new z114 model, can help with simplification of data processing centers thanks to their capability to manage workloads on the mainframe, the POWER7 and System x servers as a single system. Using zEnterprise Blade Center Extension (zBX), clients can also extend such qualities of the mainframe as organizational control and controllability, to workloads which are executed on variety of platforms.

Thanks to z114 clients can begin with configurations of initial level and involve the additional built-in computing resources of the server as required without expansion of the areas of a data processing center, complication of systems management and increase in expenses. The new z114 server can also consolidate more than 300 HP servers of Proliant providing accomplishment of workloads of Oracle. [4]

The z114 server contains up to 14 most difficult and made in the industry microprocessors, to 10 of which can be configured as the specialized selected processors. These specialized processors – System z Application Assist Processor (zAAP), System z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) and Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) – are specially developed for integration of new applications and Java, XML and Linux technologies with the existing workloads and also for optimization of system resources and reducing costs of the mainframe. So, for example, using completely configured machine with the performed Linux for System z operating system, clients can create the virtual server Linux in the environment of z114 and support its work for only 500 dollars a year.

The z114 server in comparison with the predecessor of z10 BC offers performance improvement on value to 18% [5] at accomplishment of traditional workloads of System z, and up to 25% [6] at accomplishment of the workloads exacting to processor resources, using improvements of the compiler.

The z114 server can work with all latest versions of operating systems for the zEnterprise family, including the latest version of z/OS V 1.13. This version of z/OS offers new opportunities for software deployment and management of disks. Besides, in z/OS V 1.13. functionalities of independent operation and early error trapping are expanded and also new features of enciphering and support of observance of regulatory requirements are included that in addition improves the safety ensured by the platform of the mainframe leading in the industry of an opportunity.

Hybrid calculations

In the aspiration to simplify management of data processing centers is even more and to reduce costs, IBM also announces ability to integrate and managements of workloads on the separate System x servers with Linux as a part of the zEnterprise System system [7]. Support of Microsoft Windows on the separate System x servers will be implemented later.

This opportunity is provided using the solutions IBM zEnterprise Unified Resource Manager and IBM zEnterprise BladeCenter Extension (zBX) which allow clients to integrate resource management of zEnterprise System as a single system and to extend such qualities of the mainframe as organizational control and controllability, to the workloads executed on other separate servers.

The zEnterprise System systems can integrate and manage the workloads executed within tens of thousands of serial applications on separate server modules of general purpose based on IBM POWER7 and the System x family now and also to support work of the hardware and software systems IBM Smart Analytics Optimizer for the accelerated data analysis at smaller costs counting on transaction and IBM WebSphere DataPower XI50 for integration of Web-centric workloads.

Up to 112 server blade-modules it is possible to integrate and manage them as a part of the zBX system. It is also possible to combine different types of blade servers with identical BladeCenter chassis.

New options of financing

The service IBM Global Financing (IGF) offers attractive options of financing for the acting clients of IBM who want to upgrade the existing systems to z114 and also for clients who use separate models of HP servers and Oracle now.

The service IBM Global Financing can redeem the old systems from the acting clients of System z in cash and replace them with z114 systems under lease "with fair market value" (Fair Market Value, FMV) which means predictable monthly payments. Upon purchase of z114 system the service IGF "will clean the machine hall" from the HP servers of Itanium or Oracle Sun which are available for clients. IGF will delete and utilizes these outdated systems according to ecological laws and regulatory regulations, and will pay to clients the fair market value (FMV) of HP servers and Oracle-Sun. Besides, IGF offers a 6-month payment deferral for any hardware, the software, services or any their combination for clients who would like to perform upgrade of the IT infrastructure now, and to pay then.

Along with it, IGF also offers financing option with a zero interest rate (0%) for the credit within 12 months for any software of IBM, including for software of IBM of a binding layer, such as products Tivoli, WebSphere, Rational, Lotus and Analytics.

Note

[1] 75 thousand dollars are a starting price of z114 system – in comparison from 100 thousand dollars for the z10 Business Class system. The prices in the different countries can differ.]

[2] Z114 system will show performance gain to 25% for workloads with intensive consumption of processor power. This gain is provided with a number of improvements at the level of the compiler C/C ++ upon transition from the version of z/OS 1.09 to the version of z/OS 1.12. ]

[3] Consolidation of servers of Oracle according to the three-year plan of TCA (Total Cost of Acquisition; the aggregate value of acquisition) – including licenses and support of z/VM at a discount; licenses and support of VMware at a discount; software licenses of Oracle at a discount; software maintenance of Oracle; the Linux operating system on System z at a discount; software and hardware tools for recovery in emergency situations; maintenance of hardware (without discount) and hardware at a discount – on one z114 system will give 80% economy on costs in comparison with 40 HP servers of Proliant BL460c G6, Xeon X5570, 2.93 GHz, Linux RHEL, (2ch/8co). Z114 systems are on sale with a 38% discount in comparison with the z10 BC systems.]

[4] The licenses Linux on the virtual servers System z can cost: less than 1370 dollars in three years; less than 460 dollars a year; and less than 1.25 dollars a day. It is based on the prices set for server operating system of Enterprise Linux Server in the USA. The prices can vary depending on the country. The configuration of model includes 10 main cores of IFL which provide accomplishment of the mixed workloads (31 virtual machines counting on each core during the work with a different activity rate are supported, on average). The configuration includes zEnterprise hardware and the software for virtualization of z/VM, and Linux OS or a middleware does not include.]

[5] Relative power (the supported loading) and performance are compared at the identical levels of the software. IBM Large System Performance Reference (LSPR) for workloads z/OS® 1.11 is calculated by indicators. Results can differ. ]

[6] By calculations and forecasts, z114 system will show the performance improvement up to 25% for workloads with intensive consumption of processor power accompanied with a number of improvements at the level of the compiler C/C ++ upon transition from the XL C/C ++ V1R9 on V1R12.]

[7] It will be available to separate models of System x blade servers, since 9/26/2011.]