PureSystems
PureSystems is an IBM product line of factory pre-configured components and servers also being referred to as an "Expert Integrated System".[1] The centrepiece of PureSystems is the IBM Flex System Manager in tandem with the so-called "Patterns of Expertise" for the automated configuration and management of PureSystems.
PureSystems can host four different operating systems (AIX, IBM i, Linux, Windows) and five hypervisors (Hyper-V, KVM, PowerVM, VMware, Xen)[2] on two different hardware architectures (IBM Power and x86) simultaneously.
Being a so-called converged system, PureSystems combines functionality of an appliance with the flexibility of an arbitrarily scalable system.
Architecture
The architecture itself is called IBM Flex System.[3]
It aims at managing hybrid cloud infrastructure environments "out of the box".
The basic idea is the combination of an integrated hardware and software solution that can be easily maintained. A similar concept had already been introduced with the IBM AS/400. Today, such systems are called converged systems. More specialized integrated hardware and software solutions are referred to as appliances.
The compute nodes of the server blades can be x86 or IBM Power and they can be used either individually or mixed in the same rack simultaneously, thus offering a hybrid ensemble which borrows from the zEnterprise/zBX ensemble[4][5] (cf. Gameframe), including its ability to manage a combined physical/virtual hybrid environment from a single console.
PureSystems is shipped with the IBM Flex System Manager.[6] It is an appliance which manages the resources according to the so-called "Patterns of Expertise", which provide field engineers' expertise from decades of system configuration. These "Patterns of Expertise" offer industry-specific (e.g. banking, insurance, automotive) defaults for the fully automatic and optimal orchestration of resources (e.g. workload balancing). PureApplication uses in conjunction with the IBM System Manager first Flex repeatable software patterns (pattern) and industry-specific processes, which are derived from the year-long collaboration of IBM with their customers and business partners.[7]
Hardware
The basic building block of the system is the Flex Enterprise system chassis with 14 slots for servers, storage or network resources.
A flex-chassis can accommodate up to 14 horizontal compute, storage or network drive bays. The IBM BladeCenter (9U high), where the trays are inserted vertically. This means that the components between the BladeCenter chassis and Flex are not interchangeable.
Based upon the Flex Systems architecture (the components of which are individually available), there are three main products:
- PureFlex System (IaaS)
- PureApplication System (PaaS)
- PureData System (tightly coupled and specialized computer appliance / software appliance)
PureFlex
PureFlex is a factory pre-configured and combined hardware-/software system for IaaS in terms of cloud computing. It combines server, network and storage. IBM PureFlex is available in three configurations: Express, Standard, Enterprise.
| Express | Standard | Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBM PureFlex System 42U Rack | 1 | ||
| IBM Flex System Enterprise Chassis | 1 | ||
| IBM Flex System Fabric EN4093 10Gb Scalable Switch | 1 | 2 with both port-count upgrades | |
| IBM Flex System FC3171 8Gb SAN Switch | 1 | 2 | |
| IBM Flex System Manager Node | 1 | ||
| IBM Flex System Manager software license | IBM Flex System Manager with 1-year service and support | IBM Flex System Manager Advanced with 3-year service and support | |
| Chassis Management Module | 2 | ||
| 2500W power supply modules (equ./max.) | 2 / 6 | 4 / 6 | 6 / 6 |
| Chassis 80 mm fan modules (equ./max.) | 4 / 8 | 6 / 8 | 8 / 8 |
| IBM Storwize V7000 Disk System | Yes (redundant controller) | ||
| IBM Storwize V7000 Software | Base with 1-year software maintenance agreement | Base with 3-year software maintenance agreement | |
PureApplication
PureApplication is an even further pre-configured platform for PaaS solutions. It is optimized for transaction-oriented web and database applications. PureApplication comes with IBM DB2 database and WebSphere Application Server pre-configured so users can drop their applications into a preconfigured middleware engine.[8]
Therefore, unlike PureFlex, which is sold by IBM Systems and Technology Group (STG), PureApplication is marketed by the IBM Software Group (SWG). IBM claim that PureApplication allows for installation (or deployment) of new applications within four hours.[9]
PureApplication is offered in four configurations.
| System W1500-96 | System W1500-192 | System W1500-384 | System W1500-608 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 96 | 192 | 384 | 608 |
| RAM | 1.5 TB | 3.1 TB | 6.1 TB | 9.7 TB |
| SSD Storage | 6.4 TB | |||
| HDD Storage | 48.0 TB | |||
| Application Services Entitlement | Included | |||
PureData
PureData Systems takes the approach of PureApplication a step further being essentially a tightly coupled and specialized computer appliance and software appliance, the latter supporting both Oracle and DB2.[10] It is thence marketed by the IBM Information Management Software, a brand of IBM Software Group (SWG).
PureData is focused at three main tasks within enterprise computing: business intelligence, near real-time data analysis and online transactional processing.[11] It comes in three flavours:[12]
- PureData Systems for Transactions
- PureData Systems for Analytics
- PureData Systems for Operational Analytics
PureData System for Transactionss a highly reliable and scalable database platform. It is aimed at e-commerce [i.e. retail and credit card processing environments) which depends on rapid handling of transactions and interactions. These transactions are small in size, but their sheer volume and frequency require a specialized environment. The new system can provide 5x performance improvement, partly through advances in high performance storage.
PureData System for Analytics builds on Netezza technology and it is aimed at business intelligence that entails huge queries with complex algorithms. It provides a large library of database analytical functions for data warehouse applications, and can scale across the terabyte or petabytes running on the system. It can support extremely high volume high speed analytics for clients (e.g. mobile phone carriers who want to identify potential churn and provide offers to retain customers).[13]
PureData Systems for Operational Analytics is an operational warehouse system[12] which supports real-time decision making. Potential uses are fraud detection or analysis of rapid fluctuations in supply-and-demand cycles.[11]
Software
Both IBM and its partner provide software which is specifically certified for PureSystems ("Ready for IBM PureSystems ").
Currently, over 125 ISVs have already certified products for PureSystems, and business partners such as system integrators, resellers, distributors, ISVs or MSP can integrate PureSystems into their portfolio.
Miscellaneous
PureSystems was announced April 11, 2012.[14]
It is mainly assembled at IBM Rochester Campus in Rochester, MN.[15]
Videos
- IBM PureSystems Family Tour with Jason McGee
- What are IBM PureApplication Systems? (Part One)
- IBM PureSystems Product Family - IBM PureData™ System Overview
- IBM PureSystems - PureData System Overview w/Inhi Cho Suh
See also
References
- ^ IBM Aims to Ease IT With Cloud-Friendly PureSystems April 11, 2012 at WIRED Cloudline
- ^ IBM launches PureSystems, touts integration, flexibility April 10, 2012 at zdnet.com
- ^ IBM RedBooks WebDoc - IBM Flex System Enterprise Chassis April 11, 2012 at redbooks.ibm.com
- ^ IBM PureSystems Hint at the Future of zEnterprise April 16, 2012 at DancingDinosaur.com
- ^ PureSystems Joins zEnterprise Hybrid Family May 8, 2012 at DancingDinosaur.com
- ^ IBM RedBooks WebDoc - IBM Flex System Manager at redbooks.ibm.com
- ^ IBM launches PureSystems range April 11, 2012 at ChannelBiz.com
- ^ Taming IT Bastardization with IBM PureSystem Regardless of App Parentage Sept 12, 2012 at forbes.com
- ^ IBM PureApplication System -- The 4 hour set-up by Jason McGee at youtube.com
- ^ IBM Rolls Out New PureSystems Data Servers by Sean M. Kerner, Oct 9, 2012 at serverwatch.com
- ^ a b IBM expands PureSystems line for data duties by Joab Jackson, Oct 9, 2012 at computerworld.com
- ^ a b IBM Expands PureSystems Family With New PureData Big Data Box by Darryl K. Taft, Oct 9, 2012 at eweek.com
- ^ IBM Launches New PureSystems For Transactions And Big Data Analytics by Tom Groenfeldt, Oct 9, 2012 at forbes.com
- ^ IBM Sets the Stage for the Next Era of Computing April 11, 2012 at ibm.com
- ^ IT-Jungle Volume 21, Number 16 April 23, 2012 at itjungle.com
External links
- Homepage for PureSystems
- Homepage for Smarter Computing
- IBM Redbooks: Overview of IBM PureSystems
- IBM Redbooks: IBM PureFlex System and IBM Flex System Products & Technology
- IBM Redbooks Product Guides
- Portal IBM PureSystems Centre
- IBM PureSystems - IBM Developerworks
- IBM DeveloperWorks: IBM PureSystems & Rational
- HRG Assessment: Comparing IBM PureSystems and Cisco UCS by Harvard Research Group
- Part I-V: PureSystems, something old, something new, something from big blue Apr, 12 2012 Series of five articles at storageioblog.com