| integrated suite of 8 tools. They are organized by function: deployment, updates, configuration |
| and diagnostics. Tools are now simpler to access and use with a single webpage for access, a |
| common look and feel and a common command line interface for the scripting tools. The |
| ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator offers significantly more functionality than past tools with |
| the ability to add more tools to the bootable image and to automatically download the bootable |
| environment if needed. Bootable Media Creator allows you to create bootable CDs, DVD, and |
| USB keys for updates customized to your systems. |
| 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. |
| Automatic Server Restart (ASR) helps reduce downtime by restarting the server automatically |
| in the event of a system lockup. ASR technology is a combination of hardware circuitry tied into |
| the server’s system reset function and a device driver. As long as the server continues running, |
| the ASR watchdog timer will keep being reset, but if the operating system crashes or the |
| hardware freezes somehow the ASR software will be unable to reset the hardware timer. If the |
| timer is not reset within five minutes, it automatically triggers the ASR hardware, which |
| immediately restarts the server (and logs an ASR event with IBM Systems Director). These |
| features are designed so that no more than five minutes can pass before the server is restarted. |
| Wake on LAN permits the server to be remotely powered on if it has been shut off. Once |
| powered up, the server can be controlled across the network, using the Preboot Execution |
| Environment (PXE). |
| Like Wake on LAN, PXE is system firmware. It enables software such as the optional IBM |
| Remote Deployment Manager to take control of a system before the BIOS, operating system or |
| applications are loaded (using Wake on LAN/PXE) and lets an administrator perform many low- |
| level tasks remotely that would otherwise require a visit to each system. These tasks may include |
| such things as formatting a hard disk drive, updating system firmware, or deploying a Windows or |
| Linux operating system. |
| Text Console Redirection support allows the administrator to remotely view x3620 M3 text |
| messages over serial or LAN. An optional upgrade to the Virtual Media Key adds graphical |
| console redirection. |
| Predictive Failure Analysis (PFA) is designed to allow the system to detect impending failure of |
| supported components (memory, HDDs, and the onboard battery) 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 with the |
| x3620 M3. 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. |
| |
Key Options | IBM options for System x servers help you take your servers to a |
| higher level |
| You rely on System x options to supply a complete solution for your business needs. Options |
| help you create an optimized server system to meet your data protection, storage and availability |
| needs. Every IBM option is designed and tested for peak performance and flexibility, helping to |
| maximize your return on investment. The combination of System x servers and options lets you |
| keep your fingers on the pulse of your e-business. |
| Processors —Intel Xeon processors provide high clock rates, 4 to 6 cores, 64-bit extensions, |
| and advanced features for performance, availability and power management. Large cache size, |
| combined with fast 1333MHz, 1066MHz or 800MHz memory access and an integrated memory |
| controller reduce memory latency and facilitate the movement of data. (Note: System |
| performance depends not only on the number of processors in the server but also on the |
| frequency and functionality of each processor.) Adding a second processor may be a cost- |
| effective way to achieve significant performance improvements. |
| Memory — Memory is a major factor in systems application performance. Adding more memory |
| 11 |