Preface, Team that wrote this Redpaper

Preface

This document is a comprehensive guide covering the IBM® Sserver™ p5 570 UNIX® servers. It introduces major hardware offerings and discusses their prominent functions.

Professionals wishing to acquire a better understanding of IBM Sserver p5 products should read this document. The intended audience includes:

Customers

Sales and marketing professionals

Technical support professionals

IBM Business Partners

Independent software vendors

This document expands the current set of IBM Sserver documentation by providing a desktop reference that offers a detailed technical description of the p5-570 system.

This publication does not replace the latest pSeries® marketing materials and tools. It is intended as an additional source of information that, together with existing sources, may be used to enhance your knowledge of IBM server solutions.

The team that wrote this Redpaper

This Redpaper was produced by a team of specialists from around the world working at the International Technical Support Organization, Austin Center.

Giuliano Anselmi is a certified pSeries Presales Technical Support Specialist working in the Field Technical Sales Support group based in Rome, Italy. For seven years, he was an IBM Sserver pSeries Systems Product Engineer, supporting Web Server Sales Organization in EMEA, IBM Sales, IBM Business Partners, Technical Support Organizations, and IBM Dublin eServer Manufacturing. Giuliano has worked for IBM for 12 years, devoting himself to RS/6000® and pSeries systems with his in-depth knowledge of the related hardware and solutions.

Gregor Linzmeier is an IBM Advisory IT Specialist for RS/6000 and pSeries workstation and entry servers as part of the Systems and Technology Group in Mainz, Germany supporting IBM sales, Business Partners, and customers with pre-sales consultation and implementation of client/server environments. He has worked for more than 13 years as an infrastructure specialist for RT, RS/6000, and AIX® in large CATIA client/server projects.

Wolfgang Seiwald is an IBM Presales Technical Support Specialist working for the System Sales Organization in Salzburg, Austria. He holds a Diplomingenieur degree in Telematik

from the Technical University of Graz. The main focus of his work for IBM in the past five years has been in the areas of the IBM Sserver pSeries systems and the IBM AIX operating

system.

Philippe Vandamme is an IT Specialist working in pSeries Field Technical Support in Paris, France, EMEA West region. With 15 years of experience in semi-conductor fabrication and manufacturing and associated technologies, he is now in charge of pSeries Pre-Sales Support. In his daily role, he supports and delivers training to the IBM and Business Partner Sales force.

P5 570 specifications

The IBM P5 570 is a high-performance server that was designed for enterprise-scale computing, offering a blend of advanced technologies and a flexible architecture. Launched as part of IBM's Power5 server line, the P5 570 stands out for its robust processing capabilities and extensive scalability, making it a preferred choice for businesses requiring reliable and efficient computing solutions.

At the heart of the P5 570 is the IBM Power5 processor, which employs simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) technology. This allows the processor to handle two threads per core, effectively doubling the throughput for workloads ideally suited to multi-threading. The server typically features a configuration of up to 32 Power5 processors, providing an impressive compute power that supports demanding applications, ranging from databases to complex enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

The P5 570 architecture supports a wide range of memory configurations, with a maximum memory capacity of up to 512 GB. Utilizing IBM’s proprietary Chip Memory technology, it can deliver high bandwidth and low latency, significantly enhancing performance for memory-intensive applications. Furthermore, the integrated memory controller architecture optimizes memory access, ensuring that critical workloads run smoothly.

Scalability is a key characteristic of the P5 570, with the ability to expand processing power and memory capacity as an organization’s needs grow. The server supports various operating systems, including AIX, Linux, and IBM i, which provides flexibility for diverse IT environments. This versatility ensures that companies can run their preferred applications without the need for substantial system overhauls.

In terms of storage, the P5 570 utilizes advanced RAID technology and supports a variety of disk configurations, ensuring that data integrity and availability are maintained. Coupled with built-in security features, such as the IBM Trusted Foundation, which establishes a secure boot environment, the P5 570 offers a reliable platform for mission-critical workloads.

Finally, the IBM P5 570 is designed for high availability and redundancy. Features like hot-swappable components and advanced error detection and recovery mechanisms minimize downtime, making it a dependable choice for businesses that operate around the clock. Combined with its powerful hardware and versatile software support, the IBM P5 570 remains a formidable player in the high-performance server arena.