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IBM Launches p690
edyavno writes: "IBM just announced the launch of their new high-end Unix server p690. It's based on its new Power 4 chip, and is in the same category as just announced Sun's SunFire 15K. It also includes some mainframe level features and can be used either as a single large server or divided into up to 16 "virtual" servers, running any combination of AIX 5L and Linux. Here's yahoo article, and here it is from IBM itself."
"Buy the new p690, with Fast Pipes!!"
Wonder why that pipe test was just released..... hmmmm.....
Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
I know the new IBM kit is supposed to go head to head against the new Sun kit, but if The Inquirer is correct this may be the last salvo in the Sun vs. IBM unix war. Of course, I take this with a HUGE grain of salt, but stranger things have happened (*cough* *cough* HP/Compaq).
First off...from IBM's site:
:)
Self-healing architecture -- Built with technology from IBM's Project eLiza initiative, the p690 is the industry's only UNIX server that offers multiple layers of self-healing technologies that allow the server to continue operating, even through major failures and system errors.
Gaaah! I blew a hole through p690! But wait...it's...healing itself!
On a more serious note...which marketing direction is IBM taking on these things? I'm sure they're trying to sell at least some of their existing customers on these and keeping those customers on whatever OS they were running (AIX most likely). But for the new customers, are they pushing AIX harder than Linux? Are they actually pitching any Linux conversions to their existing AIX customers?
My sigs always suck.
AIX 5L is designed to run Linux apps with a recompile, or AIX apps without. Find me a Linux box that I can stuff 32 dual-core processors into.
Unless you're insane I don't believe you're going to tell me that there are more Solaris apps than Linux apps. AIX 5L runs the latter kind.
Besides, IBM techies have usually struck me as better qualified than Sun guys, although both are leagues ahead of almost any other company's.
Remember that what's inside of you doesn't matter because nobody can see it.
I think you're missing a few things. First of all, yes it has 32 CPUs... but each CPU has two cores on it, i.e... it's more comparable to a 64 CPU box. Secondly, the CPUs have considerably higher benchmarks than Suns USIIIi's. The 6800's can only support 4 domains, total, split between two hardware segments. This will handle up to 16 domains. We still need to compare it to an E10K or a F15K. While an E10k can handle a single CPU on a board, the F15K CPUs are soldered onto the CPU/Mem boards, and thus are only available in unit of 2 or 4. Also, as IBM invented partition (xx/360-390 and AS/400), I don't know that I'd compare this "first generation" partitioning with Sun's "fifth generation" partitioning. (And they didn't get help from Cray early on... Cray WROTE IT early on, sold it to SGI, who then sold the C6400 to Sun and was renamed the E10K.)
I bet you're right... I bet there are more apps for Solaris, however when it comes to the apps that actually run on boxen this large, you're typically talking about an Oracle or DB/2 database, which are available for both platforms.
Both the F15K and p690 appear to be fantastic boxes. Only time will tell how they fare against each other.
"To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!"
So, it looks like there is a lot of IBM fans and Sun bashers here.
...
I looked on IBM site a little and some things are not clear to me.
>Playing a pivotal role in the success of the p690 is IBM's
>AIX 5L, the most open UNIX operating system in the
>world.
Its so open that you cant see its source.
IBM probably does not count linux and bsd's into unix.
But i cant see how they forgot Solaris.
If nothing else, sun will let you look at its source unlike IBM.
>The ability of a server to sense
>a failing component such as a processor, cache or memory
>and take the part off-line while maintaining operation is
>critical in today's e-business environments -- and it's
>standard equipment with the p690.
Nothing about adding processors and memory while computer is running.
Did they forgot to mention it or they cant do it?
>.... rack drawer containing one to four processor modules
>
>Each of the multichip modules (MCMs) that power the
>pSeries 690 contains either four or eight POWER4 microprocessors,
>packaged on four chips. 19-inch wide rack drawer units, such as tape drives, can be
>mounted in IBM 7014-T00 or 7014-T42 racks.
Ufff.
If i understand this correctly
they have 4 modules X (4 chips X 2 cores) = 32 cores ?
And not 32 processors X 2 cores = 64 as it was mentioned earlier on Slashdot.
>Planned availability for all configurations except 24-way
>POWER4 and POWER4 Turbo is December 14, 2001. The
>24-way configurations will be available April 25, 2002.
So, can i pay one and take it home, or pay one and wait 2 and 6 months?
>IBM is announcing its intent to provide an exciting new IBM
>Capacity Advantage offering for the pSeries 690 that
>allows for rapid dynamic activation of installed inactive
>processors and memory to existing partitions without disrupting
>applications.
AND
>Capacity Advantage - helps customers manage unpredictable
>growth with pre-installed processing power and
>flexible storage offerings
So, sometime next year, if we are lucky,
we can pay for 16cpu/16GB computer with 32cpu/32GB installed.
And when we need them we just pay for the rest and activate them.
That's also one mean, proven, advanced, motherfu_____ mainframe technology.
Why did they introduced this now?
You cant get it for 2-6 months.
You have to wait 6-? months for dynamic LPARs.
IBM is proud with
a built-in service processor,
chipkill memory,
hot-plug pci slots,
redundant fans and power
and above all ability to take cpu/memory of line.
And plan for sometime late next year to enable activation of previously installed processors.
Whoooaa !
People who bought StarCats must be pissed of.
It's light years ahead of SUN pathetic offerings.
Starfire can hot plug cpu/memory boards and add it to domain for at least 4 years.
Aside of this they only have redundant hot plugable
backplane, clock generator and system processor.
But we all know that IBM is using proven, tested mainframe technology and
SUN is newcomer.
And that is almost all.
I will use this opportunity to mention,
one
and
only,
most advanced,
logical,
easy to use,
winner of many independent IDE comparations,
IBM's pride,
last of generation started 15 years ago
VISUAL AGE FOR JAVA
shortly known as
"tool with brain".
Too bad IBM will not develop it any more.
And replace it with something that actually works.
And to share one more of my frustrations.
- DB2 -
The only database that i managed to kill doing alter table from "Control center".
Increasing varchar(20) to varchar(25).
And kill not gui but DB2 server itself.
And The Only RDBMS i know of that can't execute procedural extension of SQL.
(I don't count translating it into c, compiling, making dll and calling that dll from dbms)
After Informix, Oracle, MS-SQL it is disappointing.
Damn, i even miss Interbase.
Thank You for reading.