IBM E - Manual (Page 17)

• Network attached storage (NAS) — Provides a large capacity, highly available and secure
environment for storing mission-critical data. The System Storage
™ N series attaches to IBM
BladeCenter using integrated Ethernet switch modules.
•
Storage area network (SAN) — Offers iSCSI and Fibre Channel SANs for high-
performance, block-level storage solutions. With IBM System Storage DS3000, DS4000,
DS6000 and DS8000, IBM can help you create an easy-to-deploy storage solution for your
SMB or enterprise needs. The DS portfolio attaches to IBM BladeCenter using integrated
Fibre Channel switch modules.
• iSCSI SAN — Provides a cost-effective alternative to a Fibre Channel SAN by leveraging an
existing Ethernet network. IBM offers a choice of 1Gb hardware or 1Gb and 10Gb software
initiators that support iSCSI boot. These SAN offerings are ideally suited for IBM System
Storage N series disk systems.
•
Fibre Channel SAN — Includes integrated storage switches from vendors such as Brocade,
Cisco and QLogic, and support for industry-leading host bus adapters from QLogic and
Emulex. These Fibre Channel SAN options are ideally suited for IBM System Storage disk
systems.
For clients seeking local hard disk drives, IBM offers integrated storage as well as hot-swap
options:
•
Internal Solid State Drives — For OS boot images or primarily random-read-heavy storage
(such as Web serving). Provides up to three times the availability of traditional spinning disk
drives. (Available in HS12, HS21, HS21 XM, LS21, and LS41 blade servers.)
• Internal SAS drives — For I/O-intensive workloads.
• Internal USB Flash — For OS/boot images.
•
Hot-swap SAS — For RAID-5 and additional I/O with the BladeCenter Storage and I/O
Expansion Unit blade.
• Hot-swap SATA — For price/performance-optimized workloads. Available on BladeCenter S.
Additionally, external LAN-attached tape storage is available.
Office Enablement Kit — The Office Enablement Kit is an 11U-high rack cabinet
designed to enable the use of the BladeCenter S chassis in a retail or office environment.
The rear door of the Office Enablement Kit is an acoustical module that helps to ensure that
the BladeCenter chassis is quiet enough for office environments while providing easy
access to chassis components. It comes with front and rear locking doors and lockable
wheels so it can be moved where it is needed. The Office Enablement Kit includes 4U of
additional space besides the BladeCenter S chassis to leave room for storage, KVM, and
future growth.
Dust Filter — Specially designed filter to protect your hardware from the airborne particles
found in the retail and office environment.
Extensive System Support Features
The IBM services and technical support portfolio provides world-class, consistent, high-
quality service and support. From the start, IBM programs make it easier for you to plan for,
configure and purchase BladeCenter servers, get them running and keep them running
long-term. These features include IBM Express Portfolio, IBM ServerProven
® , the IBM
Standalone Solutions Configuration Tool, IBM Electronic Service Agent ™ , Product
Customization Services and extensive technical support offerings.
The IBM ServerProven program provides the confidence that specific options and operating
systems have been tested on the blade servers and chassis and are officially supported to
work together. It is updated frequently to keep the latest compatibility information at your
fingertips.
The IBM Standalone Solutions Configuration Tool (SSCT) is a downloadable tool that
simplifies the often complex chore of configuring a full rack of servers (including blade
servers) and confirming that you have all the cables, power distribution units, KVM
(keyboard, video and mouse) switch boxes and other components you need, as well as the
proper airflow clearances, electrical circuits and other environmental conditions.
IBM Electronic Service Agent ™ is an innovative “call home” feature that allows System x
and BladeCenter servers to automatically report hardware problems to IBM support, which
can even dispatch onsite service if necessary to those customers entitled to onsite support
under the terms of their warranty or an IBM Maintenance Agreement. Electronic Service
Agent resides on a server and provides electronic support and problem management
capabilities through a highly secure electronic dialogue between your systems and IBM. It
monitors networked servers for hardware errors and it can perform hardware and software
inventories and report inventory changes to IBM. All information sent to IBM is stored in a
highly secure database and used for improved problem determination.
Please see the Legal Information section for important notices and information. 17.