Re: IXS Server Cards

[DrFranken <midrange@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The IXS implementation as an internal card is all done. As cool as they 
were it was hard to keep up with the changing technology and put enough 
horsepower on the card then still get it enough power and keep it cool 
at the same time. In addition the card slots keep getting smaller so 
that made for other issues to deal with. In addition the older style IXA 
adapters,  which went into selected xSeries servers and connected them 
via HSL have also been phased out in favor of iSCSI.

The single drawback to iSCSI is the fact that you need to purchase 
separate maintenance on the external server rather than getting 'free' 
coverage along with your System i/POWER system. However you do get a 
dramatically larger selection of server models from single core up to at 
least 8 way and you put in as much memory as you require, no 4GB limit 
any longer. You can also add other I/O cards if required which you 
couldn't do with IXS.  If you choose correctly you also don't have to 
purchase iSCSI hardware any longer either as software initiators are 
used instead on both the i and x sides. For a while you needed to load a 
hunk of IBM Director but that's not needed either as the required 
support is built into IBM i now in V5R4 and up. (PTFs in V5R4)

iSCSI supported servers can run Windows, Linux, or VMWare and can be 
powered up and down from IBM i or on their own. You can add them on the 
fly or remove them, unlike the IXA setup which was in the data loop. The 
servers can also be stand alone or Blades.

Still a great option in many shops but J-U-S-T a little different than 
the old FSIOP, um, IPCS, no INS, I mean IXS! cards that we all know and 
love.

   - DrFranken

On 6/10/2010 4:18 PM, fbocch2595@xxxxxxx wrote:
> Hi Folks, are any of you buying or planning to buy server cards?  I'm not sure they're still called IXS's.  Any idea of the cost of these and how they perform?
> Thanks, Frank
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