Re: Questions about IBM PureFlex Systems

Hi Mark

PureFlex is not the same as a Power System running IBM i - it is bigger than that.

You can install a Power compute node in a PureFlex system and have it run IBM i. Here is a sentence from the PureFlex website -

"The IBM PureFlex System is an integrated IT infrastructure solution available in three configurations with x86 or POWER processor-based compute nodes."

Management of these nodes is centralized, which seems like a nice thing.

So PowerFlex? That's multiple Power model 795's, from what I just quickly looked at. It has a certain number (lots) of POWER7 cores - POWER7 cores are used in a POWER compute node in PureFlex, just as they are used in stand-alone IBM i boxes.

Getting anyone to state clearly what a PureFlex system is, can be an exercise in futility. It's probably better now, but when I was first hearing about it in CAAC sessions at IBM, we all tried all we could to get a straight answer.

I think that PureFlex is best utilized in a heterogeneous computing environment, where you have IBM i and AIX and Linux and Windows and want a common set of management tools and all in the same "box". Lots of virtualization, too.

If you don't need those other OS', just stay with a "simple" POWER box running IBM i - and it seems PowerFlex is just a really big one of those. But I have never looked at those.

Now someone like Jim or Larry, please give Mark the real truth!!

Vern

----- Original Message -----
This may be a dumb question but I cannot find the answer any where on the internet.
 
I was asked if software running on IBM i 6.1 install and run the same way on an IBM PureFlex System.
 
I have zero experience with a PureFlex System, so I tried to do some research and learn exactly what the difference is between a Power System running 6.1 and a PureFlex System. Results was a lot of "it's great blah, blah blah, it's great blah, blah blah..."
 
So my questions are
Where is the best place to learn exactly what a PureFlex system is in basic terms.
Will software running on PowerFlex System IBM i 6.1 run on PureFlex System?
 
In simple basic terms is a PureFlex System the same as a Power System running IBM i
(example: you signon the same, you save lib, restore lib and the software just runs the way it always has) 
 
Mark