IBM Power Solid State Drives SSD

Every IBM POWER System application performs significantly faster running on SSD (microsecond and nanosecond response times, compared to millisecond and seconds). Application performance on IBM POWER Systems experiencing slow query responses times, have intensive I/O requirements or are experiencing latency as a result of accessing data on hard disk drives, can improve performance using various database and query approaches. However, the most effective and usually quickest approach is to replace traditional HHDs with IBM Solid State Drives (SSD) using either Enterprise or Mainstream SSDs, depending on read and write requirements. Solid state drives have been available for IBM POWER Systems since IBM released the first POWER5 models, although the initial SSDs were cost prohibitive for most companies. Since their initial release, time and the refurbished market has made IBM SSDs cost effective for any company needing a quick and simple performance upgrade.

 

In comparison to hard disk drives, SSDs run at the speed of memory capable of delivering tens of thousands more I/O operations per second for any IBM POWER System, providing queries, I/O intensive applications and aging IBM i, Linux Servers and AIX Power servers a massive performance boost. As a result, IBM POWER Systems can typically be configured to replace HDDs with a lot less SSDs and still achieve huge I/O performance boost and reduce related hardware costs of expansion units and IBM hardware maintenance. IBM Enterprise SSDs with eMLC (for write intensive database applications) and Mainstream SSDs (for read intensive with no more than 1 write per day) do not have the seek time performance bottlenecks of hard disk drives. IBM i POWER systems have a built in storage manager for the DB2 database that simplify and automate how data is used between ASPs, Libraries, DB2 database and physical storage types available utilizing preferences and calculations for maximum response times and performance costs that impact CPU and I/O.

 

IBM SSDs provide users with almost instantaneous access to DB2 data, removing latency and I/O performance bottlenecks HDD spinning platters and arms cause. What are you waiting for? Get IBM SSD prices for your IBM POWER System today and see for yourself how affordable an upgrade can be.

 

IBM SSD Options by IBM POWER System Generation

 

IBM POWER8 and POWER9
IBM Enterprise SSD with eMLC 3D NAND flash memory for write intensive workloads. The 2.5-inch solid-state drives (SSD) are available in 387 GB, 775 GB, and 1.55 TB sizes, and can be formatted to 4k or to 528 (5xx) byte sectors. The Enterprise SSD for IBM POWER8 and POWER9 systems can be installed in SFF-3 system unit slots and use the integrated SAS controller or in SFF-2 slots of a EXP24S 5887 or EXP24SX ESLS expansion drawer which require one of the following PCIe3 or PCIe2 SAS RAID controllers:

 

IBM Mainstream SSDs are for read intensive workloads, with no more than 1 write per day. These 2.5-inch solid-state drives (SSD) are available in 931 GB, 1.86 TB, 3.72 TB and 7.45 TB sizes, and are formatted to use 4k byte sectors. These IBM mainstream SSDs can be installed in SFF-3 system unit slots and use the integrated SAS controller or in SFF-2 slots of a EXP24SX expansion drawer which require a EJ0L, EJ14, EJ0J, EJ0M, EL3B, or EL59 PCIe3 SAS RAID adapter. Customers installing these IBM Mainstream 2.5-inch SAS SSDs in the EXP24SX expansion drawer get an extra 18% IOPS per disk slot, providing 160k IOPS for 4KiB reads versus 130k.

 

IBM POWER8 and POWER9 SSD - Size | Description | CCIN | Part Numbers
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD 4k 5B13 00LY333 00LY603
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD 4k 5B10 00LY336 00LY621
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD 5xx 5B16 00LY327 00LY589
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD 5xx 5B19 00LY577 00LY324
775 GB IBM Enterprise SSD 4k 5B14 00LY334 00LY604
775 GB IBM Enterprise SSD 4k 5B11 00LY337 00LY622 
775 GB IBM Enterprise SSD 5xx 5B17 00LY328 01LU623

 

IBM POWER7 and POWER8
IBM Enterprise SSD with eMLC4 flash memory for write intensive workloads. The 2.5-inch solid-state drives (SSD) are available in 387 GB, 775 GB and 1.55 TB sizes, and can be formatted to 4k or to 528 (5xx) byte sectors. The Enterprise SSD for IBM POWER7 and POWER8 systems can be installed in SFF-3 system unit slots and use the integrated SAS controller or in SFF-2 slots of a EXP24S 5887 or EXP24SX ESLS I/O expansion drawer, which require a EJ0L, EJ14, EJ0J, EJ0M, EL3B, and EL59 PCIe3 SAS RAID adapter.

 

IBM Mainstream SSDs are for read intensive workloads, with no more than 1 write per day. These 2.5-inch solid-state drives (SSD) are available in 931 GB, 1.86 TB and 3.72 TB sizes, and are formatted to use 4k byte or 528 (5xx) byte sectors. These mainstream SSD can be installed in SFF-3 system unit slots and use the integrated SAS controller or in SFF-2 slots of a EXP24SX expansion drawer which require a EJ0L, EJ14, EJ0J, EJ0M, EL3B, or EL59 PCIe3 SAS RAID adapter. Customers installing these IBM Mainstream 2.5-inch SAS SSDs in the EXP24SX expansion drawer get an extra 18% IOPS per disk slot, providing 160k IOPS for 4KiB reads versus 130k.

 

IBM i, iSeries AS400 POWER7 and POWER8 SSD - Size | Description | CCIN | Part Numbers
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC4 4k 5B13 00LY333 00LY603
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC4 5xx 5B19 00LY577 00LY324
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC4 4K 5B10 00LY336 00LY621 
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC4 5xx 5B16 00LY327 00LY589
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC3 5xx 59E6 00E8670
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC3 4k 59E9 00LY161
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC3 58B8 74Y9524
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC3 58B9 00E8673 00LY195 74Y9526
387 GB IBM Enterprise SSD 5xx 59BE 00E8692

 

POWER6 and POWER5
IBM only made Enterprise (eMLC) SSD in the first generation for IBM Power6 and Power5 system models. IBM Power6 and Power5 SSDs can be installed in standard SAS disk slots. These IBM SSD’s are available in two form factors; 2.5-inch which are installed in the system unit CEC and controlled by the internal RAID controller or a IBM 5904, 5906 or 5908 PCI-X 1.5 GB Cache controller, the 3.5-inch can be installed in the system unit that has a split backplane or in a 5802 or 5803 12X I/O Drawer, feature 5886 EXP12S Disk Expansion Drawer, controlled by the internal RAID controller, a 5902, 5903, 5904, 5906 or 5908 SAS Adapter or RAID controllers.

 

IBM i, iSeries AS400
177 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC 528 byte SAS SFF-2 1794 58B4
69 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC 2.5-inch 528 byte SAS SFF 1909
POWER AIX and Linux
177 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC 528 byte SAS SFF-2 1793 58B4
69 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC 2.5-inch 528 byte SAS SFF 1890
69 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC 3.5-inch 528 byte SAS SFF 3586
69 GB IBM Enterprise SSD eMLC 3.5-inch 528 byte SAS SFF 3587

 

Important SSD Considerations and Rules for IBM POWER Systems

• IBM SSDs can be intermixed with existing older SSDs, but should be of same or similar capacity, and be of same type, class and format. i.e. All enterprise 528 byte, all mainstream 528 byte, all enterprise 4k or all 4k mainstream.
• Some SAS controllers or RAID adapters do not support 4k drives. RAID arrays cannot mix read intensive (RI) SSD with write many enterprise SSD.
  SAS controllers or RAID adapters can run both 4k and 5xx drives at the same time when in separate arrays.
•  Some RAID adapters or SAS controllers support mixing HDD and SSD in the same array when using Easy Tier array (RAID-5TS, -6T2 or -10T2).
•  It is highly recommended to have hot-spare replacement on hand when using arrays of SSDs.
•  Although SSDs can be used in a RAID 0 disk array, it is preferred that SSDs to be protected by RAID levels 5, 6, 10, 5T2, 6T2, or 10T2.
•  Identify specific configuration and placement requirements related to the SSD devices. Sometimes optimal placement can provide better performance.
•  Adapter caching usually improves overall performance with solid state drives, but in some configurations and workloads, the adapter caching may not improve performance of the arrays, in which the adapter caching can be disabled.