This IBM® Redbooks® Product Guide describes the IBM Storage Networking SAN768C-6. IBM Storage Networking SAN768C-6 has the industry's highest port density for a storage area network (SAN) director and features 768 line-rate 32 gigabits per second (Gbps) or 16 Gbps Fibre Channel ports. Designed to support multiprotocol workloads, IBM Storage Networking SAN768C-6 enables SAN consolidation and collapsed-core solutions for large enterprises, which reduces the number of managed switches and leads to easy-to-manage deployments. IBM Storage Networking SAN768C-6 supports the 48-Port 32 Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module, the 48-Port 16 Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module, the 48-port 10 Gbps FCoE Switching Module, the 24-port 40 Gbps FCoE switching module, and the 24/10-port SAN Extension Module. By reducing the number of front-panel ports that are used on inter-switch links (ISLs), it also offers room for future growth. IBM Storage Networking SAN768C-6 addresses the mounting storage requirements of today's large virtualized data centers. As a director-class SAN switch, IBM Storage Networking SAN768C-6 uses the same operating system and management interface as other IBM data center switches. It brings intelligent capabilities to a high-performance, protocol-independent switch fabric, and delivers uncompromising availability, security, scalability, simplified management, and the flexibility to integrate new technologies. You can use IBM Storage Networking SAN768C-6 to transparently deploy unified fabrics with Fibre Channel and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) connectivity to achieve low total cost of ownership (TCO). For mission-critical enterprise storage networks that require secure, robust, cost-effective business-continuance services, the FCIP extension module is designed to deliver outstanding SAN extension performance, reducing latency for disk and tape operations with FCIP acceleration features, including FCIP write acceleration and FCIP tape write and read acceleration.

The superabundance of data that is created by today's businesses is making storage a strategic investment priority for companies of all sizes. As storage takes precedence, the following major initiatives emerge: Flatten and converge your network: IBM® takes an open, standards-based approach to implement the latest advances in the flat, converged data center network designs of today. IBM Storage solutions enable clients to deploy a high-speed, low-latency Unified Fabric Architecture. Optimize and automate virtualization: Advanced virtualization awareness reduces the cost and complexity of deploying physical and virtual data center infrastructure. Simplify management: IBM data center networks are easy to deploy, maintain, scale, and virtualize, delivering the foundation of consolidated operations for dynamic infrastructure management. Storage is no longer an afterthought. Too much is at stake. Companies are searching for more ways to efficiently manage expanding volumes of data, and to make that data accessible throughout the enterprise. This demand is propelling the move of storage into the network. Also, the increasing complexity of managing large numbers of storage devices and vast amounts of data is driving greater business value into software and services. With current estimates of the amount of data to be managed and made available increasing at 60% each year, this outlook is where a storage area network (SAN) enters the arena. SANs are the leading storage infrastructure for the global economy of today. SANs offer simplified storage management, scalability, flexibility, and availability; and improved data access, movement, and backup. Welcome to the cognitive era. The smarter data center with the improved economics of IT can be achieved by connecting servers and storage with a high-speed and intelligent network fabric. A smarter data center that hosts IBM Storage solutions can provide an environment that is smarter, faster, greener, open, and easy to manage. This IBM® Redbooks® publication provides an introduction to SAN and Ethernet networking, and how these networks help to achieve a smarter data center. This book is intended for people who are not very familiar with IT, or who are just starting out in the IT world.

This IBM® RedpaperTM publication provides a broad understanding of a new architecture of the IBM Power System E980 (9080-M9S) server that supports IBM AIX®, IBM i, and Linux operating systems (OSes). The objective of this paper is to introduce the major innovative Power E980 offerings and relevant functions: The IBM POWER9TM processor, which is available at frequencies of 3.55 - 4.0 GHz. Significantly strengthened cores and larger caches. Supports up to 64 TB memory. Integrated I/O subsystem and hot-pluggable Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) Gen4 slots, double the bandwidth of Gen3 I/O slots. Supports EXP12SX and ESP24SX external disk drawers, which have 12 Gb SAS interfaces and double the existing EXP24S drawer bandwidth. New IBM EnergyScaleTM technology offers new variable processor frequency modes that provide a significant performance boost beyond the static nominal frequency. This publication is for professionals who want to acquire a better understanding of IBM Power SystemsTM products. The intended audience includes the following roles: Clients Sales and marketing professionals Technical support professionals IBM Business Partners Independent software vendors (ISVs) This paper expands the current set of IBM Power Systems documentation by providing a desktop reference that offers a detailed technical description of the Power E980 server. This paper does not replace the current marketing materials and configuration tools. It is intended as an extra source of information that, together with existing sources, can be used to enhance your knowledge of IBM server solutions.

The next-generation IBM® c-type Directors and switches for IBM Storage Networking provides high-speed Fibre Channel (FC) and IBM Fibre Connection (IBM FICON®) connectivity from the IBM Z® platform to the storage area network (SAN) core. It enables enterprises to rapidly deploy high-density virtualized servers with the dual benefit of higher bandwidth and consolidation. This IBM Redpaper Redbooks publication helps administrators understand how to implement or migrate to an IBM c-type SAN environment. It provides an overview of the key hardware and software products, and it explains how to install, configure, monitor, tune, and troubleshoot your SAN environment.

This IBM® Redbooks® product guide describes the IBM Storage Networking SAN64B-6 switch. cloud infrastructures and growing flash-based storage environments by delivering market-leading Gen 6 Fibre Channel technology and capabilities. SAN64B-6 delivers unmatched 32/128 gigabits per second (Gbps) performance, industry-leading port density, and built-in instrumentation to accelerates data access, drive always-on business, and support data center consolidation in small to large-scale enterprise infrastructures.

This IBM® Redbooks® product guide describes the IBM Storage Networking SAN24B-6 switch. Explosive data growth, coupled with user expectations of unlimited access from anywhere, at any time, is pushing storage environments to the limit. To meet these dynamic business demands, the network must evolve to improve speed, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. Legacy infrastructures were not designed to support the performance requirements of flash-based storage technology. A new approach to storage networking is required to unlock the full capabilities of all-flash arrays. By treating the network as a strategic part of a storage environment, organizations can maximize their productivity and efficiency, even as they rapidly grow their environments. The IBM Storage Networking SAN24B-6 switch provides exceptional value in an entry-level switch, combining high-performance capabilities of 4, 8, 16, and 32 Gbps, point-and-click simplicity, and enterprise-class functionality. The port speed capability is dependent on the transceiver installed. SAN24B-6 provides small to midsized data centers with low-cost access to industry-leading Gen 5 and Gen 6 Fibre Channel technology and the ability to start small and grow on demand from 8 to 24 ports to support an evolving storage environment. In addition, SAN24B-6 is easy to use and install, with a point-and-click user interface that simplifies deployment and saves time.

This IBM® Redbooks® product guide describes the IBM Storage Networking SAN512B-6 (8961-F08) and SAN256B-6 (8961-F04) directors and the IBM b-type Gen 6 Extension Blade (FC 3892, 3893). Digital transformation is pushing mission-critical storage environments to the limit, with users expecting data to be accessible from anywhere, at any time, on any device. Faced with exponential data growth, the network must evolve to enable businesses to thrive in this new era. A new approach to storage networking is needed to enable databases, virtual servers, desktops, and critical applications, and to unlock the full capabilities of flash. By treating the network as a strategic part of a storage environment, organizations can maximize their productivity and efficiency even as they rapidly scale their environments. IBM Storage Networking SAN512B-6 and SAN256B-6 directors with Fabric Vision technology are modular building blocks that combine innovative hardware, software, and built-in instrumentation to ensure high levels of operational stability and redefine application performance. Fabric Vision technology enhances visibility into the health of storage environments, delivering greater control and insight to quickly identify problems and achieve critical service level agreements (SLAs). Breakthrough 32 Gbps performance shatters application performance barriers and provides support for more than 1 billion input/output operations per second (IOPS) for flash-based storage workloads while 128 Gbps UltraScale inter-chassis links enable simplified, high-bandwidth scalability between directors.

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the challenge that most data centers face when updating and modernizing their IT infrastructure. New business demands are driving new applications, joining, and creating in the digital world. A rich, meaningful digital experience is the key to effective engagement in today's integrated digital world. Companies are able to customize digital experiences for their employees with personalized, targeted content for fully connecting with customers, co-workers, and business partners in the most powerful and productive ways. To achieve this, a robust infrastructure is required. Speed of access to data is one of the most important factors. The development of the flash storage devices helped with the insatiable desire for data access speed, but even that is not enough for the most demanding uses. The needs of SAN switches, servers, and software defined infrastructure (SDI) technologies are all requiring more; therefore, the bigger picture needs to be wholly analyzed to build a balanced ecosystem. This publication can help you with planning for growth in your IT infrastructure. This publication explores the concept of modernization and considers important aspects of IT, such as SAN switches, storage systems, and software defined storage.

This IBM® Redbooks® Product Guide describes the Cisco MDS 9718 Multilayer Director for IBM Storage Networking (9710-E16). The MDS 9718 has the industry's highest port density for a storage area network (SAN) director and features 768 line-rate 32 gigabits per second (Gbps) or 16 Gbps Fibre Channel ports. Designed to support multiprotocol workloads, MDS 9718 enables SAN consolidation and collapsed-core solutions for large enterprises, which reduces the number of managed switches and leads to easy-to-manage deployments. The MDS 9718 supports the 48-Port 32 Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module, the 48-Port 16 Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module, the 48-port 10 Gbps FCoE Switching Module, the 24-port 40 Gbps FCoE switching module, and the 24/10-port SAN Extension Module. By reducing the number of front-panel ports that are used on inter-switch links (ISLs), it also offers room for future growth. MDS 9718 addresses the mounting storage requirements of today's large virtualized data centers. As a director-class SAN switch, MDS 9718 uses the same operating system and management interface as other Cisco data center switches. It brings intelligent capabilities to a high-performance, protocol-independent switch fabric, and delivers uncompromising availability, security, scalability, simplified management, and the flexibility to integrate new technologies. You can use MDS 9718 to transparently deploy unified fabrics with Fibre Channel and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) connectivity to achieve low total cost of ownership (TCO). For mission-critical enterprise storage networks that require secure, robust, cost-effective business-continuance services, the FCIP extension module is designed to deliver outstanding SAN extension performance, reducing latency for disk and tape operations with FCIP acceleration features, including FCIP write acceleration and FCIP tape write and read acceleration.

This IBM® Redbooks Product Guide provides an overview of the features and functions that are available with the IBM Storage DS8900F models that run microcode Release 9.3.2 (Bundle 89.32/Licensed Machine Code 7.9.32). As of February 2023, the DS8900F with DS8000 Release 9.3.2 is the latest addition. The DS8900F is an all-flash system exclusively, and it offers three classes: IBM DS8980F: Analytic Class: The DS8980F Analytic Class offers best performance for organizations that want to expand their workload possibilities to artificial intelligence (AI), Business Intelligence, and Machine Learning. IBM DS8950F: Agility Class: The agility class is efficiently designed to consolidate all your mission-critical workloads for IBM zSystems, IBM LinuxONE, IBM Power Systems, and distributed environments under a single all-flash storage solution. IBM DS8910F: Flexibility Class: The flexibility class delivers significant performance for midrange organizations that are looking to meet storage challenges with advanced functionality delivered as a single rack solution.