26
Thu, Dec
0 New Articles

IBM Introduces New Software to Help Manage Cross-Platform Virtual Servers

System Administration
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Written by IBM Corporation

IBM this week announced new systems software for managing virtualized servers that is designed to help clients plan, build, and maintain data centers while reducing costs. IBM is also helping clients protect their long-term investments in Power Systems by announcing an upgraded path to its next-generation servers that will include POWER7 microprocessors.

The new systems software--IBM Systems Director VMControl--gives clients a tool to manage heterogeneous virtual servers. It allows users to discover, display, monitor and locate virtual resources, create and manage virtual servers, and deploy and manage workloads with a common interface across IBM System z mainframes, System x servers, BladeCenter, and Power Systems AIX, Linux and IBM i platforms.

Management of virtualized servers is a key priority for businesses and can help make them more efficient, orchestrated, and effective. The new IBM software provides lifecycle management of virtual servers, with its ability to create, modify and delete virtualized resources, as well as move them to other locations.

VMControl is part of the IBM Systems Director family of software for the management of IBM servers, storage, and networking, and provides automatic discovery, as well as monitoring and updates for physical and virtual resources. Systems Director can help businesses maintain the performance and availability of their servers and simplify operations in a dynamic infrastructure.

"IBM is serious about addressing clients' needs for virtualization management," said Scott Handy, vice president, IBM Power Systems. "The new VMControl software helps clients reduce total cost of ownership and provides them with the tools needed to both better manage and get more business value out of their heterogeneous virtual computing environments."

Protecting Client Investments in Power Systems Technology

Committed to protecting customer investments, IBM also announced an upgrade path to the next-generation of Power Systems based on the POWER7 microprocessor. In addition to existing customers, clients can purchase a POWER6 based 570 or 595 server today, and can then easily upgrade their existing system when POWER7 becomes available.

A Power 595 or 570 system upgrade can be accomplished during planned downtime by simply replacing the processors, memory and system controllers with new POWER7 components within the existing system frame. POWER7 processors will offer two to three times the performance of POWER6 using the same amount of energy (and will be available in four, six and eight-core varieties).

For either system, once upgraded to POWER7, applications from POWER6 systems can be moved to the newly upgraded Power 595 or Power 570 servers using IBM's PowerVM Live Partition Mobility or AIX Live Application Mobility software, without impacting availability of the applications.

The new POWER7-based systems will include PowerVM virtualization enhancements allowing clients to consolidate up to 1,000 virtual machines per system. The systems will use 45-nanometer technology for the new processor and will feature coordinated upgrades across other technology components, including firmware and systems software.

TCO Center of Excellence

Capitalizing on the strength of IBM's Power Systems Migration Factory, which has helped more than 1,750 clients move from competing systems to Power in the last three years, IBM also introduced a TCO Center of Excellence to help customers reduce server sprawl and overall infrastructure costs by eliminating under-utilized UNIX and x86 servers. Power Systems and IBM's PowerVM virtualization software are specifically designed to support the consolidation of multiple workloads on a single server.

Many customers want to reduce total cost of ownership and have recognized Power as a superior platform to host multiple workloads needing consistent performance with scalability and high reliability, availability and serviceability. With the new TCO Center of Excellence, IBM experts will assist consolidation planning for clients by analyzing the opportunity, identifying potential areas of savings, and offering financing and leasing recommendations.

Using the IBM Migration Factory and other IBM services, thousands of customers have already moved to IBM servers from HP, Sun and other competitors, improving performance and at the same time reducing the cost of operating their businesses.

About IBM Power Systems

For more information on IBM Power Systems, visit: http://www.ibm.com/systems/power/

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: