POWER9 is here! Learn more about what you need to know.
Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS)
Since its release in June of 2014 IBM has continued to expand the POWER8 line. With 4-core models and higher end enterprise versions out for a while now it is a good time to update our original article on POWER7 vs POWER8, the differences between them and what it means to for businesses and end-users.
In the time between our first article and today, the range of CPW the POWER8 machines are capable of has expanded significantly (from 359,000-911,000) to 10,300 on the 4-core S814 systems, to over 2,000,000 CPW on the enterprise class E880. What is CPW? CPW is IBM’s benchmarking score for how efficiently an IBM i system can handle heavy database intensive loads. This number can be used to determine the relative ability of individual IBM systems to efficiently handle a given workload.
However, CPW is not the only factor that POWER8 improves upon over POWER7 systems. A major consideration for many, and likely a make or break factor for some, is the cost of maintenance and support for your system. With the myriad of innovations IBM has implemented into the POWER8 systems, the power available at all support tiers has increased significantly. Which means businesses can now get more power than ever before, with lower maintenance
In addition to CPW and maintenance costs, here are a few other things to take into consideration for upgrading ANY system for your business:
The POWER8 is no different for reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS)
IBM was the first to use this phrase in describing the robustness of their hardware, and IBM continues to improve upon this aspect in every succeeding iteration of their systems. The POWER8 is no different. With additional built in error checking compared to earlier POWER designs and more internal monitoring POWER8 systems are the most reliable POWER systems to date.
Memory Comparison:
Determining the memory needs of the applications your new system will run, as well as the planning for future expansion is an important step in the planning process. Making sure your new system has the memory to handle your current workload, and the ability to expand to meet the needs of the future will help ensure your system brings the greatest value possible to your business.
Compatibility:
Will your new machine be the only system on the network? Or, will you need to integrate your new system with other technology? Do you have specialized applications that you are unsure if they are capable of making a smooth transition onto POWER8? These are all important questions that will need to be answered if you want to get the most out of your new system.
The Bottom Line:
No two businesses are the same, and other businesses are not your business. There are many variables that will need to be taken into account in order to create the system that fits all the needs of your business. If you are considering upgrading to POWER8 and want to see what options are available, talk to one of Midland’s experienced representatives today. We are available immediately via Chat for assistance, or call us Toll Free at 888-682-5335.
high availability (HA), backup and disaster recovery (DR) capabilities. In preparing an IBM i system or environment for backup and disaster recovery in the cloud, there are several key considerations to include in your strategy and project plan. For the purposes of this brief, this applies to all versions of the IBM i family including Power Systems, iSeries, System i and AS/400.
