February 17, 2014 at 14:47x3650 M4 - Do I Need HD?
The x3650 M4 server has long been and still remains a bestseller for IBM. It seemed that in the segment of small 2 processor servers no radical changes were foreseen, never change the winning team. But then the “elder brother” x3650M4, a model with the HD (High Density) index, entered the market and questions arose immediately. New benefits for comparable money, or is it still the best enemy of the good?
Obviously, comparing the x3650M4 HD is necessary, first of all, with the base model. The differences are clearly visible in the table compiled according to IBM specifications at the beginning of December 2013.
The list of characteristics in the table is not complete, but it is justified. The main difference is in the storage subsystem.
Actually, the x3650M4 HD is also called the storage server, which is not surprising, given the ability to increase storage capacity to 41.6 TB versus 25 TB for the “little brother”. Compared with the base model, the new server has drastically increased the number of hard drive bays: 24 2.5 ”drive bays are located on the front panel.
Alternatively, you can install 16 HDD and 16 SSD. And in terms of configuration flexibility, this is a very valuable feature. Here it is already possible to structure storage resources on the principle of fast / capacious.
It looks like a server with 16 installed 2.5 ”hard drives and 16 1.8” solid-state drives - this configuration of the storage subsystem, if you use car jargon, can be called "full stuffing". And all drives available from the front panel support hot swapping.
Another 2 bays are located on the back of the server. The optional RAID adapter allows you to boot the system from these two drives, which helps to completely isolate the OS from production data.
A serious storage subsystem means that you can expect different RAID options from the standard set. Indeed, in addition to the integrated (without occupying the PCI slot) RAID level 0/1, it is possible to use the hardware ServeRAID 5210e and increase the data transfer speed from 6 Gb / s to 12 Gb / s. Up to the standard levels, the following updates are available with ServeRAID 5210e:
- RAID 5/50 without a cache
- RAID 5/50 1GB with a cache
- RAID 5/50 4GB (expected in Q1 2014) / 2GB / 1GB with flash
In addition, upgrade to RAID 6/60 is available with the FoD (Feature on Demand) feature.
As soon as the system offers the opportunity to increase the number of disks and increase the possible load level, the question of cooling immediately arises. Agree, in the 3650 M4 HD such a question should be especially acute. The server uses a 2-zone cooling system: 4 fans operate independently of each other, serving, relatively speaking, 2 temperature corridors, separate for each processor.
Here again, one cannot do without a car analogy. Imagine dual-zone climate control that provides optimal cooling in different parts of the cabin. How much more effective than a conventional air conditioning system! And, of course, all 4 fans support hot swapping.
In the area of system administration here, no surprises. We can say that the set of tools is traditional, familiar and proven to be effective. IBM Systems Director and IMM2 (Integrated Management Module). In combination with the Light Path Diagnostics LED diagnostic panel and PFA failure prediction system, which is traditionally used in System x servers.
If the x3650 M4 model was positioned as a server for supporting cloud environments, virtualization, collaboration applications and, of course, infrastructure applications, then the x3650 M4 HD, in addition, is suitable for serious work with large amounts of data. First of all, to support business intelligence and data extraction, transformation and loading (ETL) operations at high speed, which requires both significant computing power and a large amount of storage.
To whom such a combination of characteristics can be beneficial? It is hardly possible to somehow limit the circle of potential interest. Not only government agencies that have to work with huge amounts of data, large corporations and their branches, but also companies in the SMB sector, which today are increasingly working with their SQL databases in virtualized and cloud environments. In addition, a powerful server with a serious storage subsystem will be a good solution for working with video. Video data volumes in corporate environments are growing rapidly. Recordings of surveillance cameras, training videos, video presentations, promotional videos - all this is available not only for large enterprises, but also for fairly modest-sized companies.
Summing up all the possibilities that the x3650 M4 HD server offers, we can confidently say that it will be at least no less popular than the base model. Very good computing capabilities and a scalable storage subsystem - all in a 2U case.
Until now, the base model of the x3650 server has been the most powerful solution from the System x product line, which can be purchased through the IBM Express Seller program. This is important, especially when the time to deploy the servers is limited. Express models are ready-made configurations, in fact, “boxed products” in the distributor’s warehouse. Quick order, fast delivery and instant availability. At the same time, there are no restrictions on the subsequent upgrade. This is a fundamental point for the 3650 M4 server, the name of which contains the letters HD.
Base Model and HD Index
Obviously, comparing the x3650M4 HD is necessary, first of all, with the base model. The differences are clearly visible in the table compiled according to IBM specifications at the beginning of December 2013.
The list of characteristics in the table is not complete, but it is justified. The main difference is in the storage subsystem.
Storage: Flexible Configuration
Actually, the x3650M4 HD is also called the storage server, which is not surprising, given the ability to increase storage capacity to 41.6 TB versus 25 TB for the “little brother”. Compared with the base model, the new server has drastically increased the number of hard drive bays: 24 2.5 ”drive bays are located on the front panel.
Alternatively, you can install 16 HDD and 16 SSD. And in terms of configuration flexibility, this is a very valuable feature. Here it is already possible to structure storage resources on the principle of fast / capacious.
It looks like a server with 16 installed 2.5 ”hard drives and 16 1.8” solid-state drives - this configuration of the storage subsystem, if you use car jargon, can be called "full stuffing". And all drives available from the front panel support hot swapping.
Another 2 bays are located on the back of the server. The optional RAID adapter allows you to boot the system from these two drives, which helps to completely isolate the OS from production data.
RAID
A serious storage subsystem means that you can expect different RAID options from the standard set. Indeed, in addition to the integrated (without occupying the PCI slot) RAID level 0/1, it is possible to use the hardware ServeRAID 5210e and increase the data transfer speed from 6 Gb / s to 12 Gb / s. Up to the standard levels, the following updates are available with ServeRAID 5210e:
- RAID 5/50 without a cache
- RAID 5/50 1GB with a cache
- RAID 5/50 4GB (expected in Q1 2014) / 2GB / 1GB with flash
In addition, upgrade to RAID 6/60 is available with the FoD (Feature on Demand) feature.
Independent Zone Cooling
As soon as the system offers the opportunity to increase the number of disks and increase the possible load level, the question of cooling immediately arises. Agree, in the 3650 M4 HD such a question should be especially acute. The server uses a 2-zone cooling system: 4 fans operate independently of each other, serving, relatively speaking, 2 temperature corridors, separate for each processor.
Here again, one cannot do without a car analogy. Imagine dual-zone climate control that provides optimal cooling in different parts of the cabin. How much more effective than a conventional air conditioning system! And, of course, all 4 fans support hot swapping.
Control
In the area of system administration here, no surprises. We can say that the set of tools is traditional, familiar and proven to be effective. IBM Systems Director and IMM2 (Integrated Management Module). In combination with the Light Path Diagnostics LED diagnostic panel and PFA failure prediction system, which is traditionally used in System x servers.
Application scenarios
If the x3650 M4 model was positioned as a server for supporting cloud environments, virtualization, collaboration applications and, of course, infrastructure applications, then the x3650 M4 HD, in addition, is suitable for serious work with large amounts of data. First of all, to support business intelligence and data extraction, transformation and loading (ETL) operations at high speed, which requires both significant computing power and a large amount of storage.
To whom such a combination of characteristics can be beneficial? It is hardly possible to somehow limit the circle of potential interest. Not only government agencies that have to work with huge amounts of data, large corporations and their branches, but also companies in the SMB sector, which today are increasingly working with their SQL databases in virtualized and cloud environments. In addition, a powerful server with a serious storage subsystem will be a good solution for working with video. Video data volumes in corporate environments are growing rapidly. Recordings of surveillance cameras, training videos, video presentations, promotional videos - all this is available not only for large enterprises, but also for fairly modest-sized companies.
Summing up all the possibilities that the x3650 M4 HD server offers, we can confidently say that it will be at least no less popular than the base model. Very good computing capabilities and a scalable storage subsystem - all in a 2U case.
PS: Buy fast. Instead of an afterword.
Until now, the base model of the x3650 server has been the most powerful solution from the System x product line, which can be purchased through the IBM Express Seller program. This is important, especially when the time to deploy the servers is limited. Express models are ready-made configurations, in fact, “boxed products” in the distributor’s warehouse. Quick order, fast delivery and instant availability. At the same time, there are no restrictions on the subsequent upgrade. This is a fundamental point for the 3650 M4 server, the name of which contains the letters HD.