Redbook - what redbook? - switching is good for everyone

July 31st, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

I got this email when I got home (whilst plugging in my ipod and preparing to blog):

Hi Martin,

We’ve just ordered our first batch of IBM Blades, (HS21 model), I’ve been working with HP servers for years and am a bit nervous about the switch, are there any documents/sites you’d recommend that would help me in setting everything up? I’m concerned everything will work differently, and want to read up before they arrive.

Let me know,

Jane

This is my response (I emailed Jane first to check she didn’t mind me posting it):

Hi Jane,

Great, IBM HS21 blades are a good model to go for, in terms of switching from HP they’ll be fine.

Don’t worry about the whole switching vendor thing, it really isn’t that big a deal, as with anything new you just need to learn the basics. In summary. the only things to think about are the image you’re going to deploy having the right drivers, checking out IBM Director, and remembering that in the IBM BladeCenter rather than 14 patch cables for each blade’s remote management (ILO), you have one patch into the enclosure and then you select the blade you want to use.

Anyway, I remain a big fan of the IBM Redbooks - they contain (typically) everything you need, http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/Redbooks.nsf/RedbookAbstracts/sg246495.html?Open, check them out and if you have any problems with them do let me know and I’ll be happy to assist, or we’ll do a post and get an answer for you.

Regards

Martin

If you have any links/comments email me/post a comment!

There Are 3 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Matt Pound on 1 August 2007:

    Talking of Redbooks I read about this on another site.

    http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/residents.nsf/50da6a28780ffa688525701b004a4f21/02c02e6e5637c8bd8525731e0080875f?OpenDocument

    I was under the impression that System I were Power5 machines.

  2. Comment by martin on 1 August 2007:

    Very interesting, thanks Matt, yes they are the Power5 machines, it seems to mention something about an I/O card, off to ask some questions from some friends that know IBM Power machines more..

  3. Comment by Lode on 3 August 2007:

    It is indeed possible to run Intel operating systems on System I, specifically Windows and Linux (Intel distributions). This is done by attaching a BladeCenter, a System x server or using the Integrated xSeries Server (IXS). The IXS is an add on module that indeed adds an Intel cpu to the System I server. I presume this is how they are planning to run VMware ESX on System I.

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