End of support for IBM Power 8, V7000, V5000, AIX 7.1 and IBM 7.1 What do we do?

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The challenge of end-of-support and end-of-life products

With the announcement of the end of support for IBM Power 8, V7000, V5000, AIX 7.1, and IBM i 7.1, many companies face uncertainty about how to maintain their critical operations. This scenario presents a significant challenge in terms of IT infrastructure, software lifecycle management and, above all, budget.

SIXE’s comprehensive solution

At SIXE Ingeniería, with our extensive experience in IBM systems, we offer customized solutions to overcome these challenges, starting with a free, no-obligation audit of your current systems. Spoiler: we are not always going to try to sell you or recommend a new machine or system.

Obsolescence? Yes and no!

The fact that servers end their life cycle after 10 years does not mean that they stop working, nor that we necessarily need to buy new ones. With good preventive maintenance and adequate contingency policies (backup systems, spare parts, high availability) the life cycle can be extended for a few more years, always aligned with the licensing, availability and performance needs that we audit at the beginning of each project.

Design and migration to new systems (Power10, Flash System, etc.)

Sooner or later, at once or in several phases, it will be time to migrate (Power8 to Power10, V7000 to FS7300, etc). Migration to new environments while maintaining full compatibility with our customers’ applications, databases and processes is a key project. SIXE Ingeniería will assist and accompany you in this process, ensuring a seamless transition with maximum efficiency. In the process, we will help you save a lot of money on licenses and put in place a new infrastructure that will last 5 or 10 years more. Always avoiding the most common mistakes in hardware upgrades.

Consolidation of existing systems

With the new generations of IBM servers and enclosures, we will reduce the footprint in the data center by requiring fewer systems, less power and less space to do the same things. We will help you to consolidate the environments and achieve a smooth utilization of more than 80% performance. Something that in the case of servers
we always achieve with Power10

Lifecycle Extension: IBM technical support and preventive maintenance

Regardless of the life cycle of the machines and their software, SIXE Ingeniería provides technical support and preventive maintenance, thus prolonging the useful life of the systems and ensuring their optimal operation. We believe in the right to repair, but we prefer that good preventive maintenance avoids having to do so.

License Compliance: IBM License Audits

A crucial aspect is license compliance. SIXE Ingeniería offers the following serviceslicense audits IBM, ensuring that companies comply with all legal requirements and avoid risks associated with manufacturer audits.

Conclusion

The end of support for IBM Power 8, V7000, V5000, AIX 7.1 and IBM i 7.1 does not have to be a path to obsolescence. With SIXE Ingeniería’s expertise and services, our clients can surf these changes with confidence and ensure a solid and sustainable technological future. All this with a predictable and contained cost 3, 5, 7 or 10 years ahead.

New redbook! Red Hat Ansible for AIX, IBM i and Linux on IBM Power

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Today we are in luck, IBM has just published the draft of the reedbook that we have been waiting for months. In it we will see how the integration of Ansible in IBM Power environments has opened a new world of possibilities for the automated administration of this type of systems, thanks to the growing support from Red Hat: not only for the different Linux distributions, but also for AIX, IBM i, HMC consoles and VIOS servers, fundamental components of the IBM Power platform.

Ansible, the leading-edge automation technology, has found fertile ground in the robust and powerful IBM Power systems. With its sophisticated architecture and support for a variety of operating systems, IBM Power is positioned as an ideal choice for companies seeking exceptional performance and reliable security. Incorporating Ansible into this environment not only improves operational efficiency but also opens up new avenues for application and infrastructure management as code.

The heart of the Ansible revolution in IBM Power lies in its ability to efficiently orchestrate and automate complex tasks. From application deployment to patch management and security configuration, Ansible simplifies traditionally time-consuming processes. Its declarative language, based on YAML and Jinja2, allows users to describe their infrastructures in simple terms, making automation accessible even to those with no programming experience (and perhaps no desire or need to learn).

In addition, Ansible facilitates automated application deployment on Power servers, deftly handling everything from Node.js deployments to multi-tier application orchestration such as OpenShift or OpenStack. This versatility makes it an indispensable tool for day-to-day operations in Linux, AIX and IBM i environments, covering critical aspects such as storage, security, and configuration settings.

A draft of this redbook is available at https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpieces/pdfs/sg248551.pdf.

How ACME saved your business with FS7300 and safe-guarded copies

/in cybersecurity, Data Center, News/by sixe

Today ransomware attacks have become a constant threat to businesses of all sizes. An effective solution to this challenge is the use of protected copies on advanced storage systems such as those offered by IBM’s FS7300 storage systems. This article explores a case in which a customer, which we will call ACME, was able to recover its critical systems in minutes after a ransomware attack, thanks to the capabilities of the FS7300 cockpit.

A key technology: IBM Safe-guarded copies

Protected copies on IBM FS7300 systems are replicas of data that are stored securely and isolated within the same system. These copies are not accessible for normal modification or deletion, making them immune to malware attacks such as ransomware.

Our client

ACME is a leading financial services provider in a North African country that recently faced a sophisticated ransomware attack in November 2023. This attack encrypted a significant amount of their critical data, affecting essential operations. Fortunately, I had recently implemented IBM’s FS7300 storage cabinet, which included the protected copy feature and which SIXE had scheduled to run on a regular basis. An alert from IBM Storage Protect warned that more files than normal had been modified during planned backups.

Response to Attack

When ACME became aware of the attack, its IT team acted quickly. Using the protected copies stored in their FS7300 cabinet, they were able to restore the affected data in a matter of minutes. This rapid recovery was made possible by the efficient data management and instantaneous recovery capability of the FS7300 system.

Key Benefits

The ability to recover quickly from a ransomware attack is crucial to maintaining business continuity. In the case of ACME, IBM’s FS7300 booth provided:

  1. Fast Recovery: Data restoration was almost instantaneous, minimizing downtime.
  2. Data Integrity: Protected copies ensured that the restored data was free from corruption or tampering.
  3. Uninterrupted Operations: Rapid recovery allowed critical business operations to continue without significant interruption.

This case demonstrates how an advanced storage solution such as IBM’s FS7300 array, equipped with copy-protected technology, can be a lifesaver in crisis situations such as ransomware attacks. It provides not only an additional layer of security, but also the confidence that business data can be recovered quickly and efficiently, ensuring business continuity in times of uncertainty and constant threats.

IBM Storage CEPH vs. Storage Scale (GPFS), GFS2, NFS and SMB

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IBM Storage CEPH is a software-defined storage solution based on open source ceph technology that is gaining more and more followers. It offers a scalable, resilient and high-performance storage system. It is especially suited for environments that require massive, distributed storage, such as data centers, cloud applications and big data environments.

What are the main Use Cases?

  1. Object Storage: Ideal for storing massive amounts of unstructured data, such as images, videos and backup files.
  2. Block Storage: Used for file systems, databases and virtual machines, offering high availability and performance.
  3. Distributed File Systems: Supports applications that require concurrent access to files from multiple nodes.

Technical Fundamentals

  • Scalable Structure: It is based on a distributed architecture that allows scaling horizontally, adding more nodes as needed.
  • High Availability: Designed to be resilient to failures, with redundancy and automatic data recovery.
  • Data Consistency: Ensures data integrity and consistency even in high concurrency environments.

Comparison with other storage solutions

  1. Versus GPFS (IBM Spectrum Scale):
    • CEPH is best suited for environments where massive scalability and a highly flexible storage infrastructure are needed.
    • GPFS offers superior performance in environments where high I/O throughput and efficient management of large numbers of small files is required.
  2. Before NFS and SMB:
    • NFS and SMB are shared storage protocols that work well for sharing files on local networks. CEPH offers a more robust and scalable solution for large-scale and distributed environments.
    • CEPH provides greater fault tolerance and more efficient data management for large data volumes.
  3. Vs GFS2:
    • GFS2 is suitable for cluster environments with shared data access, but CEPH offers superior scalability and flexibility.
    • CEPH excels in object and block storage scenarios, while GFS2 focuses more on file storage.

When is GPFS (Storage Scale) a better solution than CEPH?

When very high I/O performance is required

  • GPFS is designed to provide very high I/O performance, especially in environments requiring high input/output (I/O) throughput and low latency. It is particularly effective in applications that handle large numbers of small files or in environments with heavy I/O workloads.

If we have to manage small files in a very efficient manner

  • GPFS excels at efficiently managing large numbers of small files, a common scenario in high-performance computing and analysis environments.

In HPC environments

  • In high performance computing (HPC) environments, where consistency and reliability are crucial along with high performance, GPFS provides a more robust and optimized platform.

When we need advanced functions such as an ILM

  • For applications that require advanced handling of unstructured data with features such as data deduplication, compression and data lifecycle management, GPFS can have more specialized functions.

Conclusions

In summary, GPFS is preferable to CEPH in scenarios where high I/O throughput, efficient small file management, and in HPC environments where consistency and reliability are as important as performance. In addition, in environments that are already deeply integrated with IBM solutions, GPFS can offer better synergy and optimized performance.

However, in our opinion, IBM CEPH is best suited in scenarios where a highly scalable storage solution is required, with object, block and file storage capabilities, and where data integrity and availability are critical. It stands out compared to NFS, SMB and GFS2 in terms of scalability, flexibility and ability to handle large volumes of distributed data.

That is, neither one nor the other, it all depends on the workloads and use cases. Contact us!

Migrating from Lustre FS to IBM Storage Scale (GPFS)

/in Data Center, News/by sixe

In this article we tell you how we migrated in SIXE HPC environments from LUSTRE to GPFS, well, now called IBM Storage Scale (and not long ago Spectrum Scale). As you know, High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments play a critical role in scientific research, engineering and innovation in a wide variety of fields. To take full advantage of the potential of these infrastructures, an efficient, high-performance storage system is essential. One of the most widely used parallel file systems in HPC environments is Lustre FS, but sometimes migrating to more advanced and versatile solutions becomes a necessity. In this article, we will explore the migration process from Lustre FS to IBM Storage Scale (formerly known as GPFS) in an HPC infrastructure composed of hundreds of compute nodes with internal or external storage, connected to a high-performance network, such as InfiniBand or 10G Ethernet.

Why migrate to IBM Storage Scale (GPFS)?

IBM Storage Scale, formerly known as GPFS (General Parallel File System), is a highly scalable and robust parallel file system designed for high-performance applications, including HPC environments. As storage and performance needs continue to grow in HPC environments, migrating to a solution like IBM Storage Scale can offer significant benefits:

  1. Scalability: IBM Storage Scale can scale horizontally to accommodate an increase in the amount of data and compute nodes seamlessly. This is essential in HPC environments where workloads can be extremely storage demanding.
  2. High performance: IBM Storage Scale is designed for high read and write performance, making it ideal for HPC applications that require fast and efficient access to large data sets.
  3. Stability and security: IBM Storage Scale is known for its reliability and security. It offers fault tolerance features that ensure the availability of critical data at all times. Data that can be protected with encryption when necessary.
  4. Integration with HPC environments: IBM Storage Scale integrates well with high-performance networks used in HPC environments, such as InfiniBand or 10G Ethernet, simplifying the transition.
  5. Support: SIXE provides ongoing support and maintenance for Storage Scale, ensuring that your storage system is backed by a company with over 20 years of experience in this technology. We do this through IBM, of which we are a value-added business partner.
  6. Easier architecture to deploy, scale and maintain. For us, this is the key point that makes us recommend to undertake this migration. Lustre FS from a certain scale becomes complex to manage, monitor and update, while GPFS works perfectly in 90% of the scenarios with few additional adjustments.

Planning the migration from Lustre FS

Migrating a parallel file system in an HPC infrastructure is a complex and critical task that requires careful planning. Here are some key steps to consider:

  1. Requirements assessment: Before beginning the migration, it is essential to understand the storage and performance requirements of your HPC workload. This will help determine the optimal IBM Storage Scale configuration. We need to understand the use cases and the specific needs of the environment. Also those points where Lustre FS worked particularly well or poorly :)
  2. Architecture design: We design the best possible architecture for IBM Storage Scale taking into account the topology of your high-performance network, storage and compute node distribution. This should be done in a manner that minimizes or eliminates downtime during migration. It is in this phase where we will decide whether to use IBM COS (Cloud Object Storage), ESS (Elastic Storage) or Spectrum Scale (GPFS) deployed directly on the storage servers, compute, or both.
  3. Data preparation: We make sure your data is organized and ready for migration. This may involve cleaning up unwanted data or reorganizing existing data.
  4. Development environment testing: Before migration to production, we perform extensive testing in a development environment to identify potential issues and adjust the configuration as needed.
  5. Hot migration planning: We determine the best time to perform the live migration, minimizing the impact on HPC operations. This may require scheduling the migration during periods of low activity. Storage Scale has several functionalities that enable a non-stop migration of environments. This is essential as data movement can take days to complete.
  6. Migration execution: We carry out the migration following the elaborated plan. This may include data transfer and IBM Storage Scale configuration.
  7. Testing and validation: We perform extensive testing to ensure that all data has been successfully migrated and that the new storage system meets performance requirements.
  8. Training: We provide training to users and IT staff to enable them to adapt to the new file system.
  9. Ongoing maintenance and support: Develop an ongoing maintenance plan to ensure that your storage system performs optimally over time.

Conclusions

Migrating from Lustre FS to IBM Storage Scale (formerly GPFS) in an HPC infrastructure can be a challenging but rewarding task. In doing so, research centers and organizations can take advantage of a highly scalable, reliable and high-performance parallel file system. However, thorough planning, testing and proper training are critical to ensure a successful migration and minimize any disruption to HPC operations.

If you are considering a migration to IBM Storage Scale, we offer you to do it in close collaboration with SIXE. We are storage experts and specialist HPC consultants to ensure that the transition is as smooth and effective as possible. With the right approach and the right investment of time and resources, you can significantly improve the ability of your HPC infrastructure to support high-performance research and applications in the future.

AlmaLinux and OpenSUSE Leap on IBM Power / ppc64le (emulated with QEMU from a x86 box)

/in Data Center, News/by sixe

(Disclaimer: this article has been written  for our blog at IBM)

Getting started

 If you want to explore the Linux distributions that run on IBM Power (ppc64le) but lack the latter, you can emulate it thanks to QEMU. You can check the Linux compatibility matrices in Power at the following link, and decide which distribution and version you want to try :)

 Like any other HW architecture emulation, it has challenges. What inspired me to write this article was this inspiring tutorial, Run a full-system Linux on Power environment from Microsoft Windows, by Emma Erickson and Paul Clarke. I wanted to suggest a more “user-friendly” approach, the network running by default and a GUI to explore all the options available or to modify existing deployments. 

For this demo, I will be using a standard (and cheap) x86 box running the latest Ubuntu (23.04) and the packages included in the distribution itself. No need to compile anything.

System preparation

This is my system, but it should work on any x86 machine with virtualization capabilities.

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep model

model name : Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-1410 v2 @ 2.80GHz

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 23.04
Release:        23.04
Codename:       lunar

We make sure all updates are applied and reboot.

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ sudo reboot

I will use virt-manager as a GUI for QEMU, which would help me (or any other “QEMU newbie”). It’s just what people are used to doing with Virtualbox or VMWare Player, and that’s why I like it :)

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ sudo apt install -y qemu-system-ppc qemu-kvm virt-manager virtinst libvirt-clients bridge-utils

In my case, I ssh from Windows WSL, redirecting the X. Another option would be to provide a minimal graphical environment and connect via RDP or VNC.

~$ ssh -X ubuntu@sixe-dev

Warning: No xauth data; using fake authentication data for X11 forwarding.

Welcome to Ubuntu 23.04 (GNU/Linux 6.2.0-35-generic x86_64)

Download .iso files

I will be downloading two free and open Linux distros with great support on Power. The download folder will be /var/lib/libvirt/images, which is used by virt-manager by default. 

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ cd /var/lib/libvirt/images/

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ sudo wget https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/8/isos/ppc64le/AlmaLinux-8-latest-ppc64le-minimal.iso

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ sudo wget https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.5/iso/openSUSE-Leap-15.5-DVD-ppc64le-Media.iso

Launch the Virtual Machine Manager

Although it’s a little-known tool (unless you’re a Linux geek), it’s as simple and powerful as VirtualBox or VMware Player. It also integrates with QEMU to test operating systems on any other architecture.

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ virt-manager

 

Creating and installing a new VM from .iso

To install the .iso, create a new VM. Choose ppc64le as the architecture, tune CPU and memory, and add a new virtual disk. I recorded a video to show the whole process, you can skip the last part, in our case the installation GUI took almost 9 minutes to finish :)

Deploying Alma & OpenSUSE Linux on IBM Power (ppc64le) using QEMU on x86Deploying Alma & OpenSUSE Linux on IBM Power (ppc64le) using QEMU on x86

All the installation settings work. For your information, I used a default LVM configuration for storage and automatic DHCP on my NAT network device.

Here you can see the emulated CPU being detected correctly.

Once the system is installed, I recommend checking the virtual IP address

… and make sure the sshd daemon is running

hugo@almapower:~$ systemctl start sshd

So I connect from my local host using ssh

ubuntu@sixe-dev:~$ ssh root@192.168.122.28

root@192.168.122.28's password:

Last login: Fri Oct 27 03:58:07 2023 from 192.168.122.1

From now on I will ssh into the VM from my host machine. This way I can copy, paste and resize the console without any problems.

Try other distros like OpenSUSE Leap

You can do the same with other distributions. In my case, the second distribution that works well is OpenSUSE Leap. 

I even installed the graphical environment.

.. as well as Firefox, and started the web browser to visit our website. You’ll need a little patience, though, as it won’t be lightning fast.

What to do now?

Your Linux is nothing special, except running on a much more secure, powerful, and stable architecture. The operation is the same as on x86. Apple has changed its architecture several times, and more and more manufacturers are betting on alternatives to x86 (see ARM).

For example, another popular Red Hat-derived distribution, Rocky Linux, includes not only x86 and ppc64le on its download page, but also ARM or s390x (Linux One / mainframe environments).

You can add other repositories or consult the database of packages available for Linux at IBM Power – https://www.ibm.com/it-infrastructure/resources/power-open-source/

As a disclaimer, although we have them running in production on LPARs with PowerVM, we have not been able to find the combination of configurations and OS versions that would allow us to run Rocky 9.2 and Ubuntu 22.10/23.04 on QEMU. So my recommendation is to try AlmaLinux or OpenSUSE. Of course, their enterprise-supported “sisters” RHEL and SUSE work just as well.

 In future articles we will discuss use cases like AWX or Kubernetes on Linux (ppc64le), emulated or real :)

I hope this article leaves you with no excuses for not trying Linux on Power.

Discover the History of Common Europe. Don’t miss the Prague Congress 2023!

/in Data Center, News/by sixe

Do you work with AIX, Linux and IBM i? Are you an IBM Power user?

Common Europe, a federation of IBM technology user associations in Europe, has been at the forefront of fostering growth and knowledge in this field for several decades. As we prepare for the Prague 2023 Congress, it is an ideal time to review the history of this magnificent institution and highlight the importance of attending this event.

History of Common Europe

Common Europe began more than six decades ago, in 1955. It began its work as a federation of IBM system user associations, and over the years, has grown into an international community. Common Europe’s goal has always been to provide a platform for learning, networking and collaboration, resulting in a steady and progressive growth in the technical skills and knowledge of its members.

Throughout its history, Common Europe has demonstrated a tireless commitment to carrying out its mission. They have worked closely with IBM and other industry leaders to provide their members with the training and support they need to take full advantage of emerging technologies and industry best practices.

Why attend the Prague 2023 Congress?

If you work with AIX, Linux and IBM i on Power, the relevance and value of the Prague 2023 Congress cannot be overemphasized. At this event, you will have the opportunity to learn from the best in the field, expand your skills and knowledge, and connect with other like-minded professionals.

The Prague 2023 Congress will feature a wide variety of workshops, training sessions and presentations addressing all aspects of these technologies, from implementation and management to the latest innovations.

We are excited to announce that several members of Common Iberia, an association of IBM users in Spain and Portugal of which SIXE is a member, will participate in the congress as speakers. His presence guarantees a valuable perspective, sharing innovative ideas and experiences in the use of AIX, Linux and IBM i on Power with many other experts from Europe and America.

In addition to us, there will also be a multitude of other experts and industry leaders present, making the Prague 2023 Congress a real opportunity for any professional looking to improve their skills and knowledge in these technologies… and above all, to strengthen and expand our large community of users.

FW update required due to vulnerability in IBM PowerVM (Power9 and Power10)

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We would like to inform all our customers (and readers) that a bug has been identified in PowerVM that could lead to a security problem in Power9 and Power10 systems. The main risk is that a malicious actor with user privileges in a logical partition can compromise the isolation between logical partitions without being detected. This could result in data loss or unauthorized code execution on other logical partitions (LPARs) on the same physical server. Technical details can be found at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6993021

Are all Power servers at risk?

No. Only some IBM Power9 or Power10 models are at risk and always depending on their FW versions. Servers prior to Power9 and those running OP9xx firmware are not exposed to this vulnerability. There is no evidence that this vulnerability has been exploited to gain unauthorized access on any IBM client but it is always better to be safe than sorry :)

When and by whom was this vulnerability found?

The vulnerability was identified by IBM internally. A solution has already been created and thoroughly tested and was launched on May 17 at Fix Central.

What is recommended to customers?

Customers should follow the instructions in Fix Central to download and install the updated firmware.

What would be the impact for productive environments?

The main concern is the possibility of data leakage or unauthorized code running on other logical partitions of the same physical server. We have found no evidence that this vulnerability has been exploited to gain unauthorized access.

Are certain environments more vulnerable than others?

IBM cannot specify which client environments might be most at risk since access to partitions is controlled by the client. However, any environment in which privileged user access has been granted to one or more partitions should be considered potentially vulnerable. In other words, environments with a high density of LPARs, where production and test systems are mixed, are more likely to suffer from this vulnerability.

Can the patch be applied without shutting down the equipment?

The firmware containing the fix can be installed concurrently and will fix this vulnerability on all systems with the exception of a Power10 system running firmware prior to FW1010.10. In this case, the solution must be applied in a disruptive manner, requiring the server to be shut down to install the update and eliminate the vulnerability.

What types of partitions may be affected?

Any IBM Power9 or Power10 server mentioned in the security bulletin that has multiple partitions could be affected. It does not matter how these partitions were created or managed.

Is IBM’s Power Virtual Server (Power VS) environment at risk?

The vulnerability also affected the Power Systems Virtual Server offering on IBM Cloud (Power VS), but the patch has already been applied to remediate it.

Need help with preventive maintenance of your IBM Power systems?

Contact us and find out about our preventive maintenance service and 24/7 support.

The most common mistakes when refurbishing or acquiring storage

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Five years have passed and it is time to renew the storage. What are the most common errors?

The renewal of enterprise storage systems is a critical, complex and costly decision that should be approached with great care. It is common for mistakes to be made when planning and carrying out this type of project and in this article, we will discuss those that we encounter most frequently in our new clients.
in our new clients
.

1. Incorrect sizing

One of the most common mistakes when renewing enterprise storage is to underestimate or overestimate the capacity (in TB, throughput and response time) of storage needed. Incorrect sizing can result in underinvestment or overinvestment in enterprise storage. We all know that an NVMe solution is faster than an SSD solution, but do we need it? And for 100% of the data? At what price? Are the servers capable of reaching the bandwidth allowed by the cabin? (hint: in 95% of the cases no). But of course, in order to know this, it is advisable to carry out a previous sizing or audit, which has a very small cost in comparison with the acquisition of the cabins and what we can save. Hurries and offers for tomorrow are not good traveling companions in this type of projects.

Failure to forecast the cost for at least 5 years.

One of our customers purchased cabins from one of our favorite manufacturers years ago. It was extremely powerful and the price was very attractive. Two years later, they wanted to add records (they bought it with the bare minimum) and the list price of the records exceeded one million euros. Moreover, all the exercises showed that it was more economical to buy a new, lower-end cabin with more than enough performance and storage than to expand the existing one. Absurd? No, a very common commercial malpractice among companies without their own technical staff. Just as we get printers for free, similar things happen with many other HW components. Switches that are licensed per activated port, firewalls whose price varies according to the users that connect and thousands of other tricks to hide the costs in the medium and long term, as well as the dependencies generated and the obligation to buy additional servers and cabins every few years. Although all manufacturers do it, with the right advice it is often possible to turn it around and at the time of purchase to get at a very interesting price everything we need while the machine works.

3. Not knowing the life cycle of the machines (how long they will be maintained).

Another common mistake is not understanding the life cycle of the machines and not knowing how long maintenance services will be available. It is essential to take into account the useful life of the disk cabins and the availability of technical support and maintenance services in the medium and long term. Many times systems at the end of their marketing cycle are heavily discounted… but also during their launch. The latter allows us to use them for a much longer period of time, significantly reducing the annual cost. If we buy a booth that is going to be withdrawn from marketing soon, it may be that when we have put it into operation it will only have the minimum years of support left and after 5 years the only alternative is to support it ourselves, order the failed parts from international brokers or buy a new one. If we have purchased a system that has been on the market for a short time (but long enough for others to have tested it and experienced its first failures) it will be easy to extend the maintenance for 6, 7 or even 10 years, which is usually the top of its usual life cycle. Sales people from non-technical companies will tell you “you couldn’t tell” or that “it’s IBM / HP / Dell / Hitachi’s fault” but it’s not true. We have to know what we are selling and inform our customers in an honest way about the pros and cons of each new infrastructure we propose to acquire.

4. Not knowing the compatibility matrices with the operating systems.

Another common mistake is not considering the compatibility of enterprise storage with existing operating systems. It is essential to ensure that the storage is compatible with existing operating systems and that if we must upgrade, we do so prior to the implementation of the new storage. This is especially relevant when operating systems are out of support due to lack of preventive maintenance service. Maybe the new booth supports Red Hat or Windows, but not the production version because all new hardware requires drivers that would rarely exist before. Time travel doesn’t exist for operating systems either, and a 2008 Windows is likely to have compatibility issues with a 2023 cockpit.

5. Failure to anticipate the impact of migrations from existing production environments.

Finally, another common mistake is not anticipating the impact of migrations of existing systems on the storage we have renovated. It is important to carefully evaluate the existing systems to be migrated and understand how they will be integrated into the new storage solution, who will handle these professional services and what impact they will have on our organization or business.

6. Not having a trained technical team or L2-L3 support to call upon.

Many customers buy storage systems but do not have the time to be trained on them and do not have external technical support services to turn to, thinking that in case of any problem they can turn to the manufacturer because they already pay for support for these systems, when this is not always the case, especially if the system is working properly and the problem, although closely related, is something else.

7. Relying on companies that do not have technical teams and whose business is based on high margins on SW and HW sales.

Unlike our competitors, at Sixe Ingeniería we will always be on the side of our customers, because we live mainly from training, consulting and technical support. Services that we complement with the sale of HW that we normally help to maintain, so we are the main interested parties in ensuring that the solutions are ideal in the medium and long term. In addition, as a reference partner of IBM and Lenovo, we can offer you significant discounts, we know most types of critical environments very well and we are technology agnostic, although we have our preferences based on our experience. Contact us!

sap ha

IBM Power10 servers for SAP HANA at unbeatable prices

/in Data Center, News/by sixe

IBM has released its latest offering on high-performance Power10 servers for SAP HANA, which is based on its range of single and dual-socket servers with between 2TB and 6TB of RAM at discounts of nearly 50%.

SAP HANA works thanks to a design where the real-time processing and analysis of large volumes of data is performed entirely in memory, guaranteeing a much improved performance compared to classic SAP environments. HANA helps companies around the world manage critical data and make business decisions based on accurate, real-time information.

What does IBM Power10 bring to the table?

IBM Power10 is the first server to offer native support for SAP HANA, making it an attractive option for companies looking to deploy this platform. With its ability to handle large volumes of data and perform real-time analysis, the Power10 can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations.

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