Re: New Hardware Functionality

Well, checking the net, IBM is supposed to be getting ready to release the
POWER6 processor soon
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070212-8823.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POWER6
http://news.com.com/2100-1006_3-6158739.html
No, it's not a firm announcement, but yes, the POWER5 systems may be "obsolete"
soon. Your time frame for machines on the floor means that if the above
articles are accurate, the POWER6 will be announced as you go live with your
upgrades. Given your site holds on to machines for a while (H80s are probably 5
years+), you might want to see if it is possible to wait a few months to buy at
the begining of the hardware lifecycle (POWER6) instead of at the end of the
hardware lifecycle (POWER5+). Of course, even if they are announced in mid
2007, true availability for your site might be more than a few months. Reading
the tea leaves is hard.

On the other hand, as Simon indicates, your needs are modest. 3 x H80 = 1 x
510Q.
Unless you really need to LPAR for some reason, I am not sure that a 3 system
LPAR is useful. Hard to tell the application architecture though.
Assuming you want some redundancy in hardware, a pair of 510Q should easily
handle your current environment.
If you want to switch to a single machine, consider the 550Q. An HMC is not
needed, but makes life easier to remote manage the box.
Prices for each are very reasonable. They may go down with the POWER6
announcement some time this year. Negotiate with IBM.

Mark Hunter
Anheuser-Busch Cos.
MIS Consultant, ES&SO Server Planning and Integration
*Office: (314) 765-2339
*Email: Mark.Hunter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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-----Original Message-----
From: IBM AIX Discussion List [mailto:aix-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Green,
Simon
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 5:52 AM
To: aix-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: New Hardware Functionality

Unless the manufacturer has made a firm announcement, with guaranteed dates for
availability, I wouldn't worry about it. Technology is always advancing so
you'll seldom if ever have the very latest hardware. Whatever you buy will be
out-of-date within 12 months.

I think it's only at the very cutting edge that anybody needs to care: your
needs are rather modest, by current standards, and should be easily met. The
only attention you should pay to new technology is to use it to get a bigger
discount on the "old" stuff.

Simon Green

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-----Original Message-----
From: IBM AIX Discussion List [mailto:aix-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Yard, John
Sent: 15 February 2007 00:34
To: aix-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: New Hardware Functionality


Today ( 02-14 ) there was an article in the New York Times
describing advances in computer memory speed that IBM
intends to implement in its new commercial mid range processors.

I am tasked with ordering a replacement system for our current
h80 data warehousing system. We would like to have a new system
in house July/August 2007. I am concerned that if we order now
we may be too early to reap the benefit of this and some
other hardware
innovations.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to ensure
we don't order 'too early' , or are this concern
misplaced ?

We currently have 3 h80's ,
probably replacing it with an lparable system,
supporting Oracle , ~ .75 terrabte of data.

JYard
UCLA

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