The IBM eServer OpenPower family of servers is a new category of POWER processor-based servers tuned for Linux. IBM eServer OpenPower 720 is the first offering in this family,... more
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Recommended Use: Small business, corporate business
Product Form Factor: Tower
Server Scalability: 1-way
Hot-Swap Bays Qty: 4
Width: 20.1 cm
Depth: 77.9 cm
Height: 53.3 cm
Processor
Type: IBM POWER5 1.5 GHz
Installed Qty: 1
Max Supported Qty: 1
Cache: L2 - 1.9 MB
Cache memory
Type: L3 Cache
Installed Size: 0 MB
Ram
Installed Size: 1 GB / 64 GB (max)
Technology: DDR SDRAM - ECC
Memory Speed: 266 MHz
Form Factor: DIMM 208-pin
Storage controller
Type: 1 x SCSI - integrated - PCI-X
Controller Interface Type: Ultra320 SCSI
Channel Qty: 2
Storage controller (2nd)
Type: 1 x IDE - integrated
Storage
Hard Drive: 1 x 36.4 GB - hot-swap - Ultra320 SCSI - 10000 rpm
Optical storage
Type: DVD-ROM - IDE
Monitor
Monitor Type: None
Networking
Networking: Network adapter - integrated
Data Link Protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
Manufacturer's product description
The IBM eServer OpenPower family of servers is a new category of POWER processor-based servers tuned for Linux. IBM eServer OpenPower 720 is the first offering in this family, delivering enterprise-class function for Linux based servers - at a breakthrough price. The OpenPower 720 provides a flexible platform, tuned for Linux and built on open industry standards, that gives your company the freedom and choice to support future growth and maintain business flexibility; brings enterprise-class features like RAS to an entry-level server, helping your business improve system utilization, reduce downtime, and lower system management costs; delivers increased productivity at a breakthrough price The OpenPower 720 offers 1-way, 2-way, and 4-way configurations, 64-bit, copper-based, POWER5 microprocessors with a 1-way and 2-way processors running at 1.5 GHz and a 2-way processor running at 1.65 GHz. The base 512 MB of main memory can be expanded to 64 GB for faster performance and exploitation of 64-bit addressing as used in large database applications.
Expansion / connectivity
Expansion Bays Total (Free):
2 ( 1 ) x 5.25" Slim Line
1 ( 1 ) x 5.25" x 1/2H
4 ( 3 ) x hot-swap
Expansion Slots Total (Free):
4 ( 4 ) x PCI-X / 133 MHz - full-length
1 ( 1 ) x PCI-X / 133 MHz - half-length
8 ( 4 ) x memory - DIMM 208-pin
1 ( 1 ) x processor
Interfaces:
2 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
2 x serial - RS-232 - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9)
2 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A
Miscellaneous
Compliant Standards: FCC Class A certified, VCCI, C-Tick, BSMI, CISPR 22 Class A, EN 60950, IEC950, IEC 60950, CSA C22.2
Power
Device Type: Power supply - hot-plug
Power Redundancy: Optional
Power Redundancy Scheme: 1+1 (with optional power supply)
Installed Qty: 1
Max Supported Qty: 2
Voltage Required: AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Power Provided: 1475 Watt
Operating system / software
OS Provided: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 3.3 on IBM POWER System
...The configuration I use is :
2x Xeon 3.6GHz/800MHz (1MB L2 Cache), 4x 512MB ECC 133MHz SDRAM,48x-20x IDE CD-ROM drive, Dual Broadcom 5721 Gigabit Ethernet, ATI Radeon 7000M, IBM5U x 24in Tower To Rack Conversion Kit ,5x146.4 GB 10 000 rpm Ultra320 80-pin hard drive,Serveraid 7k SCSI raid card, Remote supervisor Adapter II card.
Operating System provided by IBM as well ( part number 90P0221) Microsoft Windows 2003 Server, Standard Edition.
Packaging and manuals:
Server is very well packaged,rack conversion comes with explanation for conversion, but the whole conversion is not intuitive at all.Picture provided in installation instructions not very helpful. Bit and pieces included in the packages ,as keyboard and mouse for Server.IBM Director and Serveraid manager CD, plus OS CDin the box, OS pre-installed.
Set-Up.
Set up is quite easy...
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Advantages: good build quality - rarely break down - It's an IBM! Disadvantages: support website can sometimes be awkward to navigate.
...that once the initial information has been entered it's pretty much an automated process.
Once your up and running you can install the included IBM Director software (it is included with all the servers I have ever bought but I don't see it on the kit list so might be wise to check, although even if it isn't you can download it from the IBM website. The easiest way to find it is search the IBM website or Google for e1cd1.iso. You should also download the serveraid windows agent as well ) which monitors the state of all your hardware and can be configured to send E-Mail or pager alerts in the event of warnings errors or security breaches.
As a terminal server it should be good to go for up to 15 users (maybe 20 with plenty of RAM and if only using office docs) but I would probably go for an X236 if you want to do much more than that or have...
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Advantages: Reliable, fast, robust Disadvantages: A bit heavy... but doesn't matter once it's in the rack
...I have recently installed a couple of the IBM x445 servers at work, and as I've been generally impressed with the way they've performed, thought I'd share my findings.
I won't go through the finer and minute technical details of this server simply because that wouldn't be a review- that would be simply copying the specification, which anyone can read anyway. I decided it be a lot more helpful to describe in business terms the benefits of the server, and how reliable and effective it has been in our infrastructure. Nevertheless, some bare technical details should be discussed- so in essence, let me point out that it comes with 2Gb of RAM and 2 Intel Zeon processors running at 2.5GHz. It has the capability of using up to 64Gb of RAM (if you should ever really need to). There are the usual slots available for adding SCSI hard disks...
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This product has not yet been reviewed. 
07.07.2006
20.05.2006
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