iSeries New Workloads –
Considering Consolidation
Mandy Shaw and Jonathan Woods
© Logicalis Group
Considering Consolidation
New Workloads Overview
© Logicalis Group
What is “New Workloads” about ?
Goal – To consolidate IT server infrastructure onto an iSeries platform
regardless of OS.
OS/400
Linux
PASE (AIX emulation) – available now
Native AIX – available 2004
Windows
Reducing the TCO by managing a single platform and single pool of storage
“i” stands for integrated
iSeries hypervisor controls multi-OS consolidation and aids management
What is wrong with OS/400 ?
OS/400 still represents the value it always has
Single level storage
Integrated DB2
Excellent work management capabilities
Ultimate resilience
The Operating System of choice where function is supported + efficient
Business Application choice is typically not made based on the OS available
A few scenarios OS/400 does not lend itself to
e.g. OS/400 Netserver - performance
Extensive manageability sometimes gets in the way !
The web is full of free Linux apps (as is Linux)
If ‘Open source’ is an acceptable approach
Unix is a stable and efficient OS
Support is still typically charged
Logicalis Approach
Data Collection exercise
Complete list of servers

Vendor, OS, CPU’s, Disk tot/used/type

Servers v/s Infrastructure apps

Windows Domain Controller

WINS, DNS

Firewall/Proxy server

File/print serving

Windows terminal services

Webserving

Email

Databases used (DB2, Oracle, SQL)

Servers v/s business applications
Current CPU workloads

iSeries performance collection

Windows collections too
High level decisions
iSeries has a consolidation sweet spot
Integrated xSeries Server (IXS)
Model
270
820
830
840
Max IXS
Model
Max IXS
3
12
28
32
800
810
825
870
890
4
13
36
48
48
Integrated xSeries Adapter (IXA)
Model
270
820
830
840
Max IXA
Model
Max IXA
2
8
16
32
800
810
825
870
890
3
7
18
60
60
Existing investment
Choice to consolidate on iSeries affected by
Existing technology investments
Scale of requirements
Examples
xSeries blade centres
FAStT SAN disk subsystem
IBM Enterprise Storage Server
OEM servers and time to write-off (or lease end)

Only certain IBM xSeries will attach to IXA

x235 (2w), x255 (4w), x360 (4w), x440 (8w)
Competitive economics
iSeries hardware can appear expensive compared to alternative infrastructure
Enabling 825 POD for Linux approx £15K per CPU
iSeries 17.5G disk approx £1K (disk offer for Q4)
Examine other costs that might be avoided
Gigabit LAN switches
Storage SAN infrastructure
Expensive windows software licensing (with Linux)
Additional backup software (BMR !)
Tech support army
Intel attach economics look good
2892 PCI 1.6 Ghz Integ xSeries Server £1.5K

and appropriate towers/slot space
1519-100 IXA adapter £2.7K

and appropriate xSeries
No SAN switches or External RAID controllers
1 Terabyte Disk for 10 servers test
iSeries hardware cost is similar to SAN disk
Considering Consolidation
Applications
© Logicalis Group
Porting existing apps
Move apps to OS/400
Must be natively supported by Vendor
Or port customer owned source
Data migration specific to each app

Tivoli Storage Manager

DB2
Linux Intel apps to iSeries Linux
Requires app already compiled for PowerPC + vendor support
Access to source code to re-compile
pSeries Linux apps will run (Power PC)
AIX apps to PASE
Pre-compiled progs will run if spec1170 compliant
Most AIX apps will require an app port
Windows apps just run on IXS/IXA
Still runs W2K operating system
Microsoft certified platform
New applications
ERP vendor support for iSeries Linux increasing
Sage Line 500 (previously Tetra)
Any ‘Open Source’ Linux app on the Web can be compiled to run under
iSeries Linux
Totally standard Linux
If you find a Linux app that solves a business problem – you can use it
Considering Consolidation
Implementing Infrastructure applications examples
© Logicalis Group
User account consolidation
Separate OS/400 Profiles and Windows Domain accounts
Administration Islands !
Solution
Add a single IXS (or IXA) running W2K
Exercise to align user profile/Win account naming conventions
– All new accounts
created via iNav
– Linux account
integration soon ??
Domain Name Serving
Native iSeries OS/400 can provide DNS
iSeries Linux also supports DNS
Very efficient under Linux
W2K on IXS/IXA - DNS as standard
Choices
No bad decision – keep it simple though
Define a meaningful hierarchy across whole infrastructure
Make use of hardware you've got

Avoid the ‘dedicated Intel DNS server’ on every site
Make use of the skills you’ve got
Firewall/Proxy
No OS/400 product
Linux provides consolidation opportunity

Native Linux - iptables/netfilter

More comprehensive product “SQUID”

Addresses proxy server function
Linux LPAR functions provides security

Use Linux direct LAN adapters for DMZ

iSeries VLAN also (MZ)
Storage hosted on iSeries
Image backed up from iSeries
MZ
OS/400
VLAN
Linux
Firewall
DMZ
File/Print serving
Choice
Continue with W2K - implement IXA/IXS
Samba on iSeries Linux

Emulates W2K server

Takes part in Active Directory

Browser administered - SWAT

WEBMIN – combine Linux + Samba in one

Avoid Microsoft client seat licences

Software is free !

This is a NAS solution

Combine with an IXS (W2K) – single accounts and no seat licences only
Windows Terminal Services
No Linux alternative – has to be W2K
Multiple IXS can be load balanced

Uses additional function of Citrix
A large xSeries on IXA will provide big resources for many users

Native windows terminal services
Solution is affected by scale and qty of free PCI slots
Planning for Consolidation
Application workloads and database engines
© Logicalis Group
What else will your iSeries do?
DB2
Web enablement
Messaging and collaboration applications
Well, almost anything, really …
Linux 2
Web serving
Java
Linux 1
V5R1
V5R1
WebSphere
AIX app
Win2000 or NT 4
Domino
WebSphere on iSeries: strengths
WebSphere on any platform has …
Industry-leading functionality
Runs on your chosen platform
Scalability (Wimbledon / Winter Olympics)
Security
Resilience
High performance
Fully scriptable configuration and management
Excellent application and database integration capability
iSeries adds …
Flexible use of resources (multiple workloads)
Ease of installation and configuration (WAS Express)
Resilience and manageability (of course)
Security (WebSphere security + OS/400 security)
Even more secure and high performance integration capability
Domino on iSeries: strengths
Scalability
Up to 150,000 NotesBench mail users
Easy addition of disk space
Flexible use of resources
Domino partitioning
Multiple workloads
Resilience and manageability
Automatic restart following errors
Notes Admin client, green screen and iNav interfaces
Full CL command set for scripted configuration and management
Availability
Save-while-active
Security
Domino security + OS/400 security
DB2 integration
without ODBC
Probably the
perfect
Domino
mail server
Relational database
Native DB2
Functionality right up there with the competition
Full, fast, solid SQL support built in
Consider migration to DB2/400
Requires application testing and probably application changes
Vendor support a potential issue

If only multiplatform DB2 supported, no problem - DB2 now runs on Linux on iSeries
Otherwise …
Oracle

watch this space!
SQL Server

IXS or IXA required
Customer example: Logicalis production server
Feeds to other
BI tools
Sametime
Legacy product
distribution app
Mail and major
corporate
application
J2EE app,
currently running
on Tomcat
AS/400 model 720 (4 years old),
2GB main storage, V5R1
Data
Warehouse
Customer example: Logicalis DMZ server
Quickplace
External email
protected by
Norton Anti-Virus
with live update
Win2K
MySQL
PASE
PHP
Customer apps –
Apache
WebSphere
AS/400 model 170 (5 years old), 1GB
main storage, V5R1, IXS card
Or, in the future (LAMP)
Quickplace
External email
protected by
Norton Anti-Virus
with live update
Linux
guest
partition
MySQL
PHP
Customer apps – Apache
WebSphere
DMZ partition in iSeries
Services organisation: Before
Sage
Line
50
Access
database
and
corporate
application
User
Hand-held
Terminal
Message
Server and
gateway
desktop
Telephone
Email
server
No DNS or
DHCP
Fax
File and
print
Internet facing
Access
database
and
corporate
application
External
Web
browser user
Web server
Internet
email
gateway
External
email
senders and
recipients
Email
server
Proxy server
User Web
browser
External Web
sites
DMZ
Internet
Internal
After
LPAR 1 - Production
Email: Domino Fax: Domino
Fax Server
Corporate
app: IXS
Additional apps
DB2
Sage Line 50: IXS
Hand-held terminal gateway:
IXS
DNS
DHCP
Telephones:
IXS
LPAR 2 – Linux Guest
File server: Samba
LPAR 3 – LPAR 4 - DMZ
Linux
Firewall
SMTP:
and
Domino
Proxy
Server
Web server:
Apache,
potential for
WebSphere
applications
Just another thought ….
Small scale or ‘utility’ functionality requirement?
Find and download some open source Java code
Optimise it to level 40
Run it on your AS/400
Er …That’s it
public boolean isMatch (String checkString, String pattern)
{
char patternChar;
int patternPos = 0;
char lastPatternChar;
char thisChar;
int i, j;
for (i = 0; i < checkString.length(); i++)
{
// if we're at the end of the pattern but not the end
// of the string, return false
if (patternPos >= pattern.length())
return false;
Considering Consolidation
Major benefits
© Logicalis Group
Backup
iSeries will backup/restore W2K drive images while quiescent – High throughput
Avoids need for ‘Bare Metal Restore’ products
OS/400 Netserver provides ‘medium performance’ file level backup
Won’t address open file backup
End key services for semi quiescence
Tivoli Storage Manager runs under iSeries PASE
Permits 24x7 Intel Open file backup
Specific agents for Databases available
Included as part of OS/400 Enterprise licence
Backups up 35 different client Operating Systems
Requires automated tape library

LTO 3582/3/4

3590/3592 based 3494
Tivoli Storage Manager - physical components
IBM*
CRAY***
UNICOS
DATA
GENERAL
DG/UX
DIGITAL
–OpenVMS
(SSSI)***
–UNIX
–AIX
FUJITSU***
HEWLETTPACKARD
HP-UX
–OS/2
Lan Server
Warp
UNIX
System Services
–AS/400 –OS/2
–OS/2
–OS/390
AUSPEX**
APPLE
Macintosh
MICROSOFT
–Windows 95
–Windows 98
–Windows NT
–Windows NT DEC Alpha
Linux
DB2
Your solution for managing storage and
protecting data across the network
INFORMIX
LOTUS
NOTES
MICROSOFT
–Exchange Server
–SQL Server
NCR UNIX SVR4
NEC EWS-UX/V
VM
Linux
OS/400ux
MVS
ORACLE
–Oracle7 EBU
–Oracle8 RMAN
NOVELL
NETWARE
SAP R/3
SYBASE
PYRAMID
SCO
NILE
–Unix 386
TANDEM
–Open Desktop
SEQUENT
PTX
GUARDIAN
SILICON
SUN
–Open Server
(ETI)*** MICROSYSTEMS GRAPHICS
SIEMENS NIXDORF
IRIX
–Solaris
–SINIX
–SINIX Reliant UNIX
–SINIX 386/486
AIX
Solaris
HP-UX
Windows
2K
Disk
Optical
A single
consistent
solution for open
systems
Tape
TSM
Server
Storage Hierarchy
Disk storage virtualisation
From iNav
Define virtual storage partitions for IXA and IXS
Define virtual storage partitions for Linux
Storage partitions can be copied

Useful for instant development environment
• Linux can support
direct disk access
– Internal
– ESS over Fibre
Virtual Networking
Problem
 Upgrading network infrastructure to support high-
speed application communication is expensive in
terms of time, resources and equipment
iSeries Solution
 Virtual Ethernet at OS/400 V5R2
provides 1 Gb Connections with no LAN
Adapters/Switches
 Windows to Windows to OS/400 to
Linux
 Up to 5 Connections per IXS / IXA
Benefit
 Extremely secure and reliable server
communication over high-performance
connections
 Can reduce network traffic and
exposure to "sniffing"
System Management
IXA/IXS
Windows event logs directed to an OS/400 message queue
Control power on/off from OS/400
Run W2K commands from OS/400 - SBMNWSCMD
IXA adapter card microcode updated from OS/400
Linux
Control boot from OS/400
Via LPAR apportion CPU/Memory to partition
OS/400 has access to Linux filesystem via NFS

Check for file stored events
Considering Consolidation
Sizing the solution
© Logicalis Group
Performance collections
Existing iSeries
Establish current CPU utilisation from standard performance collection
Intel servers
Run a W2K CPU + I/O collection server by server
IBM Director will perform a centralised collection
Linux on Intel
Third party tools
IBM Director
Estimating the new workload
New apps
Input from app vendor
Or a pilot install
Specific methodologies for Domino
Intel to iSeries PowerPC
Base calculation on CPU clockspeed utilisation
Respect CISC (3 Ghz) – RISC (1.3 Ghz) difference
Respect 32bit – 64bit difference
iSeries offloads to subordinate IOPs

Communications

Disk/Tape
Redbook in the making for real world benchmarks
IXA/IXS
General workloads assume a 10 CPW utilization per IXA/IXS
First IXS consumes 30 CPW
Heavy Windows I/O needs calculation
New hardware
New model iSeries could easily handle additional Linux, OS/400 or
Windows workload
New model CPW’s are so large
Models 825 and above come with POD activation for Linux or full OS/400
Factors affecting IXS/IXA choice
Capacity of Intel server
Additional ‘Intel bus’ PCI adapter slots needed
Slots available for IXS in IO tower
VMWare GSX an option on x360/x440

If the approach to app support is acceptable (no direct Microsoft support)
Multiple Windows servers not always because of CPU requirement
Windows often forces physical separation
Considering Consolidation
High Availability
© Logicalis Group
Orion provides Enterprise Managed Availability
The Solution to Deliver Managed Availability …
–
–
–
–
Across Data and Applications
Across Multiple Platforms
Across Multiple Databases
In a Single View - Across an Enterprise
Integrating the iSeries with ORION
ORION
OS/400
OS/400
Linux
Linux
Windows
Windows
The ORION Solution Topologies
Availability
Management
ORION
Replicated
Servers
Switched
Disk
Data
Integration
Orion – typical applications
24x7 Operation – backup from target
For OS/400 Libraries + IFS (V5R2)
For IXA/IXS servers too

TSM not required – backup target images while quiescent
Full HA solution
Complete duplicate hardware at target
Calculated subset of hardware on target
Temporarily re-assign target hardware (till disaster)

Read only reporting

LPAR system – development or data warehouse
iSeries ‘Capacity Backup’ model on target
iSeries ‘HA model’ on target