IBM Elastic Storage System Introduction Guide

IBM Elastic Storage System Introduction Guide

by Stieg Klein, Chris Maestas
Released November 2022
Publisher(s): IBM Redbooks
ISBN: 9780738460932

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Book description

This IBM® Redpaper Redbookspublication provides an overview of the IBM Elastic Storage® Server (IBM ESS) and IBM Elastic Storage System (also IBM ESS). These scalable, high-performance data and file management solution, are built on IBM Spectrum® Scale technology. Providing reliability, performance, and scalability, IBM ESS can be implemented for a range of diverse requirements.

The latest IBM ESS 3500 is the most innovative system that provides investment protection to expand or build a new Global Data Platform and use current storage. The system allows enhanced, non-disruptive upgrades to grow from flash to hybrid or from hard disk drives (HDDs) to hybrid. IBM ESS can scale up or out with two different storage mediums in the environment, and it is ready for technologies like 200 Gb Ethernet or InfiniBand NDR-200 connectivity.

This publication helps you to understand the solution and its architecture. It describes ordering the best solution for your environment, planning the installation and integration of the solution into your environment, and correctly maintaining your solution.

The solution is created from the following combination of physical and logical components:


  • Hardware
  • Operating system
  • Storage
  • Network
  • Applications

Knowledge of the IBM Elastic Storage Server and IBM Elastic Storage System components is key for planning an environment.

This paper is targeted toward technical professionals (consultants, technical support staff, IT Architects, and IT specialists) who are responsible for delivering cost-effective cloud services and big data solutions. The content of this paper can help you to uncover insights among client's data so that you can take appropriate actions to optimize business results, product development, and scientific discoveries.

Table of contents

  1. Front cover
  2. Notices
    1. Trademarks
  3. Preface
    1. Authors
    2. Now you can become a published author, too!
    3. Comments welcome
    4. Stay connected to IBM Redbooks
  4. Summary of changes
    1. November 2022, Fifth Edition
    2. July 2021, Fourth Edition
    3. March 2021, Third Edition (minor updates)
    4. February 2021, Third Edition
    5. July 2020, Second Edition
  5. Chapter 1. Introducing the IBM Elastic Storage System
    1. 1.1 IBM Elastic Storage System
    2. 1.2 IBM Elastic Storage System and IBM Spectrum Scale
      1. 1.2.1 IBM Spectrum Scale overview
      2. 1.2.2 Protocol nodes overview
      3. 1.2.3 IBM ESS storage building block solution for IBM Spectrum Scale
    3. 1.3 IBM Elastic Storage System solution value
      1. 1.3.1 Integrated and reliable storage building block
      2. 1.3.2 Predictable and consistent high performance
      3. 1.3.3 Simplified IBM ESS installation
      4. 1.3.4 Supported as a solution
    4. 1.4 IBM Elastic Storage System models
  6. Chapter 2. IBM Elastic Storage System architecture
    1. 2.1 Architecture overview
    2. 2.2 Hardware components
      1. 2.2.1 IBM Elastic Storage System generations
      2. 2.2.2 IBM Elastic Storage System 5000
      3. 2.2.3 IBM Elastic Storage System 3500
      4. 2.2.4 Positioning various IBM Elastic Storage System models
      5. 2.2.5 IBM Elastic Storage System Management Server
      6. 2.2.6 Data Server hardware
      7. 2.2.7 Storage enclosures
      8. 2.2.8 Protocol nodes
      9. 2.2.9 Networking switches
      10. 2.2.10 Racking
    3. 2.3 Software components
      1. 2.3.1 Software solution stack overview
      2. 2.3.2 Operating system
      3. 2.3.3 IBM Spectrum Scale
      4. 2.3.4 IBM Spectrum Scale RAID
      5. 2.3.5 IBM Elastic Storage System solution installation and management scripts
  7. Chapter 3. IBM Elastic Storage System planning and integration
    1. 3.1 IBM Elastic Storage System planning overview
      1. 3.1.1 Roles and responsibilities
    2. 3.2 IBM Elastic Storage System hardware planning
      1. 3.2.1 Planning for network switches and networking
      2. 3.2.2 Planning for servers that are used in IBM Elastic Storage System
      3. 3.2.3 Planning for storage configuration
      4. 3.2.4 Planning for IBM Spectrum Scale protocol nodes
      5. 3.2.5 Planning for physical, electrical, and cooling installation
    3. 3.3 IBM Elastic Storage System software planning
      1. 3.3.1 Planning for IBM Spectrum Scale file system
      2. 3.3.2 Planning for IBM Spectrum Scale RAID
    4. 3.4 Ordering IBM Elastic Storage System
    5. 3.5 IBM Elastic Storage System installation
      1. 3.5.1 Physical installation, racking, and cabling
      2. 3.5.2 Integrating into client environment
      3. 3.5.3 Reliability, availability, and serviceability
    6. 3.6 Monitoring IBM ESS
      1. 3.6.1 GUI
    7. 3.7 Maintaining and repairing IBM ESS
      1. 3.7.1 IBM ESS IBM Solution service and support
    8. 3.8 Upgrading IBM ESS
      1. 3.8.1 IBM ESS hardware and firmware
      2. 3.8.2 IBM ESS software
    9. 3.9 IBM ESS hints and tips
  8. Appendix A. IBM Elastic Storage System models
    1. IBM Elastic Storage System model specifications
    2. First-generation IBM Elastic Storage System models overview
    3. Second-generation IBM Elastic Storage System overview
    4. IBM Elastic Storage System 3200
    5. IBM Elastic Storage System 3000
    6. Differences between the IBM Elastic Storage System generations
    7. IBM Spectrum Scale for IBM Elastic Storage System licensing
    8. IBM Spectrum Scale RAID technical overview
  9. Related publications
    1. IBM Redbook
    2. Online resources
    3. Help from IBM
  10. Back cover

Product information

  • Title: IBM Elastic Storage System Introduction Guide
  • Author(s): Stieg Klein, Chris Maestas
  • Release date: November 2022
  • Publisher(s): IBM Redbooks
  • ISBN: 9780738460932