IBM Flex System Manager V1.2 helps IT organizations manage both physical and virtual server infrastructures
IBM United States Software Announcement 212-475November 13, 2012
ENUS212-475.PDF
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| At a glance |
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IBM Flex System Manager™ is a systems management appliance that drives efficiency and cost savings in the datacenter. IBM Flex System Manager provides a preintegrated and virtualized management environment across servers, storage, and networking that is easily managed from a single interface. This single focus point for seamless multichassis management provides an instant resource-oriented view of chassis and chassis resources for System x® compute nodes.
With Flex System Manager, you can:
- Reduce the number of interfaces, steps, and clicks it takes to manage IT resources
- Intelligently manage and deploy workloads based on resource availability and predefined policies
- Manage events and alerts to increase system availability and reduce downtime while helping to reduce operational costs
For ordering, contact your IBM® representative, an IBM Business Partner, or IBM Americas Call Centers at 800-IBM-CALL (Reference: SE001).
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| Overview |
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IBM Flex System Manager is a systems management solution that drives efficiency and cost savings in the datacenter.
The main features in IBM Flex System Manager are:
- Monitoring and problem determination:
- A real-time multichassis view of hardware components with overlays for additional information
- Automatic detection of issues in your environment through event setup that triggers alerts and actions
- Identification of changes that may impact availability
- Server resource utilization by virtual machine or across a rack of systems
- Hardware management:
- Automated discovery of physical and virtual servers and interconnections, applications, and supported third-party networking
- Configuration profiles that integrate device configuration and update steps into a single interface, dramatically improving initial configuration experience
- Inventory of hardware components
- Chassis and hardware component views
- Hardware properties
- Component names and hardware identification numbers
- Firmware levels
- Utilization rates
- Network management:
- Management of network switches from a variety of vendors
- Discovery, inventory, and status monitoring of switches
- Graphical network topology views
- Support for KVM, pHyp, VMware virtual switches, and physical switches
- VLAN configuration of switches
- Integration with server management
- Per-virtual machine network usage and performance statistics provided to VMControl
- Logical views of servers and network devices grouped by subnet and VLAN
- Storage management:
- Ability to consolidate storage onto a Flex System Manager platform or to virtualize the integrated enterprise storage with other multivendor storage systems within the existing environment and then control all virtualized storage resources from the Flex platform
- Integrated storage management with auto discovery and provisioning
- Virtualization and workload management:
- IT organizations can consolidate workloads onto a Flex System Manager platform to gain integrated, flexible IT for superior economics, managed using a single point of management.
- Consolidate physical infrastructure or applications onto fewer servers.
- Deploy new or existing workload onto Linux™ , Microsoft™ Windows™ , or competitive platforms.
- Upgrade current rack or blade infrastructure to an integrated environment.
- Application performance can be optimized by migrating them to Flex System Manager.
- Optimize or upgrade high-value, noninfrastructure workloads such as ERP, CRM, data warehousing, or analytics.
- Move into advanced stages of virtualization or a private cloud deployment.
- New workloads can be rapidly deployed.
- IT organizations can consolidate workloads onto a Flex System Manager platform to gain integrated, flexible IT for superior economics, managed using a single point of management.
- Additional features:
- Resource-oriented chassis map that provides instant graphical view of chassis resources, including nodes and I/O modules
- Fly-over provides an instant view of individual server (node) status and inventory.
- Chassis map provides an inventory view of chassis components, a view of active status requiring administrative attention, and a compliance view of server (node) firmware.
- Actions can be taken on nodes such as working with server-related resources, showing and installing updates, submitting service requests, and launching into the remote access tools.
- Resources can be monitored remotely from mobile devices, including Apple iOS based devices, Google Android based devices, and RIM BlackBerry based devices. Flex System Manager Mobile applications are separately available under their own terms and conditions as outlined by the respective mobile markets.
- Remote console
- Ability to open video sessions and mount media such as DVDs with software updates to their servers from their local workstation
- Remote Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) connections
- Remote Virtual Media connections (mount CD/DVD/ISO/USB media)
- Power operations against servers ( Power On/Off/Restart)
- Hardware detection and inventory creation
- Firmware compliance and updates
- Automatic detection of hardware failures
- Provides alerts
- Takes corrective action
- Notifies IBM of problems to escalate problem determination
- Health status (such as CPU utilization) on all hardware devices from a single chassis view
- Administrative capabilities, such as setting up users within profile groups, assigning security levels, and security governance
- Bare metal deployment of hypervisors (VMware/ESXi, KVM) through centralized managed images
- Resource-oriented chassis map that provides instant graphical view of chassis resources, including nodes and I/O modules
Licenses for offerings in this announcement include Software Subscription and Support. Software Subscription and Support contracts are managed in Passport Advantage® . Refer to the Order handling section of this announcement for further details.
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| Key prerequisites |
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Refer to the Technical information section.
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| Planned availability date |
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December 03, 2012
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| Description |
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Accessibility by people with disabilities
A US Section 508 Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) containing details on accessibility compliance can be requested at
Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act
IBM Flex System Manager V1.2 is capable as of December 03, 2012, when used in accordance with IBM's associated documentation, of satisfying the applicable requirements of Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act, provided that any assistive technology used with the product properly interoperates with it.
Business Partner information
If you are a Direct Reseller - System Reseller acquiring products from IBM, you may link directly to Business Partner information for this announcement. A PartnerWorld ID and password are required (use IBM ID).
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| Product positioning |
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IBM's flexible and dynamic infrastructure offers a broad set of virtualization technologies to help improve service and management, mask complexities, reduce operational costs, and maximize asset utilization.
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| Program number |
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Program Program
number VRM name
5641-F19 1.2.0 IBM Flex System Manager Service Fabric Provisioning
with 1 Year SW S&S
5641-F20 1.2.0 IBM Flex System Manager Service Fabric Provisioning
with 3 Year SW S&S
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| Order handling |
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To allow for ease of order submission, the offerings in this announcement can be configured in conjunction with eligible Flex System hardware, software, and license-only configurations that can be created for this product based on existing supported Flex System hardware system units in a given business environment.
Licenses for offerings in this announcement include one year or three years of Software Subscription and Support. Software Subscription and Support renewals for all features are aligned through Passport Advantage Express® or Passport Advantage , reducing the administrative burden of keeping your Subscription and Support up to date.
If a new release of a given offering in this announcement is made generally available in Passport Advantage after the announcement of the offering in System x ordering systems, you may elect to take delivery of any release generally available for that offering during the product registration process.
Eligible software products offered and selected during the ordering process with each Flex System are preinstalled on the system unit for which the product was ordered. Optionally, software and license-only orders can be created for these products based on existing supported Flex System units in the business environment.
Orders placed for the eligible offerings in this announcement will be routed and fulfilled through Passport Advantage Express . Invoicing for the initial license orders will occur through the System x order management systems. Subscription and Support renewals will be managed through Passport Advantage .
Passport Advantage allows you to have a common anniversary date for Software Subscription and Support renewals. The anniversary date, established at the order ship date for the initial product acquisition, will remain unchanged while your Passport Advantage Agreement remains in effect. New software purchases initially include 12 or 36 full months of Subscription and Support coverage. Subscription and Support in the second year (the first year of renewal) can be prorated to be coterminous with your common anniversary date but managed and invoiced through Passport Advantage . Thereafter, all Software Subscription and Support will renew at the common anniversary date and include 12 full months of Subscription and Support.
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| Offering Information |
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Product information is available via the Offering Information website
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| Publications |
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No hardcopy publications are shipped with this program.
IBM Publications Center
The Publications Center is a worldwide central repository for IBM product publications and marketing material with a catalog of 70,000 items. Extensive search facilities are provided. Payment options for orders are via credit card (in the US) or customer number for 20 countries. A large number of publications are available online in various file formats, and they can all be downloaded by all countries, free of charge.
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| Technical information |
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Specified operating environment
Hardware requirements
IBM Flex System Manager
Software requirements
For information on additional support, certification, version information, or network operating systems, visit
The program's specifications and specified operating environment information may be found in documentation accompanying the program, if available, such as a readme file, or other information published by IBM , such as an announcement letter. Documentation and other program content may be supplied only in the English language.
Compatibility
IBM System x and BladeCenter® servers are listed on the IBM ServerProven® website
Limitations
The IBM Flex System Manager Node supports four fully loaded chassis with up to 5,000 endpoints. An additional Flex System Manager Node is required for each group of one to four additional chassis under management.
Planning information
Software Subscription and Support (also referred to as Software Maintenance) is included with licenses purchased through Passport Advantage and Passport Advantage Express . Product upgrades and technical support are provided by the Software Subscription and Support (Software Maintenance) offering as described in the Agreements. Product upgrades provide the latest versions and releases to entitled software, and technical support provides voice and electronic access to IBM support organizations, worldwide.
IBM includes one year or three years of Software Subscription and Support (also referred to as Software Maintenance) with each program license acquired. The initial period of Software Subscription and Support (Software Maintenance) can be extended by the purchase of a renewal option, if available.
Packaging
For software products in this announcement, physical media and hardcopy documentation are not included in the deliverable package. The software code is preinstalled on the Flex System Manager hardware and enabled to the level of entitlement that is purchased.
After receipt of an order, the Business Partner or customer will be required to register and accept Passport Advantage or Passport Advantage Express terms and conditions. The product includes the license and one year or three years of Software Subscription and Support.
Your Proof of Entitlement for this program is a copy of a paid sales receipt, purchase order, invoice, or other sales record from IBM or its authorized reseller from whom you acquired the program, provided that it states the license charge unit (the characteristics of intended use of the program; for example, number of processors, number of users) and quantity acquired. This program, when downloaded from a website, contains the applicable IBM license agreement and License Information, if appropriate, which will be presented for acceptance at the time of installation of the program. For future reference, the license and License Information will be stored in a directory such as LICENSE.TXT.
Security, auditability, and control
IBM Flex System Manager V1.2 uses the security and auditability features of the system in which it is installed. The customer is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation of security features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls in application systems and communication facilities.
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| Software Services |
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IBM Software Services has the breadth, depth, and reach to manage your services needs. You can leverage the deep technical skills of our lab-based Software Services team and the business consulting, project management, and infrastructure expertise of our IBM Global Services team. Also, we extend our IBM Software Services reach through IBM Business Partners to provide an extensive portfolio of capabilities. Together, we provide the global reach, intellectual capital, industry insight, and technology leadership to support a wide range of critical business needs.
To learn more about IBM Software Services or to contact a Software Services sales specialist, visit
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| Ordering information |
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Charge metric
PID Charge
Program name number metric
IBM Flex System Manager 5641-F19 Per Managed Chassis
Service Fabric Provisioning
with 1 Year SW S&S
IBM Flex System Manager 5641-F20 Per Managed Chassis
Service Fabric Provisioning
with 3 Year SW S&S
Managed Chassis
Managed Chassis is a unit of measure by which the Program can be licensed. A Chassis is a physical enclosure structure that provides services such as power, cooling, networking, various interconnects, and management to IT elements which dock inside the enclosure. Licensee must obtain Managed Chassis entitlements for each Chassis managed by the Program.
New license
Orders for new licenses will be accepted now.
Basic license
The license offerings below can be ordered with initial purchase of the Flex System Manager hardware. The software is preinstalled and enabled to the level of entitlement that is purchased.
To order the programs listed below with Flex System Manager hardware, specify the type model number, order type description, one-time charge (OTC) feature, and serialization feature as indicated and listed in the tables below.
OTC Serial-
billing ization
Type model number feature feature
feature description number number
5641-F19 IBM Flex System Manager Service Fabric Provisioning
with 1 Year SW S&S
Per Managed Chassis with 1 Year SW S&S 0398 3444
5641-F20 IBM Flex System Manager Service Fabric Provisioning
with 3 Year SW S&S
Per Managed Chassis with 3 Year SW S&S 0399 3444
The license offerings below are available for stand-alone purchase. To order these programs, specify the type model number, order type description, one-time charge (OTC) feature number with quantity, and supply feature, or the SEO (single entity offering) number as indicated and listed in the tables below. After receipt of your order, you will be requested to register through Passport Advantage Express to allow for entitlement of support. Upon registration completion you will be provided with a PDF document with instructions to receive updates. The one-time charge for the product includes the license and one or three years of Software Subscription and Support.
OTC
billing Supply
Type model number feature feature SEO
feature description number number number
5641-F19 IBM Flex System Manager Service Fabric Provisioning
with 1 Year SW S&S
Per Managed Chassis with 1 Year SW S&S 0398 N/A 90Y4221
5641-F20 IBM Flex System Manager Service Fabric Provisioning
with 3 Year SW S&S
Per Managed Chassis with 3 Year SW S&S 0399 N/A 90Y4226
Customization options
Select the appropriate feature numbers to customize your order with delivery options desired. These features can be specified on the initial order.
Expedite shipments
Feature Description
3445 Expedite
Expedite shipments will be processed to receive 72-hour delivery from the time IBM Software Delivery and Fulfillment (SDF) receives the order.
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| Terms and conditions |
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The information provided in this announcement letter is for reference and convenience purposes only. The terms and conditions that govern any transaction with IBM are contained in the applicable contract documents such as the IBM International Program License Agreement, IBM International Passport Advantage Agreement, and International Passport Advantage Express Agreement.
Licensing
IBM International Program License Agreement including the License Information document and Proof of Entitlement (PoE) govern your use of the program. PoEs are required for all authorized use.
This software license includes Software Subscription and Support (also referred to as Software Maintenance).
Agreement for Acquisition of Software Maintenance
These programs are licensed under the IBM Program License Agreement (IPLA). IBM includes one year or three years of Software Subscription and Support (also referred to as Software Maintenance) with the initial license acquisition of each program acquired.
License Information form number
LC23-5133
The program's License Information will be available for review on the IBM Software License Agreement website
Access to IBM Flex System™ fix downloads will be granted upon entitlement validation. The terms and conditions for fixes will be covered under the License Agreement for Machine Code, International Program License Agreement, International License Agreement for Non-Warranted Programs, and/or other terms provided with the fix, as applicable.
Limited warranty applies
Yes
Limited warranty
IBM warrants that when the program is used in the specified operating environment, it will conform to its specifications. The warranty applies only to the unmodified portion of the program. IBM does not warrant uninterrupted or error-free operation of the program or that IBM will correct all program defects. You are responsible for the results obtained from the use of the program.
IBM provides you with access to IBM databases containing information on known program defects, defect corrections, restrictions, and bypasses at no additional charge. For further information, consult the IBM Software Support Handbook found at
IBM will maintain this information for at least one year after the original licensee acquires the program (warranty period).
Volume orders (IVO)
No
Passport Advantage applies
Yes, and through the Passport Advantage website at
Usage restriction
Yes
Software Subscription and Support applies
Yes
The offerings in this announcement include one year or three years of Software Subscription and Support (Software Maintenance) in the price of the license.
Program technical support
Technical support of a program product will be available for a minimum of three years from the general availability date, as long as your Software Subscription and Support (also referred to as Software Maintenance) is in effect. This technical support allows you to obtain assistance (via telephone or electronic means) from IBM for product-specific, task-oriented questions regarding the installation and operation of the program product. Software Subscription and Support (Software Maintenance) also provides you with access to updates, releases, and versions of the program. You will be notified, via announcement letter, of discontinuance of support with 12 months' notice. If you require additional technical support from IBM , including an extension of support beyond the discontinuance date, contact your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner. This extension may be available for a fee.
System i Software Maintenance applies
No
Variable charges apply
No
Educational allowance available
Yes. A 15% education allowance applies to qualified education institution customers.
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| Statement of good security practices |
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IT system security involves protecting systems and information through prevention, detection, and response to improper access from within and outside your enterprise. Improper access can result in information being altered, destroyed, or misappropriated or can result in misuse of your systems to attack others. Without a comprehensive approach to security, no IT system or product should be considered completely secure and no single product or security measure can be completely effective in preventing improper access. IBM systems and products are designed to be part of a comprehensive security approach, which will necessarily involve additional operational procedures, and may require other systems, products, or services to be most effective. IBM does not warrant that systems and products are immune from the malicious or illegal conduct of any party.
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| Prices |
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For current prices, contact IBM at 888-Shop-IBM (746-7426) or visit
To locate the web price, search on the feature number in the Search field.
Business Partner information
If you are an IBM Business Partner -- Distributor for Workstation Software acquiring products from IBM , you may link to Passport Advantage Online for resellers where you can obtain Business Partner pricing information. An IBM ID and password are required.
OTC
billing
Type model number feature
feature description number
5641-F19 IBM Flex System Manager Service Fabric Provisioning
with 1 Year SW S&S
Per Managed Chassis with 1 Year SW S&S 0398
5641-F20 IBM Flex System Manager Service Fabric Provisioning
with 3 Year SW S&S
Per Managed Chassis with 3 Year SW S&S 0399
IBM Global Financing
IBM Global Financing offers competitive financing to credit-qualified customers to assist them in acquiring IT solutions. Offerings include financing for IT acquisition, including hardware, software, and services, from both IBM and other manufacturers or vendors. Offerings (for all customer segments: small, medium, and large enterprise), rates, terms, and availability can vary by country. Contact your local IBM Global Financing organization or visit
IBM Global Financing offerings are provided through IBM Credit LLC in the United States, and other IBM subsidiaries and divisions worldwide to qualified commercial and government customers. Rates are based on a customer's credit rating, financing terms, offering type, equipment type, and options, and may vary by country. Other restrictions may apply. Rates and offerings are subject to change, extension, or withdrawal without notice.
Financing from IBM Global Financing helps you preserve cash and credit lines, enables more technology acquisition within current budget limits, permits accelerated implementation of economically attractive new technologies, offers payment and term flexibility, and can help match project costs to projected benefits. Financing is available worldwide for credit-qualified customers.
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| Order now |
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To order, contact the Americas Call Centers or your local IBM representative, or your IBM Business Partner.
To identify your local IBM representative or IBM Business Partner, call 800-IBM-4YOU (426-4968).
Phone: 800-IBM-CALL (426-2255)
Fax: 800-2IBM-FAX (242-6329)
Internet: callserv@ca.ibm.com
Mail: IBM Teleweb Customer Support
ibm.com® Sales Execution Center, Americas North
3500 Steeles Ave. East, Tower 3/4
Markham, Ontario
Canada
L3R 2Z1
Reference: SE001
The Americas Call Centers, our national direct marketing organization, can add your name to the mailing list for catalogs of IBM products.
Note: Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.
Trademarks
IBM Flex System Manager and IBM Flex System are trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.
System x, IBM, Passport Advantage, Express, BladeCenter, ServerProven and ibm.com are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, other countries, or both.
Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.
Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.
Terms of use
IBM products and services which are announced and available in your country can be ordered under the applicable standard agreements, terms, conditions, and prices in effect at the time. IBM reserves the right to modify or withdraw this announcement at any time without notice. This announcement is provided for your information only. Additional terms of use are located at
For the most current information regarding IBM products, consult your IBM representative or reseller, or visit the IBM worldwide contacts page
