IBM General Parallel File System for AIX 5L V2.3 simplifies file system management and extends support to AIX 5L V5.3
IBM United States Software Announcement 204-294December 7, 2004
 ENUS204-294.PDF (52KB)
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At a glance
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| At a glance |
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Among other enhancements, IBM General Parallel File System (GPFS) for AIX 5L, V2.3 offers support for AIX 5L V5.3, Network Filesystem (NFS) V4 export, and file sharing in multi-cluster environments, and provides configuration simplification and disaster recovery.
For ordering, contact:
Your IBM representative, an IBM Business Partner, or IBM Americas Call Centers at
800-IBM-CALL
(Reference: RE001).
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| Overview |
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IBM General Parallel File System (GPFS) for AIX® 5L can be ideal for high-performance parallel file transfer and parallel I/O to single or multiple files. The key strengths of GPFS are superior scalability and performance, its ability to support extremely large files, and its failure recovery.
A new release of GPFS for AIX 5L is available. V2.3 offers enhancements in the following areas:
- Supports AIX 5L for POWER™, V5.3, offering the latest enhancements in the AIX OS
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Supports IBM
p5, IBM's
newest POWER server family
- Includes configuration simplification with the convergence to a single cluster type providing ease of cluster interoperability across different operating systems and machine architecture environments
- Shares file systems in a multi-cluster environment
- Eliminates the dependency on disk subsystem persistent reserve fencing capability in two node clusters
- Performs disaster recovery from hardware failure using a secondary replica of the file system so you can recover quickly from a massive hardware failure
- Uses one command to display and monitor I/O performance
- Supports the Network Filesystem (NFS) V4 export of GPFS file systems from AIX 5L for strong security compound operations and client caching
- Supports disks larger than 2 terabytes (TB) in size with a new file system format
Note:
This is the last release that will support Parallel System Support Programs (PSSP) and the SP™
Switch2. GPFS for AIX 5L, V2.1 will be withdrawn from marketing on April 29, 2005. GPFS
for AIX 5L, V2.2 will be withdrawn from marketing on June 30, 2005.
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| Key prerequisites |
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- AIX 5L for POWER V5.2 or V5.3
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IBM pSeries® servers or
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IBM p5 servers or
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IBM BladeCenter™ servers
or
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IBM Cluster 1600
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| Planned availability date |
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December 17, 2004
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| Description |
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The following enhancements are available in GPFS for AIX 5L, V2.3.
Disaster recovery: The ability to detect and quickly recover from a massive hardware failure is of paramount importance to businesses that make use of real-time data processing systems. GPFS provides a number of features that facilitate the implementation of highly available GPFS environments capable of withstanding catastrophic hardware failures. By maintaining a redundant replica of the file system's data at a geographically-separate location, the system sustains its processing using the secondary replica of the file system in the event of a total failure in the prime environment.
Configuration simplification: The multiple GPFS cluster types that existed in prior releases of GPFS have now been converged into a single cluster type for all supported environments. This convergence helps ease cluster interoperability across differing operating system and machine architecture environments and lessens the planning complications and implementation restrictions inherent in the prior cluster types. The dependency on Reliable Scalable Cluster Technology (RSCT) and the requirement for quorum nodes to belong to an RSCT peer domain have been removed.
NFS V4 export of GPFS: For customers who want to use the latest NFS to access their GPFS filesystems, NFS V4 provides support for strong security, compound operations, and client caching. NFS V4, available in AIX 5L V5.3, adds support for core features of the NFS V4 protocol and support of the NFS V4 ACL model. GPFS supports the same NFS V4 ACL model and coordinates with AIX caching operations. (AIX APAR #IY62267 is required.)
Increased disk support: GPFS V2.3 introduces a new file system format that lifts some of the restrictions present in older releases. This new format is in effect for new file systems created with GPFS V2.3. For file systems that use the new format, the following restrictions are lifted. The maximum disk size is no longer 1 TB. On AIX 5L with 64-bit kernel, GPFS will support disks larger than 2 TB (provided the disk device supports it), up to the operating system limit. The maximum number of files in a file system has increased from 268,435,455 to 2,147,483,647.
I/O performance: GPFS V2.3 allows the system administrator to collect I/O statistics from the point of view of GPFS servicing application I/O requests. The data can be used for many purposes, including, but not limited to:
- Tracking usage growth
- Recording I/O patterns over time (determining peak usage periods, and so on)
- Determining if some nodes service more I/O requests than others
Multi-cluster file system: The ability to share GPFS file system data across clusters is of enormous importance since this allows GPFS file systems to be separated into different administrative domains while allowing data to be shared across a large number of nodes without the encumbrance of a large single cluster. The GPFS cross cluster mounts allow high speed GPFS file system data access across organizations or geographically separate locations where creating a single cluster would be impractical. Overall, data availability can be increased as quorum loss in one cluster does not affect the availability of file systems in other clusters. GPFS multi-cluster security uses the Secure Socket Layer.
Note: This function is available in the code and can be used for preparation and planning but is not supported for production use until GPFS service (APAR #IY64709) is made available.
Node quorum: The transition from single-node quorum to node quorum with tie breaker disks eliminates the dependence on disk subsystem capability (SCSI persistent reserve support) to deliver single node survivability in a two node cluster. Node quorum with tiebreaker disks is uniform and is supported regardless of disk subsystem and operating system type.
Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation act
Operation by keyboard alone is a feature supported for people with disabilities.
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| Product positioning |
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GPFS for AIX 5L runs on the IBM pSeries, p5,
and BladeCenter, the IBM
Cluster 1600, and is positioned as a complementary offering to GPFS for Linux™.
GPFS can be ideal for high-performance parallel file transfer and parallel I/O to single or multiple
files. The key strengths of GPFS are its superior scalability and performance, its ability to
support extremely large files, and its failure recovery, making larger configurations practical.
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| Reference information |
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- Software Announcement 204-296 , dated December 7, 2004 (GPFS for Linux on POWER)
- Software Announcement 204-295 , dated December 7, 2004 (GPFS for Linux)
- Software Announcement 204-298 , dated December 7, 2004 (On/Off Capacity on Demand)
Trademarks
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| Offering information |
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Product information is available via the Offering Information Web site
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| Publications |
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No publications are shipped with this program; however, the following publications are available from the Web:
IBM General Parallel File System:
- Concepts, Planning and Installation Guide (GA22-7968)
- Administration and Programming Reference (SA22-7967)
- Problem Determination Guide (GA22-7969)
- Data Management API Guide (GA22-7966)
These displayable manuals are viewable in PDF format from
The manuals are also available by selecting the "Library" link off of the
IBM Cluster Information Center at
The 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 U.S.) or customer number for 50 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.
The IBM Publications Notification System (PNS) enables subscribers to set up profiles of interest by order number/product number. PNS subscribers automatically receive e-mail notifications of all new publications defined in their profiles. These may then be ordered/downloaded from the Publications Center
The site is available in English and Canadian French.
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| Technical information |
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Specified operating environment
Hardware requirements
Any of the following IBM servers:
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IBM pSeries® servers
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IBM Cluster 1600 (with
supported network interconnect)
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IBM p5 servers
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IBM BladeCenter™ JS20
Additionally, the IBM
pSeries High Performance Switch (HPS) and SP™ Switch2 is supported when run with Parallel System
Support Programs (PSSP) and AIX® 5L V5.2 only.
Software requirements
- GPFS Service APAR #IY63969
- AIX 5L for POWER™, V5.2 (5765-E62) maintenance level 5200-03, or later maintenance level.
- AIX 5L for POWER, V5.3 (5765-G03) maintenance level 5300-01, or later maintenance level.
- The Parallel Backup application requires Tivoli® Storage Manager (TSM) V4.2, or later release.
- For SANergy™ access support, Tivoli SANergy V2.2.4 plus Patch level 3.2.2.0 is required.
- In a PSSP environment, PSSP V3.5 (5765-D51) is supported with the IBM Virtual Shared Disk and Recoverable Virtual Shared Disk components of PSSP.
Compatibility:
With the streamlining of cluster type designations, GPFS V2.3 introduces changes in the format
of its cluster configuration files that require existing clusters to be migrated to the new level.
Refer to the online documentation on migration from the "Library" link off of the IBM Cluster Information Center at:
Limitations:
Support for GPFS on the IBM p5 models 590 and 595 is not
provided at general availability. The ordering tables (configurator)
will be updated when testing is completed and GPFS supports the model 590
and model 595.
GPFS multi-cluster support is available in the code and can be used for preparation and planning but is not supported for production use until GPFS service (APAR #IY64709) is made available.
All statements regarding IBM future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.
Planning information
This is the last release that will support Parallel System Support Programs (PSSP) and the SP Switch2.
GPFS for AIX 5L, V2.1 will be withdrawn from marketing on April 29, 2005. GPFS for AIX 5L, V2.2 will be withdrawn from marketing on June 30, 2005.
Packaging: This program is distributed as a single package available via CD-ROM media. A product README file and license information is shipped with the product (L-RHAN-655QBB or LC23-4969-00). Publications are available online.
Security, auditability, and control
GPFS uses the security and auditability features of the AIX 5L operating system. 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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| Ordering information |
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GPFS V2.3 has one charge unit: number of processors active on either a small, medium, or large server running GPFS for the supported operating environment. A new order for GPFS includes one-year IBM Software Maintenance. Upgrades may be acquired via the IBM Software Maintenance agreement up to the current level of use authorized for the qualifying program.
New users of GPFS for AIX, V2.3 should specify type 5765, model F64, and the one-time charge (OTC) feature number in the appropriate server-size column with a quantity equal to the total number of processors active in that server running the supported operating system in which GPFS will be installed. If a processor is active and GPFS will not be running on that processor, an order for GPFS is not required. For CD-ROM media, specify type 5692, model A5L, and feature number 1435.
Note: Throughout the following tables:
-
.
- Small means small capacity servers (processor groups D5 and E5)
- Medium means medium capacity servers (processor groups F5 and G5)
- Large means large capacity servers (processor groups H5 and P5)
- OTC means one-time charge
- OOCoD means On/Off Capacity on Demand
Small Medium Large
OTC OTC OTC
Program feature feature feature
Description number number number number
Per processor 5765-F64 0007 0009 0011
Block of 250 5765-F64 0008 0010 0012
processors(1)
- 1
- The feature for a block of 250 active processors is provided for convenience with large orders. A quantity of one for this feature will order a license for 250 processors.
Media
supply
Program feature
Program name number Media number
GPFS for AIX, V2.3 5692-A5L CD-ROM 1435
This software license includes Software Maintenance, previously referred to as Software Subscription and Technical Support.
Extending coverage for a total of three years from date of acquisition may be elected. Order the program number, feature number, and quantity to extend coverage for your software licenses. If maintenance has expired, specify the after license feature number.
OTC one-year Software Maintenance 5771-GPF
Small Medium Large
OTC OTC OTC
feature feature feature
Description number number number
Registration (No charge)
per processor 0790 0796 0802
per block of 250 0791 0797 0803
processors
24x7 Support Option
per processor 0792 0798 0804
per block of 250 0793 0799 0805
processors
Maintenance after-license
per processor 0794 0800 0806
per block of 250 0795 0801 0807
processors
OTC three-year Software Maintenance 5773-GPF
Small Medium Large
OTC OTC OTC
feature feature feature
Description number number number
Registration(2)
per processor 0783 0789 0795
per block of 250 0784 0790 0796
processors
24x7 Support Option
per processor 0785 0791 0797
per block of 250 0786 0792 0798
processors
Small Medium Large
OTC OTC OTC
feature feature feature
Description number number number
Maintenance after-license
per processor 0787 0793 0799
per block of 250 0788 0794 0800
processors
- 2
- The registration features for 5773-GPF are priced for the second and third years only of the three-year contract.
Withdrawal of feature numbers
The following feature numbers are withdrawn as of June 30, 2005:
Program Feature
Description number number
Per processor 5765-F64 0005
Per 250 processors 5765-F64 0006
GPFS V2.2 supply feature 5692-A5L 0995
1 Yr Reg per processor 5771-GPF 0467
1 Yr Reg per 250 processors 5771-GPF 0468
3 Yr Reg per processor 5773-GPF 0419
3 Yr Reg per 250 processors 5773-GPF 0420
1 Yr MAL per processor 5771-GPF 0471
1 Yr MAL per 250 processors 5771-GPF 0472
3 Yr MAL per processor 5773-GPF 0423
3 Yr MAL per 250 processors 5773-GPF 0424
1 Yr 24x7 support, per processor 5771-GPF 0600
1 Yr 24x7 support, per 250 proc 5771-GPF 0601
3 Yr 24x7 support, per processor 5773-GPF 0555
3 Yr 24x7 support, per 250 proc 5773-GPF 0556
Customization option (5765-F64): Select the following feature number to customize your order with this delivery option if desired. This feature can be specified on the initial or MES orders.
Feature
Description number
Expedite Shipments
Local IBM Office Expedite 3445
(for IBM use only)
Expedite shipments will be processed to receive 72-hour delivery from the time IBM Software Delivery and Fulfillment (SDF) receives the order. SDF will then ship the order via overnight air transportation.
System Program Order (SPO) (5692-A5L): A 5692-A5L SPO is mandatory for shipments of program distribution and publications. The individual licensed program orders (for example, XXXX-XXX) are for registration and billing purposes only. No shipment occurs under these orders.
To receive shipment of machine-readable materials stacked on a single 8-mm, 4-mm, or 1/4-inch tape, or CD-ROM requires an SPO (5692-A5L). Billing for the media type selected is generated under the SPO. To prevent additional billing expenses, place only one SPO order per machine.
Select one of the following (5692-A5L) feature numbers for the licensed program hardcopy entitled publications, along with feature number 9001 for asset registration to be shipped on a given date.
Program Feature number Program name number 5692-A5L GPFS for AIX 5L, V2.3 1435
Under SPO 5692-A5L, feature number 3470 can be used to suppress hardcopy documentation. To order entitled hardcopy documentation only, order feature number 3430.
On/Off Capacity on Demand
IBM offers a daily price option to enable you to dynamically change your available server capacity. On/Off Capacity on Demand (OOCoD) allows you to dynamically increase and decrease server capacity based on changing workload demands. In order to take advantage of OOCoD, you must have activation of the OOCoD hardware offering for pSeries and the applicable base software license on order or on inventory.
This offering allows you to pay a fee to enable and use temporary server capacity of GPFS on a per-day basis using the features below. For specific terms, refer to Software Announcement 204-298 , dated December 7, 2004.
Small Medium Large
OTC OTC OTC
Program feature feature feature
Description number number number number
Per processor 5765-F64 0013 0015 0017
block of 250 5765-F64 0014 0016 0018
processors(1)
- 1
- The feature for a block of 250 active processors is provided for convenience with large orders. A quantity of one for this feature will order a license for 250 processors.
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| Terms and conditions |
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Licensing: IBM International Program License Agreement. Proofs of Entitlement (PoE) are required for all authorized use.
This software license includes Software Maintenance, previously referred to as Software Subscription and Technical Support.
The following agreements apply for maintenance and do not require customer signatures:
- IBM Agreement for Acquisition of Support (Z125-6011)
- Addendum for Support (Software Maintenance) for Select iSeries™ and pSeries Programs (Z125-6495)
Limited warranty applies: Yes
Program services
Warranty: This program has warranty for a minimum of one year from acquisition from IBM or authorized IBM Business Partner. The warranty provided to the customer, for at least one year from acquisition, is access to databases (read Web sites) for program information and FAQs, including any known fixes to defects, which the customer can download or obtain otherwise and install at his/her leisure.
Money-back guarantee: If for any reason you are dissatisfied with the program, return it within 30 days from the invoice date, to the party (either IBM or its reseller) from whom you acquired it, for a refund. For clarification, note that:
- This term applies only to your first acquisition of the program.
- For programs acquired under any of the IBM On/Off Capacity on Demand (OOCoD) software offerings, this term does not apply since these offerings apply to programs already acquired and in use by the customer.
Copy and use on home/portable computer: No
Volume orders (IVO): Yes, contact your IBM representative.
Passport Advantage® applies: No
Software Maintenance applies: Yes
All distributed software licenses include Software Maintenance (Software Subscription and Technical Support) for a period of 12 months from the date of acquisition, providing a streamlined way to acquire IBM software and assure technical support coverage for all licenses. Extending coverage for a total of three years from date of acquisition may be elected.
While your Software Maintenance is in effect, IBM provides you assistance for your routine, short duration installation and usage (how-to) questions, and code-related questions. IBM provides assistance via telephone and, if available, electronic access, only to your information systems (IS) technical support personnel during the normal business hours (published prime shift hours) of your IBM support center. (This assistance is not available to your end users.) IBM provides Severity 1 assistance 24 hours a day, every day of the year. For additional details, consult your IBM Software Support Guide at
Software Maintenance does not include assistance for the design and development of applications, your use of programs in other than their specified operating environment, or failures caused by products for which IBM is not responsible under this agreement.
IBM Operational Support Services — SoftwareXcel: No
Other support: SWM for pSeries
AIX/UNIX® Upgrade Protection applies: No
Entitled Upgrade for current AIX/UNIX Upgrade Protection licensees: No
iSeries Software Subscription applies: No
Variable charges apply: Yes
Educational allowance available: Yes, 15% education allowance applies to qualified education institution customers.
Sub-capacity pricing terms and conditions
To be eligible for Sub-Capacity Pricing, the machine on which the eligible products are installed and running must be eligible for Sub-Capacity pricing terms and conditions. Software pricing at less than full machine capacity for eligible products apply when running:
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AIX 5L V5.1, or later, on an IBM pSeries 690 or equivalent partition capable operating system and machine
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OS/400® V5.1, or later, running on an IBM iSeries server
- Linux™ running in an LPAR under AIX 5L V5.1, OS/400 V5.1, or in a partition on an equivalent partition capable operating system and server
Sub-Capacity Pricing for eligible products is based on the current program pricing methodology but the number of processors will be determined based on the sum of processors for all partitions where the program is defined (used). To obtain pricing at less than full machine capacity for eligible products, you are required to:
- Install and use, when available, IBM's license use management program which installs with eligible IBM Programs.
- Install available updates to the operating system and eligible products such that license use can be accurately managed.
- If the use of Sub-Capacity Pricing terms results in a reduced requirement for entitlements, you can reallocate the entitlement difference by distributing entitlements across a larger or different set of systems, or reserve then for future growth. There will be no refunds for these "freed up" entitlements. Subscription, Software Maintenance and Support volumes and entitlements for existing contracts will continue at the same levels as the acquired licenses.
On/Off Capacity on Demand
To be eligible for On/Off Capacity on Demand pricing, customers must be enabled for temporary
capacity on the corresponding hardware, and the required contract — Z125-6907, Amendment for
iSeries and pSeries Temporary Capacity On Demand — Software — must be signed prior to use.
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| IBM Electronic Services |
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IBM Global Services has transformed its delivery of hardware and software support services to put
you on the road to higher systems availability. IBM Electronic Services is a Web-enabled solution
that provides you with an exclusive, no additional charge enhancement to the service and support on
the IBM . You should benefit
from greater system availability due to faster problem resolution and preemptive monitoring. IBM
Electronic Services is comprised of two separate, but complementary, elements: IBM Electronic
Services news page and IBM Electronic Service Agent™.
IBM Electronic Services news page provides you with a single Internet entry point that replaces the multiple entry points traditionally used by customers to access IBM Internet services and support. By using the news page, it enables you to gain easier access to IBM resources for assistance in resolving technical problems.
The IBM Electronic Service Agent is a no additional charge software that resides on your IBM system. It is designed to
proactively monitor events and transmit system inventory information to IBM on a periodic
customer-defined timetable. The IBM Electronic Service Agent tracks system inventory, hardware
error logs, and performance information. If the server is under a current IBM maintenance service
agreement or within the IBM warranty period, the Service Agent automatically reports hardware
problems to IBM. Early knowledge about potential problems enables IBM to provide proactive service
that maintains higher system availability and performance. In addition, information collected
through the Service Agent will be made available to IBM service support representatives when they
are helping answer your questions or diagnosing problems.
To learn how IBM Electronic Services can work for you, visit
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| Prices |
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The prices provided in this announcement are suggested retail prices for the U.S. only and are provided for your information only. Dealer prices may vary, and prices may also vary by country. Prices are subject to change without notice. For additional information and current prices, contact your local IBM representative.
Program name:
GPFS for AIX 5L, V2.3
Program number:
5765-F64
Small Medium Large
OTC OTC OTC
feature Small feature Medium feature Large
Description number OTC number OTC number OTC
Per processor 0007 $ 857 0009 $ 857 0011 $ 857
Block of 250 0008 214,250 0010 214,250 0012 214,250
processors
Per processor day 0013 9 0015 9 0017 9
OOCoD temp use
charge
Temp use charge
qty 250 0014 2,250 0016 2,250 0018 2,250
Program name:
One-year Software Maintenance for GPFS for AIX 5L, V2.3
Program number:
5771-GPF
Small Medium Large
OTC OTC OTC
feature Small feature Medium feature Large
Description number OTC number OTC number OTC
Registration
(No charge)
per processor 0790 NC 0796 NC 0802 NC
per block of 250 0791 NC 0797 NC 0803 NC
24x7 Support Option
per processor 0792 $ 15 0798 $ 15 0804 $ 15
per block of 250 0793 3,750 0799 3,750 0805 3,750
Maintenance
after-license
per processor 0794 323 0800 323 0806 323
per block of 250 0795 80,750 0801 80,750 0807 80,750
Program name:
Three-year Software Maintenance for GPFS for AIX 5L, V2.3
Program number:
5773-GPF
Small Medium Large
OTC OTC OTC
feature Small feature Medium feature Large
Description number OTC number OTC number OTC
Registration
per processor 0783 $ 366 0789 $ 366 0795 $ 366
per block of 250 0784 91,500 0790 91,500 0796 91,500
24x7 Support
Option
per processor 0785 41 0791 41 0797 41
per block of 250 0786 10,250 0792 10,250 0798 10,250
Maintenance
after-license
per processor 0787 688 0793 688 0799 688
per block of 250 0788 172,000 0794 172,000 0800 172,000
Variable charges:
The applicable processor-based one-time charge will be based on the
group of the designated machine on which the program is licensed for use.
If the program is designated to a processor in a group for which no
charge is listed, the charge of the next higher group listed applies.
For movement to a machine in a higher group, an upgrade charge equal to
the difference in the then-current charges between the two groups will
apply. For movement to a machine in a lower group, there will be no
adjustment or refund of charges paid.
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| Order now |
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To order, contact the Americas Call Centers, 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: ibm_direct@vnet.ibm.com
Mail: IBM Americas Call Centers
Dept: IBM CALL, 11th Floor
105 Moatfield Drive
North York, Ontario
Canada M3B 3R1
Reference: RE001
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
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