Continuing an established tradition of excellence in large-scale computing platforms, Amdahl announces the Amdahl SPARCsummit(TM) 6400E Enterprise Server (AS6400E). Its exceptional reliability,availability, and service (RAS) characteristics, throughput, capacity, performance,and commercial extensions make it the server of choice forlarge-scale mission-critical applications. Its high scalability and performance give the AS6400E broad applicability as a database server,compute server, file server, and as a base for on-line transaction processing and decision support applications. The AS6400E offers the features, flexibility, and growth for maximising and protecting the customer's information systems investments.
The AS6400E is positioned at the high end of Amdahl's open SPARC(R)-based server platforms and preserves compatibility with the SPARCcenter(TM) 2000E and the SPARCserver(TM)1000E. It extends the Amdahl SPARC server line to meet the requirements of large commercial customers. Customers introducing new distributed client/server solutions into their businesses can benefit from the AS6400E performance and RAS characteristics which enable it to meet the demands of the traditional mainframe data center. Customers consolidating existing applications will find the scalable capacity of the AS6400E accommodates wide growth. The AS6400E operates in the standard Solaris(TM) environment and runs the applications that have been written and ported to that environment, thereby protecting the customer's investment in existing software. Coupled with Amdahl's long-standing experience both in enterprise computing environments and in customers' support and service needs, the AS6400E strengthens the customer's ability to succeed in the deployment of distributed and client/server application solutions.
Highlights
High performance and capacity. Its high data bandwidth, internal architecture, scalability to 64 processors, and advanced operating system features enable the AS6400E to provide the transaction rates, data throughput, and large numbers of users expected in the commercial data centre.
Advanced RAS characteristics. By featuring a high degree of redundancy, advanced recovery features, system monitoring capabilities, and sophisticated service tools, the AS6400E provides the reliability, availability, and serviceability necessary to meet the challenging requirements of today's enterprise applications.
Customer investment protection. Scalability gives the customer the advantage to provide enough computing power to meet current needs and to acquire more power if future needs demand it. Compatibility with Solaris interfaces ensures the availability of thousands of applications.
Amdahl support and service.
Amdahl's award-winning support
lets the customer go about daily activities with the ease of mind that, in the unlikely event of a problem, the same Amdahl presence, diagnostic expertise, and escalation procedures that are available for its mainframes are also available for the AS6400E. Amdahl also offers a broad range of client/server and open system consulting services to assist the customer in implementing new and re-engineered business solutions.
High performance and capacity
The AS6400E has demonstrated its high performance using industry-standard benchmarks. For performance benchmark information, see your Amdahl representative. Some enablers of high performance and capacity are:
The larger the system, and the more applications and users it supports, the more critical the system availability. Down time or loss of data during mission-critical applications is costly and can lead to user dissatisfaction, lost revenue, and lost productivity. The AS6400E implements several strategies to minimise system down time and loss of data. Inherent redundancy provided by memory, disk, and processors as well as redundant power supplies and blowers protect against the effects of a failing component.
Software features provide another level of RAS. For example, dynamic reconfiguration of system modules enables a customer to replace or add processors, memory, and I/O in most situations while the AS6400E is up and running. This "hot-swapping" of system boards can minimise the customer's down time caused by a failure on the system board or a configuration upgrade. Alternate pathing of dual-ported disk array subsystems can initiate an automatic switchover to the redundant path when a failure is detected in the primary I/O path.
The System Service Processor provides online service capabilities such as diagnostics and testing, logging of error information, automated shutdown and reboot, environmental and power supply monitoring, and contacting a central service location through a communications port for optional remote problem diagnosis.
Additional RAS features such as Error Correction Code for one-bit memory errors, memory scrubbing, device fencing of faulty components and peripherals, and optional mirroring of the system disk also provide enhanced availability.
Customer investment protection
Compatibility with existing interfaces enables Solaris and SPARC compliant applications to execute on the AS6400E. Customers may select from any of the Solaris applications in the Sun Catalyst(TM) software catalogue.
Many customers want to optimise the cost of a server by installing only the computing power and resources necessary to convert or pilot an application. They want to increment those resources only when the application's growth makes it necessary. The AS6400E may be scaled or upgraded in a cost-efficient manner from its base configuration of four system modules (16 processors, two GB of memory, and 16 SBus slots) simply by adding up to 12 additional system modules, achieving a maximum configuration of 64 processors, 16 GB of memory, and 64 SBus slots. These upgrades can be made by "hot-swapping" of the boards without disrupting operations. External storage devices may be added in the same way.
The systems and network management applications available for Solaris are compatible with the AS6400E, including many of Amdahl's A+ family of software products. In addition, the AS6400E supports Solaris 2.4, SBus cards, including all SCSI variations, Ethernet, FDDI, HiPPI, ATM, X.25, and fibre channel. Solaris compatible SNA connectivity software is supported. A SCSI-to-block-multiplexor connection for IBM 3480 and 3490 compatible tape drives is available.
Amdahl support
Support for the AS6400E is provided for all customers through the Amdahl Worldwide Customer Support Center and Amdahl's local offices. Customers can choose between two service offerings - Premium and Basic - ranging from in-depth, around-the-clock support on-site to telephone assistance and parts replacement during regular business hours. Both options offer cost-effective and proactive support matching the customer's operational requirements.
Within Amdahl's service offerings, customers can receive:
For additional information on Amdahl's support, contact your local Amdahl representative.
Additional information
Software
The AS6400E is provided with an executable Solaris environment at delivery. The purchaser is responsible for the customisation of Solaris for the AS6400E for the customer's own environment. Installation and customization procedures are similar to those for standard Solaris. As an option, Amdahl offers a fee-based service to perform these software installations.
Solaris for the AS6400E is standard Solaris 2.4 with the following enhancements:
Purchasers pay a license fee, included in the cost of the AS6400E, for a right to use the object code for Solaris for AS6400E, and all other supplied software. The license is not transferable to any subsequent owners of the AS6400E hardware. Subsequent owners must purchase new software licenses.
Documentation
Purchasers receive one set of documentation free of charge. Additional sets of documentation may be purchased.
Availability
The AS6400E is available immediately.
For more information
To obtain prices, terms and conditions, and additional information, please contact your local Amdahl representative.