IBM readies Power 6 upgrade

BIG GLUE is readying upgrades for systems using Power 5+ CPUs by using the simple expedient of offering Power 6 processor cards.

The P5-570s will become P570s but every type of upgrade needs boxes to be changed and because of the nature of the Power 6 beastie, there are implications for memory types too.

While I was filing my fingernails last night in bed, the latest boyfriend was muttering in his sleep showing that his inner life is probably as arid as Death Valley, as he was talking processor cards. At least he wasn't mouthing names of other girls. He did mention dates, but fortunately there were dates for boring computer equipment - models to convert using the 5622 will be towards the end of July. Group two upgrades with 5621 orders will be in early June.

The Power 6 processor 5622 includes a 4.2GHz chip, an 0/2 core Power 6 and 12 DDR-2 memory slots. The Power 6 5621 upgrade is similar but includes eight DDR-2 memory slots, he gurgled.

DDR-1 memory won't migrate successfully while DDR-2 memory will migrate for 5621 upgrades.

You can't mix 5621s and 5622s in a CEC enclosure. For Group 1, the upgrade is pretty comprehensive because non-migratory parts include PCs, some memory, the chassis, DASD and media, power regulators and PSUs.

Group 2 for the 5621 processor is far simpler - the PSUs will be good to go, as will the DDR2 memory, the Power Backplane 7870, the operating panel and the PCI adaptors. The P570 has 2 GX slots but no integrated RIO ports, while it only supports SAS SCSI disks internally.

In the bright daylight which usually accompanies 3AM in the morning here in Las Vegas, I gazed at the latest BF and thought: "Must get this guy to read some literature rather than dull old data sheets, so his dreams are just that little bit less boring." Sheesh! µ

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