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IBM Power11 iSeries Disk Drives
The IBM Power11 iSeries Disk Drives category features high-performance NVMe U.2/U.3 flash storage optimized for the latest IBM Power11 servers running IBM i (formerly iSeries/AS/400). These enterprise-grade NVMe SSDs deliver ultra-low latency, massive IOPS, and high endurance in 2.5-inch U.2 form factor (15mm height), with capacities scaling from 800 GB to 15.3 TB+ and PCIe Gen4/Gen5 interfaces. Power11 systems focus on direct-attached NVMe for internal bays and optional NED24 NVMe Expansion Drawer, eliminating traditional SAS HDD/SSD in base configurations (SAS limited to external EXP drawers).
Product Description
IBM Power11 iSeries Disk Drives emphasize NVMe flash for modern IBM i workloads, providing sub-100 μs latency, high throughput, and inline data protection features like power-loss protection and T10 DIF/DIX end-to-end data integrity. Drives use 15mm U.2 carriers for hot-plug installation in Power11 internal backplanes (e.g., 12/18/24 SFF bays) or the ESR0 NED24 expansion drawer (24 NVMe bays). They support IBM i native attachment (no VIOS required in many cases), OS mirroring, software RAID (via VIOS if needed), and high-availability configurations. Key series include Enterprise-class SSDs (higher DWPD for write-intensive apps) and options with 4K/512e sector formats for IBM i compatibility. Power11 shifts fully to NVMe for internal storage, with SAS HDD/SSD relegated to legacy or external use. Drives undergo IBM qualification for endurance (1–5+ DWPD), ECC, firmware alignment, and seamless integration with AIX/Linux/IBM i via PowerVM or native support.
Features
- NVMe U.2 SSDs: PCIe Gen4/Gen5 direct-attach, capacities from 800 GB to 15.3 TB+, high IOPS (hundreds of thousands to millions per system).
- Enterprise endurance: 1–5+ DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day over 5 years), power-loss protection capacitors.
- IBM i optimized: Native support (IBM i 7.4 TRx+), load source capable, mirroring, 4K sector formats.
- Hot-plug U.2 carriers, blind-swap compatibility in Power11 backplanes.
- Encryption options (SED/FDE), T10 DIF/DIX protection, and NVMe-MI management.
- Expansion via ESR0 NED24 drawer (24 bays) for massive scale-out capacity.
- No internal SAS HDD/SSD in Power11 base; SAS limited to external EXP24SX drawers for legacy/hybrid needs.
Technical Specifications
Specifications vary by feature code and IBM i model support (e.g., S1122, S1124, E1180). Common NVMe U.2 drives include:
| Feature Code Example | Capacity | Interface | Endurance (DWPD) | Form Factor | Notes / IBM i Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #ES3A / #EKF2 | 800 GB | PCIe Gen4 NVMe U.2 | ~1–3 DWPD | 2.5" U.2 (15mm) | Enterprise, native IBM i load source |
| #ES3C / #EKF4 | 1.6 TB | PCIe Gen4 NVMe U.2 | ~1–5 DWPD | 2.5" U.2 (15mm) | High-performance mixed-use |
| #ES3E | 3.2 TB | PCIe Gen4 NVMe U.2 | ~1–3 DWPD | 2.5" U.2 (15mm) | Balanced capacity/performance |
| #ES3G | 6.4 TB | PCIe Gen4 NVMe U.2 | ~1 DWPD | 2.5" U.2 (15mm) | Capacity-focused enterprise |
| #ECTB | 15.3 TB | PCIe Gen5 NVMe U.2 | ~1 DWPD | 2.5" U.2 (15mm) | High-density for large-scale IBM i |
- Latency: Sub-100 μs typical read/write.
- IOPS: Hundreds of thousands per drive; system-level millions.
- Power: ~10–25 W per drive.
- Sector Format: 4096-byte default; 512/4160-byte options for IBM i.
- Expansion: ESR0 NED24 drawer (24 bays, CXP connectivity).
The following U.2 NVMe devices are supported in the NED24 NVMe Expansion Drawer:
- IBM ES5B - Enterprise 800GB SSD PCIe4 NVMe U.2 module for IBM i
- IBM ES5D - Enterprise 1.6 TB SSD PCIe4 NVMe U.2 module for IBM i
- IBM ES5F - Enterprise 3.2 TB SSD PCIe4 NVMe U.2 module for IBM i
- IBM ES5H - Enterprise 6.4 TB SSD PCIe4 NVMe U.2 module for IBM i
- IBM ES4C - Enterprise 1.6 TB SSD PCIe4 NVMe U.2 module for IBM i
- IBM ES4E - Enterprise 3.2 TB SSD PCIe4 NVMe U.2 module for IBM i
- IBM ES4G - Enterprise 6.4 TB SSD PCIe4 NVMe U.2 module for IBM i
- IBM ECTB - 15.3 TB Mainstream NVMe U.2 SSD 4k for IBM i
Compatibility
IBM Power11 iSeries Disk Drives are qualified for:
- Power11 Models: S1122 (9824-22A), S1124 (9824-42A), E1180, and other Power11 scale-out/scale-up servers.
- Operating Systems: IBM i 7.4 TRx+ (native NVMe support), AIX, Linux (RHEL/SUSE/Ubuntu), VIOS.
- Attachment: Direct-attached NVMe U.2 in internal backplanes; external via ESR0 NED24 drawer (CXP adapters #EJ24/#EJ2A).
- Adapters/Controllers: Integrated PCIe Gen5 backplanes; no separate SAS controllers needed for NVMe.
- Legacy SAS: Not supported internally on Power11; use external EXP24SX drawers for SAS HDD/SSD if required.
NVMe vs SAS for Power11 iSeries – Which Should You Choose?
| Feature | Traditional SAS (External Only) | Native NVMe U.2 SSD (Internal) | Best For Power11 iSeries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latency | Higher | Sub-100 μs | Databases & real-time IBM i apps |
| Performance | Good | Massive IOPS + Gen5 throughput | High-concurrency & analytics |
| Capacity | Limited to EXP drawers | Up to 15.3 TB+ per drive | Modern high-density storage |
| Hot-Spare / Mirroring | Standard | Native IBM i 7.6 hot-spare | Zero-downtime environments |
| Power & Heat | Higher | Lowest | Dense racks & edge deployments |
Tailored Configurations
As an IBM Business Partner, DataTech Computer adjusts IBM Power11 iSeries storage configurations to suit performance and cost preferences, promoting easy fit into Power11 systems.
All drives include a 60-day warranty and qualify for IBM maintenance, supporting smooth upgrades or replacements in 22A and 42A models.