Product Description
IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 SFF Control Enclosure 4680-2P4
IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 SFF Control Enclosure (machine type-model 4680-2P4), a 2U (Rack-Unit) all-flash capable control enclosure with 24 front slots for NVMe Flash devices. It includes two node canisters (dual-controller architecture) and two power supplies, supporting high-performance NVMe storage with IBM Spectrum Virtualize software features like virtualization, thin provisioning, Easy Tier automated tiering, FlashCopy snapshots, remote mirroring, and data reduction (inline compression/encryption when using compatible drives). This entry-level FlashSystem model (part of the 5000 series) is designed for midrange environments needing simple, scalable, all-flash or hybrid storage with powerful scale-up capabilities.
The enclosure supports NVMe Flash devices (including FlashCore Modules for hardware-accelerated compression) in its 24 SFF bays and can expand with SAS-based expansion enclosures.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | 2U rack mount (19-inch) |
| Controllers | Two node canisters (dual-controller, redundant) |
| Drive Bays | 24 slots for NVMe Flash devices (SFF/2.5-inch; front-loading) |
| Drive Support | NVMe SSDs (including FlashCore Modules for compression/encryption); can mix with SAS expansions for hybrid |
| Host Interfaces | Options include 16 Gb FC (e.g., quad-port adapters), 10/25 Gb iSCSI, SAS host attach; example config with 16 Gb FC 4-port adapter pair and LW SFPs |
| Expansion | SAS-based expansion enclosures (e.g., 2U24/2U12, 5U92 models in FlashSystem 5000 series); up to system limits (typically 20+ enclosures) |
| RAID Support | System-level: RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10; Distributed RAID (DRAID) options |
| Power Supply | Two redundant hot-swap power supplies (high-efficiency) |
| Dimensions | Height: 87 mm (3.4 in), Width: 483 mm (19 in), Depth: approx. 556 mm (21.9 in) |
| Weight | Approx. 25-35 kg (empty to fully configured, typical for similar models) |
| Other | All-flash solution indicator; supports Expert Care / premium support options |
Configuration Options
The page lists a configured example (CTO/order type) with these feature codes/options:
- 4680-2P4: Base SFF Control Enclosure
- ACHU: 16 Gb FC LW SFP Transceivers (QTY=4)
- ACSR: 5m OM3 Fiber Cable (QTY=4)
- ALBG: 16 Gb FC 4 Port Adapter Cards Pair
- AL85: 12x 7.68TB 12Gb SAS 2.5 Inch Flash Drive Pack (QTY=2) — note: example uses SAS drives, but base supports NVMe
- AHPA: AC Power Supply HE
- AHZD: All Flash Solution Indicator
- ALE7: FlashCopy Upgrade
- ALE8: Remote Mirroring
- ALE9: Easy Tier
- ALL5: EC Premium 5 Year
- B0PF: SP HDR/MR STR 5Y
- Other: Power cord, standard S&H, etc.
Common additional IBM options include higher-capacity NVMe drives/FCMs, host adapters (e.g., 25 Gb Ethernet, 32 Gb FC), cache upgrades, and SAS expansion units.
These enable tailored all-flash or hybrid setups with advanced software features.
Compatibilities
The IBM FlashSystem 5015 SFF Control Enclosure (4680-2P4) supports:
- Expansion: SAS-based FlashSystem 5000 series enclosures (e.g., 2U24/2U12, 5U92 high-density).
- Drives: 2.5-inch NVMe SSDs (FlashCore Modules/standard enterprise NVMe); SAS flash/HDD in expansions.
- Host Connectivity: 16/32 Gb FC, 10/25 Gb iSCSI/Ethernet, SAS host attach; NVMe-oF options in software.
- Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, VMware vSphere/ESXi, IBM AIX, Oracle Solaris, HP-UX, IBM i (via Spectrum Virtualize support).
- Servers: x86 servers, IBM Power Systems, others with compatible FC/Ethernet/SAS HBAs.
- Switches: 16/32 Gb FC SAN switches, high-speed Ethernet switches for iSCSI/NVMe-oF.
- Software: IBM Spectrum Virtualize (V8.4+ levels); full FlashSystem features (virtualization, Easy Tier, FlashCopy, replication, encryption, container integration).
- Additional: Clustering for high availability; hybrid with SAS expansions; broad heterogeneous support.
This provides flexible, high-performance storage for midrange all-flash deployments.
IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 Configuration includes:
Configuration –
| Feature Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 4680-2P4 | IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 SFF Control Enclosure |
| 9730 | Power Cord-PDU Connection |
| ACHU | 16Gb FC LW SFP Transceivers (QTY=4) |
| ACSR | 5m OM3 Fiber Cable (QTY=4) |
| ADN1 | Order Type1 Indicator - CTO |
| AHPA | AC Power Supply HE |
| AHZD | All Flash Solution Indicator |
| AKCH | Standard S&H Indicator |
| AL85 | 12x 7.68TB 12Gb SAS 2.5 Inch Flash Drive Pack (QTY=2) |
| ALBG | 16 Gb FC 4 Port Adapter Cards Pair |
| ALE7 | FlashCopy Upgrade |
| ALE8 | Remote Mirroring |
| ALE9 | Easy Tier |
| ALH0 | IBM Storage Expert Care Indicator |
| ALL5 | EC Premium 5 Year |
| B0PF | SP HDR/MR STR 5Y |
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