1.2 Why use Linux on pSeries

For customers interested in Linux who need powerful and reliable servers to support their applications, IBM eServer pSeries offers 64-bit POWER servers to match their requirements at lower costs. Unlike other servers supporting solely high performance Linux needs, IBM eServer pSeries provides leadership price/performance with high reliability and a future roadmap to provide the customer with investment protection.

Excellent quality and reliability are inherent in all aspects of the IBM eServer pSeries design and manufacture, and the fundamental principle of the design approach is to minimize outages. The reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) features help to ensure that the system operates when required, performs reliably, and efficiently handles any failures that may occur.

1.2.1 Reasons to deploy Linux on pSeries clusters

The following are important reasons to consider for deploying Linux on pSeries clusters:

• 64-bit POWER architecture

• High performance processors

• Highly scalable systems

• Highly reliable architecture

• High memory capabilities with high memory bandwidth

• Logical partitioning support

• 64-bit price/performance leadership

• Full range of servers supporting Linux

• POWER architecture roadmap

• e-business On Demand features